The Phantom of the Opera at the Music Box

A behind-the-scenes look at the Making of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ at the Music Box Theatre in New York City.

Introduction

The Phantom of the Opera is a 1925 American silent horror film adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, directed by Rupert Julian and starring Lon Chaney in the title role of the deformed Phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House, causing murder and mayhem in an attempt to make the woman he loves a star. The picture was Universal Studios’ first “talkie” and released as part of a double feature with lest We Forget.

The phantom’s voice was provided by actor George Bacause. The film was highly successful upon its release, grossing $2 million at the box office. Upon its re-release in 1929, however, it grossed only $287,000. Adjusted for inflation, however, its worldwide gross is estimated to be $85 million. The success of the picture led to Universal Studios producing three more films based on Leroux’s novel: The Phantom of the Opera (1943), featuring Claude Rains as the phantom; House of Usher (1960), starring Vincent Price as both Roderick Usher and the phantom; and The Tollgate (1971), starring Terence Morgan as the phantom.

The Plot

The Phantom of the Opera is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. It was first published in serial form in the French newspaper Le Figaro from September 23, 1909 to January 8, 1910. The novel tells the story of a phantom who terrorizes the Paris Opera House.

The Characters

The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera is a sulky, tormented genius who lives beneath the Paris Opéra, where he scheme to make the woman he loves, Christine Daaé, a star. He frightens off her suitors and sabotages performances to ensure that she remains unknown except to him.

Christine Daaé
A beautiful soprano in the Paris Opéra, Christine is frightened by the Phantom’s strange presence but also drawn to his musical genius. She eventually falls in love with him, but their relationship is fraught with danger.

Raoul de Chagny
A young nobleman and childhood friend of Christine’s, Raoul falls in love with her when they reconnect as adults and enters into a jealous rivalry with the Phantom for her affections.

The Setting

The Phantom of the Opera is set in the Paris Opera House in the late 1800s. The story revolves around the Phantom, a mysterious figure who lives in the catacombs beneath the Opera House, and his obsessions with the beautiful singer Christine Daaé. The Phantom terrorizes the Opera House and its employees in an attempt to make Christine his own, but ultimately fails and is forced to confront his demons.

The Music

The best part of The Phantom of the Opera is, of course, the music. The original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber is absolutely beautiful, and it’s performed expertly by the cast. The chandelier scene is particularly stunning, and the finale is absolutely heart-wrenching. If you’re a fan of musicals, you’ll love The Phantom of the Opera.

The Score

One of the most memorable parts of The Phantom of the Opera is the score, which was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Webber’s score includes such iconic songs as “The Music of the Night,” “All I Ask of You,” and “Think of Me.”

The Phantom of the Opera was first performed in 1986, and it quickly became a global phenomenon. The musical has been performed in more than 150 cities in 27 countries, and it has been translated into 15 languages. It is currently the longest-running musical in Broadway history.

The Songs

The Phantom of the Opera is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Charles Hart. The phantom of the opera songs are some of the most popular and well known in all of musical theater. The original Broadway production, directed by Harold Prince, opened in 1988 and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The West End production, directed by Lloyd Webber himself, opened in 1986 and is still running today – making it the longest running musical in West End history.

There are many songs in Phantom of the Opera, but some of the most popular and well-known are “Think of Me”, “The Music of the Night”, “All I Ask of You”, and “Masquerade”. Each of these songs is beautiful and memorable in its own way, and they have all become classics that are still loved by fans today.

If you’re a fan of musical theater, or even if you’re just a fan of good music, then you owe it to yourself to listen to the phantom of the opera songs. They are truly some of the best that musical theater has to offer.

The Staging

The Music Box is proud to present the classic tale of “The Phantom of the Opera” by Gaston Leroux. This musical has been a timeless story of love, loss, and hope, and we are excited to bring it to our stage. This production will be directed by Tony Award winner Harold Prince, and will feature a brand new score by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The Sets

Girard’s work was praised for its use of light and color. The New York Times wrote that “the most notable feature of the production is Mr. Girard’s set”, which “gives an impression of great size and at the same time suggests an invisible hand having constructed it with fanatical care.” The paper also praised the use of “a great number of backdrops, each more lovely than the last”. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle described the scene in which Christine is lured into the Phantom’s lair as “one of Girard’s triumphs” and lauded his use of lighting to create a sense of unease.

The Costumes

The costumes for the current production of The Phantom of the Opera were designed by Maria Björnson and are faithful to the original designs from the London and Broadway productions. The show has a large cast of characters, so there are a variety of costumes that help to delineate the different class levels and personalities onstage. The Phantom’s costume is perhaps the most iconic, with its half-mask and billowing black cape. Other memorable costumes include those worn by Christine during her operatic performances and Meg Giry’s sparkly tutu.

The Legacy

The Phantom of the Opera has been enthralling audiences for over 130 years. The original novel by Gaston Leroux was first published in serial form in 1909 and has been adapted numerous times for film, television, and stage. The most recent Broadway adaptation, by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is the longest-running musical in Broadway history.

The Film

The 1925 film version of The Phantom of the Opera is a silent classic starring Lon Chaney Sr. as the title character. This film is considered to be one of the best adaptations of Gaston Leroux’s novel and is one of the most influential horror films of all time. Lon Chaney Sr.’s portrayal of the Phantom is considered to be one of the most iconic and memorable in all of film history.

The Broadway Musical

Since it’s inception in 1988, The Phantom of the Opera has been enthralling audiences all over the world. The story of the tormented phantom who resides in the bowels of the Paris Opera House has captured hearts and imaginations, becoming one of the most popular musicals of all time.

The original production opened on Broadway in 1988, and was an instant sensation. It quickly became the longest-running Broadway musical, playing for over 13 years. The success of the Broadway production led to productions all over the world, and to this day, The Phantom of the Opera remains one of the most popular musicals ever written.