Thursday, March 28, 2024

Like it Or Not, “The Phantom of the Opera,” a Show about a Man Already Wearing a Mask, Will Return to Broadway This Fall

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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” is returning to Broadway whether we like it or not.

The tourist trap musical, about a man and his chandelier, will reopen on October 22nd after 19 blissful months of silence.

It’s the longest running show on Broadway, more akin to a piece of Junior’s cheesecake than art. But it’s a big employment center, and Broadway needs that right now.

Luckily, the main character already wears a mask, so he’s covered when the show must adhere to COVID guidelines. If the audience members also wear masks, there will be mass confusion in the theater about who’s actually the star of the show.

The actor currently playing the Phantom is Ben Crawford, who was forced to take the name of the original Phantom, Tony winner Michael Crawford, by producer Cameron Mackintosh. It meant quicker edits on the merchandise.

Mackintosh must have some information about the return of Japanese tourists to the theater district, as they make up the bulk of “Phantom” audiences. Welcome back, everyone!

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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