Play of the Week: The Phantom of the Opera

Despite it's obvious flaws, cheesiness, and commercial appeal, The Phantom of the Opera and Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber had a huge influence over many of in the theater. It has had an even larger influence over a generation on theatre-goers young and old alike. It is the longest running musical in Broadway history and is still setting the record in its sustained original run.

As painful as it might be, I encourage you to spend some time with this old standard and really examine what made it work and what really falls flat about the story. How does the new movie version live up to and fail the stage production? What is it about this story that has allowed it to not only survive but flourish for so long?

Also, and perhaps more interesting, if Phantom was one of your first musicals, we would love it if you would share the anecdote of seeing the spectacle for the first time.


Happy Birthday:
July 18: Clifford Odets (1906-1963) & Edward Bond (b. 1934)
July 19: Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893-1930)