Broadway’s most famous ghost is returning to Los Angeles.
Phantom of the Opera is back at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre for a six-week limited run beginning Wednesday, June 24. Hell’s Kitchen — the Alicia Keys-inspired musical — wraps its run June 21.
After nearly four decades, Phantom still has plenty of juice. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s blockbuster remains one of the most recognizable shows ever staged, with the crashing chandelier, sweeping organ score, and masked figure in the underground lair still doing exactly what they were designed to do: sell seats.
Phantom premiered in London in 1986 before becoming a Broadway juggernaut in 1988. Since then, it has lingered at the edges of pop culture — instantly recognizable whether you were a theater kid or not.
The show is based on Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, following a disfigured musical genius who haunts the Paris Opera House and becomes obsessed with a young soprano.
But you might not know:
- Much of the score was written specifically for Sarah Brightman, who originated the role of Christine. She was married to Lloyd Webber at the time, and he has described her as his “phenomenal muse.”
- Stage and film versions of Phantom have grossed more than $6 billion worldwide—making it one of the highest-grossing entertainment properties of all time, surpassing even Titanic.
- The original Broadway production ran for 35 years, closing April 16, 2023 after 13,981 performances—the longest run in Broadway history.
The touring production stars Isaiah Bailey as the Phantom and Jordan Lee Gilbert as Christine Daaé.
Bailey began performing in Little Rock at age 10 and most recently appeared in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl. Gilbert, a Manhattan School of Music graduate, landed the role after attending an open casting call in late 2024.
“Christine is a character that I’ve loved for my entire life,” Gilbert told Broadway.com. “To now take my adult experiences and put them into her story is the most exciting thing.” She added that inspiring a new generation of theater lovers is “a tremendous honor.”
Phantom of the Opera runs through August 9 and will be followed by Disney’s Beauty and the Beast beginning August 12. Tickets are available now.
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