Some of Stilgoe's original contributions are still present in the final version. Charles Hart, a young and relatively unknown lyricist was invited to rewrite the lyrics, even contributing almost solely to an unplaced tune by Lloyd Webber, which later became "Think of Me". However, the composer felt that Stilgoe's lyrics were too witty and clever, rather than romantic. Richard Stilgoe, who also wrote the lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express, then wrote lyrics for the production, as well as devising most of the titles for the songs. The pair did eventually collaborate on Lloyd Webber's musical adaptation of Whistle Down the Wind.Īlan Jay Lerner was then recruited, but died soon after beginning the project, and none of his contributions remained in the show. Lloyd Webber approached Jim Steinman to write the lyrics because of his "dark obsessive side", but the writer/producer declined in order to fulfil his commitments on a Bonnie Tyler album. Then with the Phantom, it was there!" ”įrom there, Lloyd Webber began work developing Phantom of the Opera to fit into musical form. “ I was actually writing something else at the time, and I realized that the reason I was hung up was because I was trying to write a major romantic story, and I had been trying to do that ever since I started my career. While in New York, Lloyd Webber tracked down a second hand copy of the long out-of-print original Leroux novel, from which his attitude to the material was transformed Mackintosh and Lloyd Webber screened both the 1925 Lon Chaney and the 1943 Claude Rains versions but neither were able to gain any material that might be useful in making the leap from book to stage. He was aiming for a romantic piece, but having trouble reining in a worthwhile idea, and, hitting upon the idea of using Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera as a base, he pitched the idea. Andrew Lloyd Webber was looking to create a new musical. In the northern hemisphere winter of 1984, Cameron Mackintosh, the co-producer of Cats and Song and Dance received a phone call.
In 2009 the Broadway production marked its nine thousandth performance and is currently the longest-running musical in Broadway history celebrating 23 years in January of 2011.ĭevelopment of the Musical Musical Idea Crawford, Brightman and Barton reprised their respective roles from the London production. Phantom began Broadway previews at the Majestic Theatre on 9 January, 1988 and opened on 26 January. It is the second longest-running West End musical in history behind Les Miserables. The show is still playing at Her Majesty's, celebrating its 24th anniversary in October 2010, and celebrated its 10,000th performance at the matinée on 23rd October, 2010 both Andrew Lloyd Webber and the original Phantom, Michael Crawford, were in attendance. Michael Crawford starred as the titular character, Sarah Brightman as Christine, and Steve Barton as Raoul. It was choreographed by Gillian Lynne and the sets were designed by Maria Björnson, with lighting by Andrew Bridge. Inspired by an earlier musical version of the same story by Ken Hill, Phantom began previews at Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End on 27 September, 1986 and opened on 9 October under the direction of Hal Prince.
The New York production alone has grossed US $715 million, making it the most financially successful Broadway show in history. With total worldwide box office receipts of over £3.5bn ($5.1bn), Phantom is the highest-grossing entertainment event of all time. The show has been seen in 149 cities in 25 countries, and has played to over 100 million people. Phantom won the 1986 Olivier Award and the 1988 Tony Award for Best Musical, and Michael Crawford (as the phantom) won the 1986 Olivier and 1988 Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical. It is the longest-running musical in Broadway history, the second-longest-running West End musical, and arguably the world's most financially successful single entertainment project to date. The Phantom of the Opera opened in the West End in 1986, and on Broadway in 1988. The central plot revolves around a beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious, disfigured musical genius. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator, but he withdrew after completing work on a single song, Masquerade, and died shortly thereafter. Additional lyrics were written by Richard Stilgoe. The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart. The Phantom of the Opera is a musical/opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.
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