The Phantom of the Opera

This was my first broadway show I’ve been to and I was blown away! I had watched the movie before and was expecting a great show but instead it was even better. The performers were phenomenal and the set was amazing. I wish I had invested more into sitting closer to the stage. I sat in the center of the most rear seats and the stage seemed small. Next time I come I will definitely sit closer up because I know it will be sooo worth it! I definitely recommend this show if you have never been to a broadway before :) it is a classic you do not want to miss!

Wonderful show with amazing costumes. James Barbour and Christine Daae were outstanding. Both with powerful and beautiful voices. One that shouldn’t be missed at the Majestic Theatre.

Been in NY area for 8 years and my first time seeing a broadway show & it did not disappoint. The storyline is very captivating. The actors are very professional & really good singers. The effects are really amazing on stage. Its incredible what they have done with stage props (in the time of CGI graphics). We had good seats — orchestra, S row. We bought the tickets at the tkts stand at timesquare for 79 $(These seats are worth 150 $ if u buy online) .
No wonder this is the longest running broadway show ever.

Y me guardo la reseña número 400 para uno de los momentos más sensacionales que he podido vivir este 2015, ver mi musical favorito de todos los tiempos y una de las razones por las que elegí NY como destino de luna de miel. Me cuesta explicar con palabras todos los sentimientos y emociones vividas aquel día. Más que palabras vuelvo a sentir la piel erizada y el cúmulo de sensaciones que me vienen a la cabeza y al corazón.
Puedo sonar exagerada, pero después de tantos años viendo la película en repetidas ocasiones, estar en la segunda fila del Majestic viéndola fue uno de los sueños cumplidos de mi vida.
Los actores son fabulosos, sus voces son impresionantes, mucho más que los cantantes que se han hecho mundialmente conocidos. La interpretación es asombrosa, son unos pedazo de artistas.
La puesta en escena es sensacional, los decorados son grandiosos. El atrezzo, el montaje. La lámpara al principio, el tema de cuando se la lleva a su guarida. Es que es todo tan maravilloso!
Los músicos, que tuve el placer de tener delante, no podían tocar mejor! Una experiencia que le recomiendo a todo el mundo, os guste o no esta obra musical. Hablé con más gente que no la conocían y también quedaron asombrados.
Para repetir, ojalá vuelva a sentir algo así. Y ojalá pueda volver.
Ahora entiendo cómo lleva tantos años siendo el número uno. Enhorabuena a todo el equipo, no tenéis comparación. BRAVO

Wasn’t as impressed as i hoped to be. The Phantom out sung Christine and that bothered me through out the entire show.

Came back last weekend, I need to every few years :) My 4^th time now.
Had great seats, Center ORCH Row H.
Loved the guy playing the role of the Phantom.

I first learned about the Phantom of the Opera in my elementary school music classes, and while listening to the soundtrack was already awesome then, listening to these songs performed live was just so hauntingly beautiful. I caught myself humming «Angel of Music» and «The Music of the Night» throughout dinner after the show.
My boyfriend, who had no previous knowledge of the plot, had a bit of trouble following the story as the actors put on a pretty thick french accent and sang in soprano most of the time. He did agree though that the songs were beautiful and extremely catchy (I still catch him humming them at times).
We both found the beginning of Act 1 to be a bit dragged out. Since there aren’t any witty jokes, you do need a good attention span to watch this show. The show did however do a good job picking up its pace. Plus, the AMAZING scenery changes did help keep us entertained.
Lastly, since we were sitting in the balcony, which is REALLY far from the stage, we actually couldn’t hear some of the actors clearly at times (fix those microphones?). Thank god the leading characters always projected powerfully.

I give the management of the Majestic Theater poor marks. They opened the doors very shortly before the performance expecting everyone to rush to their seats. As the lights went down and the play started very many of us had not yet reached our seats.
I was worried my 80 year old mother would trip in the dark or have a heart attack from trying to rush up the stairs. When we got to our seats, we still couldn’t enjoy the performance as people were standing up to let others by, yelling across aisles to help family members find their seats and generally making noise trying to get settled. What a mess!
They rushed us out of the theater after the play as well. (Long bathroom lines were a problem during intermission and after the production.)
The play was very good. The Phantom does have a rich voice. The chemistry between the phantom and the girl was not strong in this production compared to others I’ve seen.
Go to another play house. There are many in New York that won’t treat their customers as an inconvenience.

Mr James Barbour (aka the current Phantom), if you are reading this, then please know that your voice is as smooth as the most ideal room temperature butter, the perfect spreading consistency to top bread with.
I don’t know why I get oddly emotional during musicals. For some reason, I even shed a tear during Book of Mormon — I think Elder Price’s high notes struck my crying nerves.
I definitely teared up when Mr Barbour was singing «The Music of the Night» — I was THIS close to turning into a blubbering mess, but, ya know… I’m in public.
The rest of the cast has an insurmountable amount of talent as well. I only dream that I could be half as talented as they are.
When purchasing your tickets, try to sit on the left or center aisles when facing the stage. Certain blocking takes place on stage left that’s hidden behind props or curtains, ESPECIALLY during the «Masquerade» sequence.
I’m still slightly emotionally unavailable from watching Phantom. I’m going to lie down and FEEL for a little bit.

Just as magical the second time around.
Tip: If you had to pick one of the sides to sit on (and not center), one is better than the other. I’ve now sat on both… When you are facing the stage, sit on the left hand side. They tend to group big stage pieces together on the right, so it blocks stuff on the left. This way you can see more of everything happening on stage, and you get less of the performers’ backs and more of their faces. :)
Mr Phantom, if you ever see this, I love you just as much the second time around as when I saw you in June. Don’t worry, I’ll love you forever and make your coffee in the morning if you just sing to me like that. And you can keep the mask on if you are self conscious… it don’t hurt my feelings none.

Wn quede sin palabras, es increíble ver esta obra con orquesta en vivo y actores cantando tipo soprano, la sincronizacion, el baile, la belleza de los bailes y sus fluidos movimientos acorde a la música y la voz una experiencia increíble y con la mejor vista posible!

I am sorry to be the negative Nelly but I felt, in my bones, that this sucked. I have no idea why so many have raved about this show as it felt like a Haunted House Disney ride couched between a remix of «The Lost Boys» soundtrack. I am giving it three stars because in addition to at least one dismal singing voice and multiple questionable accents making me smile, I laughed uncontrollably every time the man playing The Phantom flapped his wings and flounced around every part of the stage like a besequined cosplayer with a fedora.
With the exception of the song lyrics, the Phantom’s strong voice and the wonderfully understated performance of the woman playing La Carlotta, I could not find anything truly redeeming in this aged spectacle. It felt like a 1970s Meatloaf video with inconsistent British accents and some hand dancing thrown in for good measure. I literally forgot that there was an orchestra in the pit as some of the songs sounded like they were exclusively accompanied by a cavalcade of keytars. I was later saddened to find out that The Phantom used a microphone when singing, as I genuinely thought he had the vocal strength of an opera singer.
I am happy I went because my curiosity was miserably satisfied but if this were the first musical I had ever seen (Hello, Rent) I would likely be turned off of theater altogether. That being said, if you feel jazz hands in your heart, find the cheapest ticket imaginable and try to laugh instead of cry.

A classic, but the current rendition doesn’t do the original justice, I feel.
The stage set is beautiful and ornately designed. Overall, I don’t *love* the original, as I think it’s a tad bit melodramatic and the music doesn’t really match the vibe of the musical.
However, all of the singing/​musical talent was fantastic.

I thought this was going to be boring, but quite the contrary! There were time where I was literally on the edge of my seat. This show has been running for a long time for a reason and was one of my favorites this year. I have seen 8 shows so far.
There were a lot of dudes with their girlfriends and all of them were knocked out. It ain’t for everybody.
If you get here early, they put ya in the basement. It’s all reserved seating, so it’s not like you have a shot at better seats if you get there early like at a movie or general admission concert.
I also did not know you could bring in water.

Excellent production! I love the storyline and was able to spot parallels between the film and the Broadway show. I was very impressed with the singing and vocals of the cast.
The props and stage were beautifully crafted and paired nicely with the venue. The theatre itself is beautiful and an intricate masterpiece.
The music and orchestra were of high-​quality and the show flowed in a majestic manner overall. This is one of my favorite Broadway shows; a must-​see!

Loved it! The Phantom of the Opera was my first Broadway show experience and is still one of my favorites. If you don’t know The Phantom of the Opera, it is a gothic love story between an opera singer Christine, her childhood friend Raoul, and the phantom of the opera. Beautiful and romantic. Everything from the singing, costumes, and set pieces was perfect. Even after a couple of months, I’m still amazed at how the first dungeon scene was done!
We used a re-​sell ticketing app and got front mezzanine seats for almost half price. Spectacular view of the show. I suggest getting seats in this section since they utilize the entire stage area, even up top where the chandelier is. You get the best view from here. Sitting in the back mezzanine or rear orchestra may give you an obstructed view.
The Majestic Theater is a beautiful theater. It has that classy, old school feel, which works well with The Phantom of the Opera story.
Definitely a must see if you want to see a Broadway show. You’ll have an amazing time and see why this is one of the longest running shows. I just wish people will be respectful of others and shut up during the performance. I would definitely see this again!

If you are on a short trip to NYC and want to watch the best of Broadway show, then ‘The phantom of the Opera’ is perfect. The cast of the show is extremely talented and the special effects never fail to mesmerize. Also, other nuances like orchestra, costumes n humor are also quite apt. I will seriously recommend this Broadway show for anybody visiting or staying in Newyork. I can watch it again n again!

This is not really my thing but I still enjoyed it, all the actors and actresses did a great job, we sat in the mezzanine and it still wasn’t too bad. The show was worth the watch if you’re an avid play goer or wanting to try something new.

A New York Classic Broadway show that is worth every cent.
I went with my family to see a Phantom of the Opera matinée performance on a Saturday. We sat in row L in the Orchestra and had a great view of the stage. I bought tickets in person at the box office the week of — so no extra on-​line fees. They were doing a 25 year anniversary promotion, so orchestra seats were discounted to $ 99 per ticket.
The show was phenomenal, the staging was fantastic and the music enchanting. From the opening act, everything about the production of Phantom was perfectly executed. The chandelier going up to the ceiling right above the audience at the end auction was extremely thrilling. What a great opening act! I am a big fan of the show Scandal — so I instantly recognized Norm Lewis, who played Phantom. Congratulations to him on being the first African American Phantom — he is extremely talented. Norm Lewis and the cast were fantastic.
The Majestic Theater is also very beautiful and has ornate seating. Space is a little tight with the seating — you’ll definitely be close to the person next to you, but not uncomfortable.
I left the performance feeling fulfilled and inspired! I didn’t want the show to end. If you love a great musical then Phantom of the Opera is a must see.

The Phantom of the Opera is one of my favorite Broadway shows and is an all time classic. They recently changed the lead for the Phantom and I had to go regardless as it was our «annual» trip to NYC. Even though I’m partial or biased to Hugh, James Barbour did a very good job. The show was terrific, though it did seem to lack that something extra magical that it seemed to previously have. However, we’re talking about 5 star performance nonetheless.

What an amazing production! I’ve been wanting to see a Broadway show for years and what better show to catch other than a true classic. Absolutely beautiful venue. The cast was extremely talented with their singing, dancing, acting, and showmanship. A true nyc treat! Everything about this experience was perfect. Ten stars if I could! The costumes, backdrops, staging were so impressive. What made everything even better was our tickets were 50% off from tkts. We paid $ 70ish for awesome aisle seats in Orchestra row k. No pics during the show, besides you don’t want to experience the show through a camera. Two and a half hours of entertainment with an intermission in the middle. The usher was this older gentleman and he was the most adorable man ever!

**Review #300!**
«In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came
That voice which calls to me, and speaks my name
And do I dream again, for now I find
The Phantom of the Opera is there, inside my mind»
The quintessential classic Broadway musical. I find myself returning to see Phantom after 20+ years and the songs, the stage and the costumes are as riveting as they were then. The haunting lyrics and melodies of Andrew Lloyd Webber are timeless. The setting is 19^th century France, but the music has period pieces mixed with modern tones. The dramatic blaring heavy bass of tubas & bassoons during the overture just rocks you back in your seat.
«Sing once again with me
Our strange duet
My power over you grows stronger yet»
This is the ultimate story of stalking set to music. Somehow Christine is drawn to her benefactor, even though she is creeped out by him. But eventually she shuns the deformed hermit that taught & trained her and goes with the rich, pretty boy nobleman/​patron. You feel the Phantom’s betrayal.
«And though you turn from me to glance behind
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your mind»
The current actor playing the Phantom, Norm Lewis is a Broadway veteran and his voice brings power to the role. I did wince a couple of times when his voice cracked on some high notes, but it’s forgivable for the great performance he gave. Julia Udine playing Christine Daaé gave a solid performance with her strong vocal range that the role demands. Her lilting rendering of «Think of Me» was thrilling. Jeremy Hays playing Raoul left me flat though.
«Those who have seen your face
Draw back in fear
I am the mask you wear
It’s me they hear…
Your spirit and your voice in one combined
The Phantom of the Opera is here
Inside my mind»
My memory might be faulty, but I swear that when I first saw the show, oh those long years ago, all the characters in the «Masquerade» scene were real people. Did they cut the cast and replace some of them with mannequins or was it always that way?
«He’s there, the Phantom of the Opera!
Beware, the Phantom of the Opera!
He’s there, the Phantom of the Opera!
Beware the Phantom of the Opera!»
The 2004 film of the Phantom starring Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum gave a good telling of the story, but it’s just not the same as seeing it live on stage without computer enhancements or effects. It’s a visceral experience with the performers giving their all, every night at every performance.
«In all your fantasies, you always knew
That man and mystery
Were both in you»
And in this labyrinth
where night is blind
the Phantom of the Opera is here,
inside my mind“
The stage mechanics are great. I love how the candelabras rise out of the stage simulating the dank sewers under the streets of Paris. But I’m still trying to figure out how the boat/​bed they are riding on works. I wonder if the Majestic theater has a backstage tour?
«He’s there, the Phantom of the Opera
The Angel of Music!
Sing, my Angel of Music
Sing, my Angel
Sing for me
Sing, my Angel!
Sing for me!»
I still get chills every time I hear this song. Go see the Phantom! He’s waiting for you!

Das beste Musical-​Erlebnis ever!!!
Schönes Theater mit recht gemütlichen Sitzen, angenehme Akustik, Stimmen die unter die Haut gehen — da waren sogar meine zwei Begleiter ganz bewegt. Gänsehaut hatten wir zum Schluss alle.
Nochmal nochmal nochmal!!!