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!
