What Made The Phantom of the Opera The Best Musical of all Time?

Answer 1

What Made the Phantom of the Opera The Best Musical of all time?

Michael Crawford-The Phantom, Sarah Brightman-Christine, Steve Barton-Raoul

Michael Crawford's landing of the role was due largely in part to the coincidence that Lloyd Webber's wife, Sarah Brightman, took lessons with the same vocal coach as Crawford. She and her husband had arrived early for her lesson, and it was while waiting that the chanced to hear him practicing a piece from Lloyd Webber was intrigued, and inquired after Mr. Adam as to the identity of his student and was hired nearly on the spot.

Crawford began his performance in London, continuing on to Broadway in 1988, and then Los Angeles a year later, in 1989. He played the role for 2 1/2 years and over 1,300 performances, winning an Olivier Award (Best Actor in a Musical), a Tony Award (Best Performance By An Actor in a Lead Role, Musical), an N.Y's Drama Desk Award, and a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Achievement in Theatre (Lead Performance) for his efforts.

Crawford was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1988 by HRM Queen Elizabeth II.

During the run of Phantom in Los Angeles, Crawford was asked to perform "The Music of the Night" at the Inaugural Gala for President George Bush in Washington, D.C., on 19 January 1989. At the gala, Crawford was presented with a birthday cake (it was his own 47th birthday).

On 29 April 1990, three and a half years and over 1,300 performances into The Phantom of the Opera later, Crawford left the company. He admits to having been genuinely broken up at his own departure, and, during the Final Lair scene, altered the Phantom's line to "Christine....I loved you...", acknowledging that this was his last and final performance.

Sarah Brightman starred as Christine Daaé in Lloyd Webber's adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera. The role of Christine was written specifically for her. Lloyd Webber refused to open The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway unless Brightman played Christine. Initially, the American Actors' Equity Association balked, due to their policy that any non-American performer must be an international star. Lloyd Webber had to cast an American in a leading role in his next West End musical before the Equity would allow Brightman to appear (a promise he kept in casting Aspects of Love).

At its heart, Phantom is about the obsessive pursuit of something, anything that will give the pursuer peace. At times, the object of pursuit is revenge, recognition or riches, but in the end, it is a show about the redeeming qualities of love, qualities that redeem both the lover and the one loved.

Phantom is the most popular, most seen musical ever and is now one of the longest-running musicals in history - surpassing Cats as the longest running Broadway show. According to its official website, it is the most successful entertainment project in history, grossing more than US $5 billion worldwide by 2007.