“The Phantom of the Opera,” currently the longest-running show on Broadway, is now playing at the Ohio Theatre in Columbus.
Since its debut on October 9, 1986 in London, the play has taken in over $3 billion in worldwide box office sales, according to a Broadway in Columbus press release.
“This particular show has won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and celebrated its 17th anniversary on Broadway on Jan. 26” said Allison Thomas, spokeswoman for Broadway in Columbus. “Since its premiere, ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ has played over 7,000 performances. Worldwide, it consistently plays to larger audiences and in longer engagements than any other musical in history.”
Based on a classic novel by Gaston Leroux, “The Phantom of the Opera” recounts the story of a masked musical figure, lurking in the caverns of the Paris Opera House. He falls in love with Christine, a young soprano of the theater, and employs his teachings on her so she may sing his music.
In addition to the Phantom, Christine is pursued by Raoul, a former friend from when she was young. This love triangle continues to the end of the musical, when Christine chooses which suitor she genuinely loves.
Michael Shawn Lewis, who plays Raoul in the U.S. tour of “The Phantom of the Opera,” said he is thrilled to be joining the cast of the musical. He came to this production directly from New York, where he made his Broadway debut with the show in 2001 as Raoul, he said.
“Throughout my career, I have been in many plays, such as ‘Les Misérables,’ ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘Oklahoma!’ and, of course, ‘The Phantom of the Opera,'” Lewis said. “Being involved in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ is one of the highlights of my career because it is such a wonderful and exciting show to do. It’s thrilling and romantic with wonderful, over-the-top effects. It’s really a timeless show.”
Lewis has been singing and engaging in theater productions throughout the course of his life. He has a bachelor’s degree in performance from Stetson University in Florida and received his master’s from the New England Conservatory. Since the beginning of his career, he has participated in community theater, church performances and Broadway productions, Lewis said.
“As a young child, I remember sitting in the church pew, singing as powerfully and loudly as I could,” Lewis said. “On one occasion, the organist heard me and recruited me to join the choir. I was only six years old.”
Lewis said he plans on taking opportunities as they come and continuing his Broadway career for the time being. As of right now, he cannot imagine himself doing anything else with his life, he said.
“I am sure later on in my life there will be other things I want to do, but for the time being this is where I want to be,” Lewis said. “It takes a whole lot of tenacity to continue what I am doing, but it is definitely worth it.”
Broadway in Columbus anticipates large turnouts and wonderful responses to “The Phantom of the Opera.” Thus far, performance attendance and ticket sales have been doing extremely well, Thomas said.
“‘The Phantom of the Opera’ has not been here since 1997 and Columbus residents are definitely ready for its return,” Thomas said. “It has a wonderful, loyal following, yet is also a great opportunity for first-time theatergoers to see a spectacular, big budget production.”
The Columbus engagement of the Cameron Mackintosh and Really Useful Theatre Company Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” is directed by Harold Prince. The show will run at the Ohio Theatre for a limited four-week period through Aug. 28. Tickets cost $22 to $74 at the Broadway in Columbus office, 10 W. Broad St., and Ticketmaster outlets.
