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    The catch praise "Now and Forever" should have been reserved for Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera instead of his other record-breaking musical Cats, now the second longest- running show. POTO is celebrating quite a milestone: 25 years - and counting - on Broadway - and in one theatre, the Majestic.
        The record-breaking Silver Anniversary was hosted by co-producer Cameron Mackintosh and multiple Tony-winning director, the legendary Hal Prince [due to back surgery, Lloyd Webber only participated by video]. The gala hosted former Phantoms and Christines, as well as several hundred former cast members.
         A highlight was an encore of one of the show's most memorable songs, "Music of the Night" by four former Phantoms; and an appearance by the original Christine and a star of the London production of Cats, Sarah Brightman, who went on to great acclaim as a classical crossover recording artist. She was also a former Mrs. Andrew Lloyd Webber.
         With a show as spectacularly successful as POTO, savvy marketing is involved. The name Andrew Lloyd Webber, of course, is known now worldwide, but the production was a collaboration with lyricists Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe. The musical is based on a world classic,     Gaston Leroux's novel Le Fantôme de L'Opéra, which has been adapted for the screen several times.
         The production,     with the indelible stamp of the late Maria Björnson stunning production design and Gillian Lynne's musical staging and choreography, has been meticulously maintained. But, says Macintosh, "We really wanted it to shine for this momentous and unprecedented occasion, so a few days before the anniversary performance all of Maria's gorgeous costumes were delivered brand new for the next 25 years."
         Stepping into this history are current stars Hugh Panaro (an off-and-on Phantom since 1992), Samantha Hill (Christine), Kyle Barisich (Raoul), Michelle McConnell (Carlotta), and Marni Raa, who portrays Christine at certain performances    . Panaro, long a Broadway veteran, calls his role "career defining."
         Not surprisingly, over the years, appearing together eight times a week has led to romance between cast members, behind-the-scenes crew, and pit musicians. One result is that there've been 17 weddings.
            The show has won more than 60 major theater awards, including seven 1988 Tony Awards (including Best Musical) and three London Olivier Awards. The original cast recording, with over 40 million copies sold worldwide, is the best-selling cast recording of all time.  
             Director Prince says, "More than all the accolades and awards we've received, I'm proudest of the fact that Phantom has been the largest single generator of income and jobs in Broadway and U.S. theatrical history. Salaries have paid for new homes, cars, and sending children to universities."
         There've been    11 actors following in the footsteps of Broadway's original Phantom,     Michael Crawford, who originated the role in London. Crawford was far from an unknown, but his name wasn't on the short list of actors to play the role. Brightman, then Mrs. Lloyd Webber, went to her vocal coach and heard Crawford ending his session. "We greeted each other," she relates. "I found Michael to be so charming and his voice mesmerizing. When I returned home, I said to Andrew, 'You really need to set up a meeting.'" He did!
          Over 300 Phantom masks     have been custom-made for actors in the role. Current Phantom, Hugh Panaro, has the second highest number of performances, having played it over 1,900 times. As a warm-up, he played Raoul almost 1,000 times.  
          In addition to its unprecedented longevity, Phantom is also the most successful entertainment venture of all time, with worldwide revenues higher (in excess of $5.6-billion) than any film or stage play, including Titanic, Star Wars, and far surpassing the world's highest-grossing film Avatar ($2.8-billion).
             The London production of Phantom, which opened in 1986, celebrated 25 years in October 2011. POTO became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006 with its 7,486th performance. It surpassed previous record-holder,  Cats, also co-produced by Mackintosh. In fact, Mackintosh, who's also the producer of another worldwide smash Les Misérables, may be the most successful producer in show business history.
              It's already been seen by 130 million in 28 countries. Currently, there're productions in Budapest, Manila, Tokyo, and a national tour throughout the U.K. Another will soon be mounted in Seoul. Mackintosh will begin a U.S. tour of a redesigned production in November.
          The New York production cost a record $8-million in 1988.  To mount the same production today would cost $18- million. Over 375 actors have appeared in the New York production. In all, 125 cast, crew, orchestra members, and house personnel are involved in each performance.     
            The Paris Opera chandelier features 6,000 beads and weighs one ton. In 25 years, it's traveled 3,999,960 feet, about 757 miles. The original for London was built by five people in one month.
            The Phantom's boat has taken over 20,800 trips through the fog- and candelabra laden route to the depths below the opera house. There's over 7,700 yards of fabric in the array of moving curtains, which have to be maintained and cleaned regularly. The replica of the elephant in the opening sequence is life-size.
         Follow Phantom at www.PhantomBroadway.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

    Ellis Nassour is an international media journalist, and author of Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline, which he has adapted into a musical for the stage. Visit www.patsyclinehta.com.

    He can be reached at [email protected]





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