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Overview
Synopsis
Based on the 1910 horror novel by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera is a thrilling and romantic account of the legendary Phantom, a musical genius who dwells deep beneath a majestic opera house in Paris. Shunned by society for his horrible facial deformity, he takes a promising young soprano, Christine, under his wing and grooms her for operatic fame, all the while falling deeply in love with her. As Christine grows ever more successful, and a handsome young man from her past begins to successfully court her, the Phantom descends into a jealous rage and terrorizes the opera company with increasingly dangerous threats. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score soars with such famous tunes as “Think of Me,” “All I Ask of You,” “The Music of the Night,” and the title song, “The Phantom of the Opera,” and Phantom has gone on to become a cultural tour de force, and one of the most successful musicals of all time.
Show Information
- Music
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Lyrics
- Richard Stilgoe , Charles Hart
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Le Fantôme de l'Opéra (novel) by Gaston Leroux
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1986
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Spectacle
- Time & Place
- A majestic opera house in Paris, 1880s
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen Characters
Context
In 1984, fresh off the heels of the success of a string of triumphant musicals (including Cats), Andrew Lloyd Webber was seeking a romantic plot for his next project and stumbled across a translation of Gaston Leroux’s novel, Le Fantôme de l'Opéra. Realizing it had serious stage potential, he recruited an all-star team of collaborators, including lyricist Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, to bring the tragic love story to life.
With the lead role of Christine written specifically for
to read the context for The Phantom of the Opera and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Prologue
It is Paris in 1905. An auction of old props and relics from the Opéra Populaire (fictional, but based loosely on Paris’s Palais Garnier) is underway. An elderly man, Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny, purchases Lot 665, which is a music box topped with a monkey (“every detail exactly as she said,” he notes). The next item up for auction, Lot 666, is a broken but grand chandelier. The auctioneer remarks that the chandelier played a major role in "the strange affair of the Phantom
to read the plot for The Phantom of the Opera and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Not Specified |
Contralto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either or Both |
Variety |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Baritone |
Songs
Act One
Act Two
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
An aria is a solo vocal piece in an opera or oratorio that showcases the singer’s range and emotional expression. It is typically performed with orchestral accompaniment and often marks a moment of reflection or emotional climax.
A highly ornamented style of singing that requires vocal agility, common in soprano opera roles.
A vocal register that allows singers to reach notes higher than their normal range, used for special effects or characterizations.
A theatrical character type representing a young, innocent woman, often a romantic interest or naive lead.
Short for 'legitimate theatre,' referring to traditional stage drama as opposed to musical or commercial performance. The term is also used to describe a classical vocal tone suitable for operatic or legit musical theatre roles.
A form of festive court entertainment combining poetry, music, dance, and elaborate costumes, popular in 16th and 17th century England. Masques were often allegorical and featured aristocratic performers.
A large-scale musical with elaborate staging, global appeal, and strong branding, such as *Les Misérables* or *Phantom*.
A recurring element, such as a symbol, image, or phrase, that reinforces a play’s themes. Motifs help unify the structure of a work and deepen its symbolic meaning.
A source of artistic inspiration, often personified in mythology and referenced in theatrical and literary works.
To produce vocal sound using the vocal cords, a fundamental concept in singing and voice training.
The leading female singer in an opera company, often playing the principal soprano role. The term also connotes a demanding or egotistical personality in rehearsal culture.
An introductory speech or scene that sets up the context or themes of a play. Prologues are commonly used in classical drama to prepare the audience for what follows.
The highest female vocal range in classical and musical theatre, often associated with youthful or romantic leads.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
THEMES
Love and Obsession
At its heart, *The
to read about the themes, symbols and motifs from The Phantom of the Opera and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Quote Analysis
“Sing for me!”
(The Phantom)
This command recurs
to read our analysis of select quotes from The Phantom of the Opera and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher
