The Phantom of the Opera is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and a story written by Lloyd Webber and Stilgoe. It is based on the 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux and follows the sad story of a beautiful singer named Christine Daaé, who becomes the focus of a mysterious and disfigured musical genius who lives in an underground maze beneath the Paris Opera House.

The musical premiered in London’s West End in 1986 and on Broadway in New York in 1988. It was directed by Harold Prince and featured Sarah Brightman as Christine Daaé, Michael Crawford as the Phantom, and Steve Barton as Raoul. The production won the 1986 Olivier Award and the 1988 Tony Award for Best Musical. Michael Crawford also won the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical. A film version, directed by Joel Schumacher, was released in 2004.

The Phantom of the Opera holds the record for the longest-running show on Broadway. It reached its 10,000th performance on February 11, 2012, becoming the first Broadway production to achieve this milestone. It is the second-longest-running West End musical, after Les Misérables, and the third-longest-running West End show overall, after The Mousetrap. The musical has earned over $6 billion worldwide and over $1 billion on Broadway. It was the most financially successful entertainment event until The Lion King surpassed it in 2014. By 2019, it had been seen by more than 140 million people in 183 cities across 41 countries.

The original West End production at His Majesty’s Theatre in London ended in March 2020 due to the closure of theaters caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A smaller, revised version of the show opened in July 2021, with a smaller orchestra and redesigned set. The original Broadway production played its final show on April 16, 2023.

Synopsis

In 1919, the Paris Opéra House holds an auction of theatre memorabilia. Raoul de Chagny attends and buys Lot 665, a papier-mâché music box with a monkey figurine. He says it looks exactly as someone described. The next item, Lot 666, is a broken chandelier with electrical wiring added. The auctioneer mentions it was part of a famous disaster linked to "the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera," a mystery never explained. The auctioneer turns on the chandelier, and as music plays, it lights up and rises to the ceiling, restoring the opera house to its past grandeur ("Overture").

In 1881, the cast of Hannibal rehearses. Carlotta, the opera’s leading soprano, begins singing when a backdrop falls, causing the chorus girls to shout, "He’s here! The Phantom of the Opera!" The opera’s new owners, Firmin and André, downplay the event, but Carlotta leaves. Madame Giry, the ballet mistress, suggests Christine Daaé, a chorus girl and orphan, could take Carlotta’s role. After auditioning, Christine is chosen for her talent. During the evening performance, Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny, recognizes Christine as his childhood friend ("Think of Me").

After Christine’s successful debut, she tells her friend Meg, Madame Giry’s daughter, that an unseen tutor called the "Angel of Music" has helped her sing ("Angel of Music"). Raoul visits Christine and recalls stories about the "Angel of Music" from his father. Christine shares that the Angel has visited her and taught her to sing ("Little Lotte"). Raoul assumes these are fantasies and invites Christine to dinner. When Raoul leaves, Christine hears the Phantom’s voice and begs him to reveal himself. The Phantom appears in her mirror ("The Mirror/Angel of Music (Reprise)"). Christine is hypnotized and pulled through the mirror into the sewers below the opera house. They travel on a boat to the Phantom’s lair ("The Phantom of the Opera"). The Phantom explains he has chosen Christine to sing his music. A mirror shows Christine in a wedding dress, and when the image reaches out, she faints. The Phantom covers her with his cloak ("The Music of the Night").

As the Phantom composes music at his organ, Christine wakes to the sound of the monkey music box ("I Remember"). She hides behind him, lifts his mask, and sees his disfigured face. The Phantom scolds her for prying but admits he longs for love ("Stranger Than You Dreamt It"). Christine returns the mask, and the Phantom takes her back above ground.

Joseph Buquet, the opera’s chief stagehand, tells ballet girls about the "Opéra Ghost" and his Punjab lasso. Madame Giry warns Buquet to stop ("Magical Lasso"). Firmin, André, Raoul, and Carlotta argue over notes from the Phantom, which demand Christine replace Carlotta in Il Muto ("Notes"). Firmin and André assure Carlotta she will remain the star ("Prima Donna").

The premiere of Il Muto goes well until the Phantom alters Carlotta’s voice, making it sound like a frog. Firmin announces Christine will take over the role, and the ballet performs to entertain the audience. Buquet’s body falls from the rafters, hanging from the Punjab lasso. Chaos erupts, and the Phantom’s laugh echoes through the auditorium ("Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh").

Christine escapes with Raoul to the rooftop and shares her encounter with the Phantom ("Why Have You Brought Me Here?/Raoul, I've Been There"). Raoul promises to love and protect her ("All I Ask of You"). The Phantom overhears and vows revenge. During the curtain call of Il Muto, the chandelier crashes onto the stage ("All I Ask of You (Reprise)").

Six months later, the opera house hosts a masquerade ball. The Phantom, now in costume as the Red Death, announces he has written an opera called Don Juan Triumphant and demands Christine, now secretly engaged to Raoul, perform the lead role. He removes her engagement ring before vanishing ("Masquerade/Why So Silent").

Raoul confronts Madame Giry, who explains the Phantom is a brilliant but deformed man who escaped from a traveling fair and took refuge beneath the opera house. Raoul plans to trap the Phantom during the premiere of Don Juan Triumphant. Christine struggles between her love for Raoul and loyalty to the Phantom ("Notes/Twisted Every Way"). During rehearsals, Piangi, the tenor, sings incorrectly, causing chaos. The piano plays itself, and the cast sings in harmony. Christine visits her father’s grave, seeking guidance ("Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"). The Phantom appears at the mausoleum ("Wandering Child"). Christine resists the Phantom’s influence, and Raoul rescues her. The Phantom attacks Raoul with fireballs until Christine begs him to leave ("Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer").

The premiere of Don Juan Triumphant features Christine and Piangi as Aminta and Don Juan. During their duet, Christine realizes the Phantom has replaced Piangi ("Don Juan Triumphant/The Point of No Return"). She removes his mask, revealing his face to the audience. The Phantom drags Christine back to his lair. Piangi’s body is found backstage, and the opera house falls into chaos. A mob searches for the Phantom. Madame Giry tells Raoul how to find the Phantom’s lair and warns him to keep his hands low to avoid the lasso ("Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer").

The Phantom forces Christine to wear a wedding dress. Raoul is captured in the Punjab lasso. The Phantom offers Christine a choice: stay with him and save Raoul, or let him die ("The Point of No Return Reprise"). Christine tells the Phantom he is not alone and kisses him. Moved by her kindness, the Phantom frees Raoul and tells Christine he loves her. As the mob approaches, the Phantom hides beneath his cloak. Meg enters the lair, pulls away the cloak, and finds only his mask ("Finale").

Development

In 1984, Andrew Lloyd Webber contacted Cameron Mackintosh, the co-producer of Cats and Song and Dance, to suggest creating a new musical. He wanted a romantic and tragic story and proposed using Gaston Leroux’s novel The Phantom of the Opera as a foundation. They watched the 1925 Lon Chaney and 1943 Claude Rains film versions, but neither saw a clear way to adapt the story for the stage. Later, Lloyd Webber found a second-hand copy of the original book, which gave him the inspiration to begin writing the musical. He said, “I was working on another project at the time and realized I had been stuck because I was trying to write a major romantic story, which I had wanted to do since the start of my career. With The Phantom of the Opera, the idea was finally there!”

Lloyd Webber first asked Jim Steinman to write the lyrics because of his “dark obsessive side,” but Steinman declined to focus on a Bonnie Tyler album. Alan Jay Lerner (1918–1986) was then hired, but he became seriously ill and had to leave the project. His work, mostly on the song “Masquerade,” was not credited in the final show. Richard Stilgoe, the lyricist for Starlight Express, was next hired and wrote most of the original lyrics. Later, Charles Hart, a young and then-unknown lyricist, rewrote many lyrics and created the lyrics for “Think of Me.” Some of Stilgoe’s original lyrics remain in the final version.

Inspired by an earlier musical version of the same story by Ken Hill, Lloyd Webber’s score has an operatic style but follows the structure of a musical. Full operatic sections are used mainly for secondary characters like André, Firmin, Carlotta, and Piangi. These sections also include music from fictional operas within the show, such as Hannibal, Il Muto, and the Phantom’s masterpiece, Don Juan Triumphant. Lloyd Webber borrowed styles from operas by composers like Meyerbeer, Mozart, and Gilbert and Sullivan. These operatic pieces are often shown as short musical fragments, interrupted by dialogue or action to highlight the “show within a show” format. The Phantom’s opera, Don Juan Triumphant, includes dissonant and modern music, suggesting the Phantom may be ahead of his time artistically.

In the musical’s title song, the signature five-note descending chromatic run from the major root to the flat sixth is similar to a musical phrase created by Pink Floyd for their 1971 song “Echoes.” Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters expressed anger about this similarity in a 1992 interview.

Maria Björnson designed the sets and over 200 costumes, including the elaborate gowns in the “Masquerade” sequence. Her designs, such as the chandelier, underground gondola, and sweeping staircase, earned her multiple awards. Hal Prince, director of Cabaret, Candide, Follies, and Evita, directed the production. Gillian Lynne, associate director and choreographer of Cats, provided the musical staging and choreography.

A preview of the first act was held at Sydmonton Court (Lloyd Webber’s home) in 1985. Colm Wilkinson (later the Phantom in the Toronto production) played the Phantom, Sarah Brightman (later Christine) played Kristin, and Clive Carter (later in the London cast) played Raoul. David Burt played Monsieur Firmin, and Jeff Shankley played Monsieur André. This early version used Richard Stilgoe’s original lyrics, and many songs had names that were later changed, such as “What Has Time Done to Me” (“Think of Me”) and “Papers” (“Notes”). The Phantom’s original mask covered his entire face and stayed on during the performance, limiting the actor’s vision and muffled his voice. Maria Björnson designed the now-famous half-mask to replace it, and the unmasking scene was added. Clips from this preview were included in the 2004 film production’s DVD.

Productions

The Phantom of the Opera began previews at Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End on September 27, 1986, under the direction of Hal Prince. It officially opened on October 9. Gillian Lynne choreographed the show, and Maria Björnson designed the sets. Andrew Bridge handled the lighting. Michael Crawford played the Phantom, with Sarah Brightman as Christine, Steve Barton as Raoul, Rosemary Ashe as Carlotta, David Firth as Monsieur André, John Savident as Monsieur Firmin, Mary Millar as Madame Giry, Janet Devenish as Meg Giry, and John Aron as Piangi. When Crawford, Brightman, and Barton left to open the Broadway production, they were replaced by Dave Willetts, Claire Moore, and Michael Ball. The show reached its 10,000th performance on October 23, 2010, with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Michael Crawford in attendance. The 30th anniversary was celebrated on October 10, 2016, with a special appearance by the original cast. It is the second-longest-running musical in West End history, behind Les Misérables, and third overall, behind The Mousetrap.

The production paused on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later that year, it was announced that an extended closure was needed to refurbish the theatre and sets. In July 2020, photos of sets, props, and costumes being removed from Her Majesty's Theatre were shared online. Some people guessed the original production might be replaced. On July 28, 2020, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber confirmed the original London production would close permanently after 33 years, but they said the musical would return to the West End.

The Really Useful Group said the closure was only for renovations and that the show would return "unchanged." However, Mackintosh later stated that a new version of the show, based on the 2020 UK tour, would reopen at Her Majesty's Theatre. On December 4, 2020, Mackintosh confirmed the original production had officially ended, with investors receiving closing notices. The 2020 tour version would move to Her Majesty's Theatre, replacing the original set designs. Maria Björnson's set was redesigned, with changes like removing the Angel statue and reducing the size of the travelator and candelabra. The orchestra was cut from 27 to 14 musicians. On April 15, 2021, Mackintosh confirmed the original staging would not return and that new designers, directors, and choreographers would be used. Full casting for the new production was announced on April 27, 2021, with all previous long-term cast members leaving the show.

The Phantom of the Opera returned to Her Majesty's Theatre on July 27, 2021, in a "smaller" version. While Andrew Lloyd Webber called it "substantially identical" to the original, the updated staging had fewer musicians and changes to the set, such as removing Maria Björnson's sculptures and replacing the levitating Angel statue. The orchestra was reduced to 14 players from the original 27. The reopening cast included Killian Donnelly as the Phantom, Lucy St. Louis as Christine, Rhys Whitfield as Raoul, and Saori Oda as Carlotta.

New casting was announced on January 18, 2023, with Earl Carpenter and Jon Robyns as the Phantom from February 13 to April 1 and from April 3, 2023, respectively. Holly-Anne Hull played Christine Daae starting January 23.

The Phantom of the Opera began previews on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre on January 9, 1988, and opened on January 26. Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, and Steve Barton repeated their West End roles. The original Broadway cast included Judy Kaye as Carlotta, Cris Groenendaal as Monsieur André, Nicholas Wyman as Monsieur Firmin, Elisa Heinsohn as Meg Giry, Leila Martin as Madame Giry, and David Romano as Piangi. When Crawford left in October 1988 for a national tour, he was replaced by Timothy Nolen, who was later replaced by Groenendaal. Barton returned in March 1990 for nine months. The show played at the Majestic Theatre, becoming the first Broadway musical to reach 10,000 performances on February 11, 2012, and closing on April 16, 2023. It celebrated its 25th anniversary on January 26, 2013, with its 10,400th performance. The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running show in Broadway history, with over 3,500 more performances than any other. The 30th anniversary was on January 26, 2018, with special events and an extra performance. By April 2019, the show had been performed over 13,000 times. Howard McGillin and Hugh Panaro are the longest-running Phantoms in the production. Norm Lewis was the first African American actor to play the Phantom on Broadway.

The Broadway production paused on March 12, 2020, due to the pandemic, and resumed on October 22, 2021. Unlike the West End version, the Broadway show returned with the original Harold Prince-directed production and Maria Björnson's original set and costume designs. After Prince's death in 2019, his original vision for the show was preserved.

Reviews

Critical reviews of the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera were mostly positive when it opened. Frank Rich of The New York Times wrote, "It might be hard to have a bad time at the show, but you'd have to try. Only someone who is overly focused on rules would let the excitement before the show begin ruin their enjoyment. The production usually aims to share fantasy and fun with the audience, and it often succeeds." Howard Kissel from New York Daily News praised the show, calling it "a very impressive and exciting production, especially in its visual design." He also admired Andrew Lloyd Webber's music, even though some said it sounded similar to other songs, and he highlighted Michael Crawford's strong performance. Maria Björnson's set and costume designs were especially praised by reviewers. They described them as "a breathtaking, witty, and sensual tribute to 19th-century theater" and as "examples of excellent period detail and technical skill."

Other productions

A 25th-anniversary stage performance of The Phantom of the Opera was held in London on October 1 and 2, 2011, at the Royal Albert Hall. The event was broadcast live in cinemas worldwide. The production was created by Cameron Mackintosh, directed by Laurence Connor, and featured musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne. Matt Kinley designed the sets, Maria Björnson designed the costumes, Patrick Woodroffe handled the lighting, and Mick Potter worked on the sound. The cast included Ramin Karimloo as the Phantom, Sierra Boggess as Christine, Hadley Fraser as Raoul, Wynne Evans as Piangi, Wendy Ferguson as Carlotta, Barry James as Monsieur Firmin, Gareth Snook as Monsieur Andre, Liz Robertson as Madame Giry, and Daisy Maywood as Meg Giry. Former West End Phantom Earl Carpenter played the Auctioneer. Andrew Lloyd Webber and several original cast members, including Crawford and Brightman, attended the event. Colm Wilkinson and Anthony Warlow, who first performed the Phantom role in Canada and Australia, were also present. A DVD and Blu-ray of the performance was released in February 2012, and the event was shown on PBS’s "Great Performances" television series in March 2012.

In March 2012, a new production directed by Laurence Connor began a UK and Ireland tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the show. The tour started at the Theatre Royal Plymouth and included stops in Manchester, Bristol, Dublin, Leeds, Edinburgh, Milton Keynes, Cardiff, and Southampton. John Owen-Jones and Earl Carpenter alternated as the Phantom, with Katie Hall as Christine and Simon Bailey as Raoul. In November 2019, co-producers Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group (RUG) announced a new UK and Ireland tour that would return to the original production design, rather than the 2012 version. Although the tour was described as an "exact replica" of the Broadway and West End versions, changes were made to the set to make the production lighter. These changes included reducing the size of the false proscenium and removing the centrepiece Angel statue designed by Maria Björnson. Performances of the 2020 tour were paused in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, Mackintosh and RUG announced the tour would end early. Instead of resuming after the pandemic, the production moved to Her Majesty’s Theatre in London in July 2021, replacing Hal Prince’s original production.

The Phantom of the Opera has been translated into many languages and performed in over 40 countries across six continents. Most productions, except for the 25th Anniversary UK and US Tours, are "clones" that use the original staging, direction, sets, and costume designs. Notable international productions include:

• Argentina: The show ran from March to November 2009 in Buenos Aires at the Teatro Opera.
• Australia: From 1990–1998, the production toured Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. From 2007–2009, it returned to these cities, including Auckland. Anthony Warlow played the Phantom in these productions. Marina Prior starred as Christine in the original production, later replaced by Rob Guest. The final leg of the recent tour in Adelaide used giant screens to show live footage. In 2013, the show was performed in Canberra with Michael Cormick as the Phantom and Julie Lea Goodwin as Christine. An outdoor version with new sets and direction ran in Sydney Harbour in 2022. A production at the Sydney Opera House from August 2022 to February 2023 featured Josh Piterman, Amy Manford, and Paul Ettore Tabone reprising their West End roles.
• Austria: The German-language version opened in Vienna in December 1988 and ran until June 1993. A new touring production by Laurence Connor is scheduled to begin in Vienna in March 2024.
• Brazil: The first production opened in São Paulo in April 2005 and closed in April 2007. A revival began in São Paulo in August 2018.
• Canada: The original Canadian production ran in Toronto from September 20, 1989, to October 31, 1999, with Colm Wilkinson as the Phantom. A touring company performed in Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, Hong Kong, and Singapore from March 11, 1991, to October 1995. The Music Box Tour played in Canada from 2006–2007.
• China: A Shanghai production ran for 97 shows at the Shanghai Grand Theatre. The world tour returned to China in 2013, 2015, and 2015–2016. A new Mandarin production opened in Shanghai in May–June 2023 and will tour mainland China.
• Czech Republic: A non-replica production began in Prague in September 2014 and a revival started in September 2018.
• Denmark: The first production was in Copenhagen in 2000, with a second run from January to May 2009 and a third in September 2018.
• Estonia: A production in Estonian with English and Finnish subtitles premiered in Tartu in October 2014. It included performances in Tallinn and had additional shows in 2017.
• Finland: A production premiered in Helsinki in 2015 at the Finnish National Opera in English. Revivals began in 2018 and 2021.
• Germany: The show ran in Hamburg from 1990–2001, Stuttgart from 2002–2004, and Essen from 2005–2007. A reduced version toured in Hamburg and Oberhausen from 2013–2016.
• Hungary: A production in Budapest began in 2003 and modified the original design with new sets and costumes.
• Italy: A new production will open in Trieste on July 4, 2023, starring Ramin Karimloo as the Phantom, Bradley Jaden as Raoul, and Earl Carpenter as Monsieur Andre. It will tour in Italy and Monaco in 2023.

Film adaptations

A film version of the story, directed by Joel Schumacher and featuring Gerard Butler as the Phantom, Emmy Rossum as Christine, Patrick Wilson as Raoul, Minnie Driver as Carlotta, and Miranda Richardson as Madame Giry, was released in the United States on December 22, 2004.

In August 2025, it was announced that Qubic Pictures and Lloyd Webber's LW Entertainment plan to create an anime version of the musical, with Justin Leach leading the project.

In June 2025, Lloyd Webber shared that a remake of the 2004 film is being developed in its early stages. He did not name potential directors or actors but mentioned he would like to cast someone in their early 40s to play the Phantom in the new film.

Casting

The original actors who performed in English-speaking productions of The Phantom of the Opera:

• Christine Daaé: Rachel Barrell, Gina Beck, Meredith Braun, Rebecca Caine, Sofia Escobar, Celia Graham, Leila Benn Harris, Katie Hall, Holly-Anne Hull, Myrra Malmberg, Chumisa Dornford-May, Claire Moore, Robyn North, Anna O'Byrne, Celinde Schoenmaker, Lucy St. Louis
• The Phantom: Simon Bowman, Earl Carpenter, Peter Cousens, Killian Donnelly, Ben Forster, Ethan Freeman, Tim Howar, Peter Jöback, Ramin Karimloo, Peter Karrie, Glyn Kerslake, Ben Lewis, Marcus Lovett, John Owen-Jones, Peter Polycarpou, Gerónimo Rauch, Jon Robyns, Martin Smith, David Thaxton, Dave Willetts
• Raoul de Chagny: Michael Ball, John Barrowman, Simon Bowman, Simon Burke, Clive Carter, Michael Cormick, Garðar Thór Cortes, Killian Donnelly, Ramin Karimloo, Sean Palmer, Alex Rathgeber, Oliver Thornton, Michael Xavier
• Carlotta: Joanna Ampil, Rebecca Lock
• André: Martin Ball, Ethan Freeman, Peter Land, Mark Wynter
• Firmin: Martin Ball, Michael N. Harbour, Bill Homewood, Barry James, Royce Mills, Bruce Montague
• Madame Giry: Liz Robertson, Heather Jackson
• Piangi: Jeremy Secomb, Paul Ettore Tabone

• Christine Daaé: Sierra Boggess, Kimilee Bryant, Patti Cohenour, Ali Ewoldt, Samantha Hill, Rebecca Luker, Mary Michael Patterson, Meghan Picerno, Julia Udine, Lisa Vroman
• The Phantom: James Barbour, Steve Barton, Ben Crawford, John Cudia, Davis Gaines, Kevin Gray, Cris Groenendaal, Mark Jacoby, Peter Jöback, Ted Keegan, Jeff Keller, Norm Lewis, Brad Little, Marcus Lovett, Laird Mackintosh (Final Phantom), Gary Mauer, Howard McGillin, Timothy Nolen, Thomas James O'Leary, Hugh Panaro
• Raoul de Chagny: John Cudia, Jordan Donica, Jason Forbach, Davis Gaines, Tim Martin Gleason, Kevin Gray, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Brad Little, Gary Mauer, Hugh Panaro, Ciarán Sheehan
• Carlotta: Kimilee Bryant
• André: George Lee Andrews, Bradley Dean, Ted Keegan, Jeff Keller, Laird Mackintosh
• Firmin: George Lee Andrews, David Cryer, Tim Jerome, Jeff Keller
• Madame Giry: Linda Balgord
• Piangi: Peter Lockyer

• Christine Daaé: Lisa Vroman, Susan Owen, Kimilee Bryant
• The Phantom: Davis Gaines, Robert Guillaume, Ron Bohmer, Kevin Gray, Mark Jacoby, John Cudia, Tim Martin Gleason, Ted Keegan, Brad Little, Gary Mauer, Thomas James O'Leary
• Raoul de Chagny: John Cudia, Tim Martin Gleason, Ciarán Sheehan
• Meg Giry: Jen Gould

• Christine Daaé: Patti Cohenour
• The Phantom: Ethan Freeman, Cris Groenendaal, Jeff Hyslop, Peter Karrie, Ciarán Sheehan, René Simard, Paul Stanley
• Raoul de Chagny: Laird Mackintosh, Christopher Shyer
• Carlotta: Patricia Phillips
• Meg Giry: Diana Kaarina

• Christine Daaé: Anna O'Byrne
• The Phantom: Anthony Warlow, Rob Guest
• Raoul de Chagny: Alexander Lewis
• Firmin: John O'May

Orchestra

The original music was written by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. There are several versions of the orchestration:

• A 27-piece version (used on Broadway and in London until 2020, and for the 2022 Australian production).
• A 29-piece version (used in the original Broadway production).
• A 14-piece version (used in tours, most international productions since 2012, the 2020 UK Tour, and in London since 2021).
• A 45-piece version (used for the 25th anniversary celebration).

The original Broadway production used a 29-piece pit orchestra. The percussion section is divided into two groups: one for regular percussion instruments and one for mallet instruments. The regular percussion includes two timpani, suspended cymbals, crash cymbals, a snare drum, a triangle, a tambourine, and a bass drum. The mallet group includes a glockenspiel, xylophone, vibraphone, marimba, tubular bells, a bell tree, a woodblock, a gong, a guiro, and finger cymbals.

The original London score is the same as the Broadway score but has one percussion part and seven violins instead of more. The most recent Broadway orchestration is licensed by R&H Theatricals for both amateur and professional productions. The only difference between the 29-piece and 27-piece Broadway orchestras is that the smaller version does not include Violins VII and VIII.

The current 14-piece orchestration, used in London and on tour, removes about half of the original orchestra’s parts but adds an extra keyboard. Removed sections include the original Reed III, the harp, the percussion, all brass instruments except one French horn, and most of the string instrument duplicates. This leaves three violins and one of each other string instrument.

Recordings

Cast recordings have been created for the London, Austrian, Dutch, German, Japanese, Swedish, Korean, Hungarian, Mexican, Polish, Russian, and Canadian productions of The Phantom of the Opera.

The 1986 original London cast recording was released by Polydor Records in 1987. It was made available in two formats: a single-CD version titled Highlights from The Phantom of the Opera and a two-CD version titled Phantom of the Opera. Both formats received four Platinum certifications in the United States and had sold 4.97 million copies by January 2017. A version called The Complete Recordings sold 507,000 copies since 1991. The original album was also certified three times Platinum in the United Kingdom. The Canadian cast recording earned two Platinum certifications in Canada. In Switzerland, The Phantom of the Opera received three Platinum certifications, and Highlights received two Platinum certifications. Recordings of the Vienna cast and the Hamburg cast, produced by Jimmy Bowien, were certified Gold and triple Platinum, respectively, in Germany. It is reported that the original album recording has sold 40 million copies worldwide.

A live recording of The Phantom of the Opera performed at the Royal Albert Hall was released in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2011. It was later released in the United States and Canada on February 7, 2012, along with Blu-ray and DVD videos. A collectors' box set containing the Royal Albert Hall concert recording, the original cast recording, and the sequel Love Never Dies was also released.

Allegations of plagiarism

In 1987, the family members of Giacomo Puccini filed a lawsuit, claiming that a short musical phrase in the song "Music of the Night" was very similar to a part from the opera La fanciulla del West. The legal case was resolved without going to court, and the amount paid was not made public.

In 1990, a songwriter from Baltimore named Ray Repp sued, stating that the main song from The Phantom of the Opera was based on a song he wrote in 1978 called "Till You." After eight years of legal battles—including a failed lawsuit by Andrew Lloyd Webber, who claimed "Till You" copied a song from his musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat—the jury decided in favor of Lloyd Webber.

Roger Waters, a former member of the band Pink Floyd, said that the famous musical pattern in Phantom's title song was copied from a bass line in a song called "Echoes" from the 1971 Pink Floyd album Meddle. He did not take legal action, stating, "Life's too long to bother with suing Andrew fucking Lloyd Webber."

Sequel

The sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ben Elton, Frederick Forsyth, and Glenn Slater, is titled Love Never Dies. It was based on the 1999 novel The Phantom of Manhattan by Forsyth. The story takes place in 1907, which is 10 years after the ending of The Phantom of the Opera according to the production's announcement, but actually 26 years later since the original show was set in 1881. In the story, Christine is invited to perform at Phantasma, a new attraction at Coney Island, by an anonymous manager. She travels to Brooklyn with her husband, Raoul, and her son, Gustave, unaware that the Phantom arranged her appearance at the popular beach resort.

The original production was directed by Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. The set and costume designs were created by Bob Crowley. It opened at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End on March 9, 2010, starring Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess. The show ran for more than 17 months and closed on August 27, 2011. It received mixed reviews. A planned Broadway opening in November 2010 was delayed until Spring 2011 and later canceled. A revised version of the show, starring Ben Lewis and Anna O'Byrne, opened in Melbourne, Australia, on May 21, 2011, at the Regent Theatre. It received more positive feedback. After its run in Melbourne ended on December 12, 2011, the production moved to the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, where it played from January to April 2012. A West End revival concert, starring Norm Lewis and Celinde Schoenmaker, was held at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on August 21 and 22, 2023.