By Sophie Needelman
I am embarrassed, as a total theater person, to say that until recently I had never seen Phantom of the Opera. Phantom is known not only as a Broadway classic but also the ultimate Andrew Lloyd Webber experience that serves as the voice of his theater legacy. I am now proud to say, though, that during my recent travels to Philadelphia I was lucky enough to finally get my Phantom fix!
The first thing that stood out to me about Phantom is how extremely over the top every element is! Costumes, set pieces, soul-shaking sound and absolutely incredible engagement with the audience as the show transformed the contemporary Kimmel Center theater into the epic theater of the Phantom past. Over 1200 costume pieces, 50 wigs, 50 mustaches, and a 6000-bead chandelier are only a few of the elements that make this production jaw-dropping. On top of that, 85 moving lights utilize tons of haze and smoke affects that add to the illusions that transform audience members over the course of the show. And man do those songs get stuck in your head!
Aside from the artistic value of Phantom, this show really gets in to the heart of each city it travels to. The production employs hundreds of stage hands to set up and work the performances, so Philadelphia was definitely a big part of this timeless classic! The costume designs carried through this element of old-meets-new as well by incorporating original costume designs with some never been used before! Whether you like old-school Broadway or the freshest performances on the block, look no further than Phantom of the Opera, now touring the US and UK!