Longest show staged 10,000th performance

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

The Broadway show ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ celebrated its 10,000th performance.

The longest running Broadway show, “The Phantom of the Opera,” celebrated its 10,000th performance on Jan. 11.

After enjoying success in London, “The Phantom of the Opera” came to Broadway and opened at the Majestic Theatre on Jan. 9, 1988, where it continues to play. The 10,000th performance is an accomplishment that is the first of its kind. As part of the festivities, the Actor’s Fund hosted the event with special tickets and a post-show reception at Sardi’s restaurant.

It is estimated that “Phantom” has been seen by more than 130 million people, and the total worldwide gross is now in excess of $5.6 billion. The show has won over 50 major theater awards including three Olivier Awards. Its most recent awards include the 2002 Olivier Audience Award for Most Popular Show, an Evening Standard Award, seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards and three Outer Critic Circle Awards. “The Phantom of the Opera” opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, on Sept. 27, 1986, and at the Majestic Theatre in New York on Jan. 9, 1988.

“The Phantom of the Opera” became Broadway’s longest running show when it overtook the record set by “Cats” with its 7,486th performance on Jan. 6, 2006. It is the only Broadway show to celebrate 24 anniversaries.