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Phantom Returns to Vienna 
Raimund Theatre in Vienna, exterior and interior views
The Phantom of the Opera will open in the Raimund Theatre in Vienna. The 1200 seater theatre in the Mariahilf district of Vienna dates from 1893. The opening night will be 15 March 2024 |
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Phantom in Japan 2024 
KAAT Theatre Yokohama, exterior and interior views
The Phantom of the Opera will be performed in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture at the KAAT (Kanagawa Arts Theatre) from 23th April - 11th August 2024. |
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Phantom Tours of South Korea and China 2023 
Buzan Dream Centre
Phantom is being performed in South Korea in two locations this year Busan Dream Centre from 30 March - 16 June 2023 Seoul Charlotte Theatre from 14 July - 17 November 2023 
Charlotte Theatre Seoul
Chinese Tour Phantom is also touring China in a ten-location tour, between 3 May - 23 December 2023. Highlights of the tour include: The Beijing Tianquo Arts Centre, Shanghai Grand Theatre and Guangzhou Opera House.
Guangzhou Opera House
Shanghai Grand Theatre
The Beijing Tianquo Arts Centre,
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July 2023 
The Home of ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ the Palais Garnier in Paris, Is Now on Airbnb for One Night Only
Paris Opera House the Palais Garnier, the basis of The Phantom of the Opera and inspiration for Maria Bjornson’s iconic production designs is opening up it’s most sumptuous theatre box, now a glamorous bedroom. Airbnb has a one day only slot in this room on July 16th 2023. Link to the sumptuous suite on Conde Nast Traveller here: |
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April 2023 
Get an Up-Close Look at Maria Björnson's Intricate Costumes from Phantom of the Opera
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April 2023 
"3 amazing people, Hal, Gillian and Maria whose input made the show the success it is today. Think of these people fondly."
Phantom has closed on Broadway, perhaps just for a while. Andrew Loyd Webber posted the above composite image of Hal Prince (Phantom Director), Gillian Lynne (Choreographer) and Maria on Facebook... |
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Phantom Australia 2022 - 2023 
The two theatres of the Sydney Opera House seen from above
Dates are confirmed for Phantom in Australia. The show opens in Sydney at the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the iconic Sydney Opera House on 20th August 2022 and runs there until 16th October. The Melbourne opening is on 30th October 2022 and performances continue until 29th January 2023. Maria Bjornson’s classic costume designs for the show have been recreated by her long-term colleague and friend Jill Parker. 
Melbourne State Theatre Arts Centre
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Phantom to reopen in Australia. August 2022 
The Sydney Opera House, where Phantom will open
in August 2022 The Phantom of the Opera will open at the Sydney Opera House in August 2022 and Arts Centre Melbourne in October 2022. Josh Piterman, Amy Manford and Blake Bowden will be playing the roles of the Phantom, Christine, and Raoul for the production’s Sydney and Melbourne seasons 2022. 
Amy Manford (Christine), Josh Piterman (Phantom) and Blake Bowden (Raoul) in the 2022 Australian tour of Phantom.
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Phantom Reopens in New York. October 2021 
Auditorium interior, Majestic Theatre New York
Phantom reopened at the Majestic Theatre in New York City on 22nd October 2021. The longest-running show in Broadway history, Phantom’s New York debut was in 1988.
The show reopened with Ben Crawford as the Phantom, Meghan Picerno as Christine and John Riddle as Raoul. Here is a link to the New York Production
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Association of Dress Historians Magazine celebrates the artistry of Maria Bjornson. Winter 2021. 
Detail: Bjornson's Original 1986 Design for the Phantom
Janne Helene Arneson, a Norwegian costume historian working at The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo has written an incisive and well researched article on Maria Bjornson’s iconic designs for Phantom, following her initial ideas through to finished costume sketches. The article appears in the distinguished online journal The Association of Dress History Magazine, Winter 2021 edition.
Here is a PDF of Janne Helene Arneson’s article |
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Phantom Celebrates 35 Years on the London Stage. October 2021 
On Monday 11th October 2021 there was a special gala performance of The Phantom of the Opera, followed by magnificent party for cast, crew and special invitees, to celebrate Phantom’s 35 years on the London stage.
Here is a link to a Youtube clip marking the occasion |
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Phantom reopens in London. July 2021 
Her Majesty’s Theatre, London
Phantom reopens in its London home Her Majesty’s Theatre on July 27th 2021. Lucy St Louis and Rhys Whitfield will join the Cast as Christine Daaé and Raoul. Killian Donnelly will play the Phantom.
Lucy St Louis
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New Tokyo home for Phantom. Autumn 2020 
The brand new Shiki Theatre, Tokyo
Phantom returns to Japan in the newly built Shiki Theatre in Tokyo. The show will open on 24th October 2020 and is projected to run until early 2022.
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Phantom World Tour 2020 
Taipei Arena
The Phantom World Tour next stops in Taiwan.
The Taipei Arena will host from November 19th until December 6th 2020 |
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Phantom Tours Korea December 2019 - Summer 2020 
Dream Theatre, Busan
The Phantom of the Opera will arrive in South Korea in December 2019 for a three venue tour, seven years after its sold-out run in Seoul in 2012. The show will start its Korean journey in the newly built Dream Theater in the southern port city of Busan on December 13th. The Second Korean venue of the tour is The Blue Square International Hall in Seoul, opening 14th March 2020, the third and final city visited will be the South Western city of Daegu, the show will here open in July 2020, the performance venue has not yet been confirmed.
Blue Square Hall, Seoul
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Hal Prince 30/01/28 - 31/07/19 
Hal Prince and Maria Björnson with the
Phantom set model, 1986 The great director and producer Hal Prince died on 31st July 2019 at the age of 91. HIs record with hit musicals was legendary. He worked with Maria Björnson on Phantom, together creating the extraordinary visual spectacle which continues to dazzle audiences after over thirty years.
Click for The Daily Telegraph’s obituary |
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Phantom is on Tour
 Dates for performances:
Malaysia, performances at the Istana Budaya Palace of Culture in Kuala Lumpur (pictured), from 15th June 2019 - July 7th 2019
Israel performances at The Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, from 12th August 2010 - 31st August 2019 United Arab Emirates performances at the Dubai Opera, from 16th October 2019 - 30th October 2019
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Phantom reopens in Manila
  The Phantom of The Opera will be appearing at the Solaire Resort in Manila. Opening night is the 20th February 2019
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Praise for Phantom in Copenhagen The Danish press has been resounding in its praise for Maria Bjornson designs in the recently opened New Theatre (Det Ny theatre) Copenhagen production of Phantom:
Maria Björnson’s amazing scenic images…..continue to surprise, excite, touch and seduce……..We run from one magnificent scene to another Scenekanten.com
.….the most striking element of the production is the late Maria Bjørnson’s design work The Copenhagen Post Maria Björnson’s scenography is an extremely important factor in the success of the piece. She captures Grand Opera’s exaggerated style, and in the ballet costumes bring Degas’ paintings to life Out and About
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Phantom reopens in Copenhagen  The Danish production of The Phantom of the Opera will be performed at Det Ny Theatre (The New Theatre) in Copenhagen from September 21st 2018 until 31st March 2019.
For further deatils see: www.detnyteater.dk/the-phantom-of-the-opera/
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Dame Gillian Lynne Choreographer of Phantom dies  Dame Gillian Barbara Lynne 1926 -2018
The choreographer and dancer Dame Gillian Lynne died on the 1st July 2018 aged 92. Dame Gillian, who worked with Maria Bjornson on Phantom, which she choreographed, had a long and illustrious career.
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Phantom opens in Yokohama, Japan  Phantom is reopening in Japan, on Saturday 25th of March 2017 . The Shiki Theatre Company staging will be inaugurated at the Kanagawa Arts Theatre in Yokohama. Follow this link to an English language website about the opening:
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Phantom wins audience prize at 2016  The Phantom of the Opera won the Magic Theatre audience Award in the 2016 Olivier Theatre Awards at the Royal Opera House on Sunday 3rd March. The award is the only prize chosen and voted for by members of the public. Watch Phantom lead performers with the Magic Audience Award at the Oliviers on Youtube: Olivier Awards official site:
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Phantom designs in V&A Exhibition.  The V&A Exhibition Curtain Up features original Phantom designs by Maria Bjornson. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Olivier Awards in April 2016, Curtain Up showcases material from multi-award-winning productions such as The Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line and Wolf Hall and highlights outstanding theatre practitioners.
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Phantom costumes in Bristol exhibition  An exhibition called Centre Stage: Celebrating Theatre in Bristol, will be showing original costumes and designs for The Phantom of the Opera, along with other artwork, sets and props, including this theatrical “Tinsel Print” from 1839, at The Royal West of England Academy in Queen’s Road Clifton, Bristol from December 11th 2015 - 24th January 2016.
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Phantom of the Oper-Baa click image to enlarge |
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Phantom for Istanbul  The Phantom of the Opera will open in Istanbul, Turkey at a gala performance on Thursday 9th April 2015. The production runs until Sunday May 17th.
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Phantom in Moscow
 The Russian premiere of The Phantom of the Opera took place on 4th October 2014 at the MDM Theatre Moscow. 2014 was UK-Russia Year of Culture so this was particularly symbolic.
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Phantom in Shanghai
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Phantom in the USA,
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25 Glorious years of Phantom
Click here to view as a PDF document (right click for download options).
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Phantom back in South Korea Eight years after it last played in Korea The Phantom of the Opera has opened in Seoul at the Charlotte Theatre in the Jamsil area. The theatre was specifically designed for music theatre productions. The stage is designed to be especially close to the audience. |
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Phantom Fan |
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El Fantasma in Argentina The production ran for six months. You can view the webpage for this production by clicking this link: http://www.elfantasmadelaopera.com.ar/ |
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New digital sound system for Phantom on Broadway In August 2008, the broadway production of the Phantom of the Opera closed down for four performances for the installation of a state-of-the-art, $750,000 digital sound system, and now sounds better than ever.Please click the link read the full press release as a PDF (108k) |
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Phantom Vegas Anniversary
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Vegas Phantom is #1 in Review-Journal The Las Vegas Review-Journal's Mike Weatherford has named Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular as his favourite Las Vegas show of 2006. Please click the link below to read the article on the Broadway World website:http://BroadwayWorld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=14668 |
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Phantom of the Opera Las Vegas
An all-new 90-minute production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA opened on June 25, 2006 at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. The show has received standing ovations ever since.
http://www.venetian.com/phantom/index.cfm  Inside the spectacular new theatre
 The Las Vegas programme for Phantom. To see a bigger version and some of the inside pages please click on the cover above (PDF, 0.6MB)
Las Vegas Press
The Autumn 2007 edition of Venetian, featured a fashion shoot photographed in the Phantom theatre using the production sets. Venetian is the magazine of the Venetian Las Vegas resort, where the Phantom theatre is located. Click here to see the whole article (PDF, 0.3MB) Press for Phantom Las Vegas:
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Phantom Masked Ball
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The Phantom of the Opera will be presented at the Rachadalia Theatre in Bangkok for four weeks, beginning 7th May 2013
The Phantom of the Opera opened for a limited season at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Theatre in Pasay City, Manila on 25th August 2012. The theatre seats 1800 people on four levels. 
  The ticket for The Phantom of the Opera Masked Ball, and the special gala performance programme
 The auditorium at the Majestic before the guests arrived
 Cameron Mackintosh speaks at the New York Gala,
while Gillian Lynne looks on. To coincide with this event a tribute to Maria appeared in VARIETY, the show business weekly. This article is reproduced below: |
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Dedicated to drop-dead gorgeous Designer Maria Bjornson brought a lusher-than-thou What show in musical theater history has been more dependent on sets and costumes for its reputation than "The Phantom of the Opera"? There's Andrew Lloyd Webber's music, and Michael Crawford certainly made an impression. But think "Phantom," and what inevitably comes to mind is the opera house's falling chandelier, the Phantom's crepuscular lair and all that crisp satin. And for that, we must thank Maria Bjornson, the show's extraordinary designer, whose imagination didn't just define a mood - it defined a seminal theatrical extravaganza. 
LOOK OF LOVE: Maria Bjornson designed the sets and costumes for "The Phantom of the Opera," her first of only three Broadway credits. Her illustrious career was cut short in 2002 when she died at age 53. Above, Bjomsons illustration for "Hannibal," the opera within the opera known as "Phantom."
Bjornson's list of credits may always be headed by "Phantom," but her work in theater was varied and, ironically, includes far more operas and plays than musicals. The tragedy is that her credit list, though substantial, would be larger still had she not died in 2002 of natural causes at the unnaturally early age of 53. At the time, she was working on the inaugural production of Rachel Portman's opera "The Little Prince," based on the beloved book by Saint-Exupery. Well received at its premiere in Houston in 2003 and in New York last year, the opera was especially lauded for Bjornson's whimsical set and costume designs - a world away from what she had wrought for "Phantom." Francesa Zambello, who first worked with Bjornson at London's Covent Garden in 1999, directed that production and says that although the designer didn't live to see her work executed, she had built all the set models and painted the costumes designs. "She was relentless in getting it right," Zambello recalls. "There are some designers who will not spend hours in the paint and costume shops, but Maria would not leave people alone until everything was right." The director describes Bjornson as "a consummate storyteller who was never afraid of great beauty," dubbing the designer "traditionalist and conservative" in the aesthetic sense. "It's not often fashionable now to desire something to be drop-dead gorgeous," says Zambello, "but that's what she was dedicated to." Producer Cameron Mackintosh had seen Bjornson's work in the opera house, but it wasn't grandeur that impressed him most when it came to picking a designer for "Phantom." "She was able to create a real world I could believe in," he says. "The reason why of all my shows 'Phantom' has endured so long is that it requires the scale and beauty of the visual to pull you in." Lloyd Webber, too, acknowledges "Phantom's" debt to Bjornson, saying, "She brought femininity to it." And the composer disagrees with those who attribute the show's visual success to excess. "People talk about it being very spectacular," he says, "but most everything in the production is done with an extraordinary lack of technology. A lot of 'Phantom' is extraordinarily simple. It's just that the design is so brilliant that it works right through." Matt Wolf in London contributed to this report. This article originally appeared in VARIETY, Jan. 9-15, 2006
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 Michael Crawford going through the various stages of make up necessary to transform himself into the Phantom
The cover of the illustrated edition of PHANTOM released to coincide with the 1925 film starring Lon Cheney
An illustration from the 1925 edition
 
Posters for the 1925 film
 
The 1911 first English language edition of The Phantom of the Opera (left) and Gaston Leroux's 1910 original French novel (right)
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Please click on the links below to download documents containing facts about Phantom.
The Phantom Facts (MS Word document) Phantom Milestones (MS Word document) |
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One woman’s passion for Maria’s Phantom designs has taken her to great lengths of research and creativity: A very talented model maker who goes by the name Skimble1976 has made an extraordinary collection of models of the Phantom proscenium and set. |
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Phantom Proscenium detail
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