The Phantom of the Opera Returns to the Orpheum Theater in Best Production in Decades

The Phantom of the Opera returns to the Twin Cities for what must be the seventh or eighth time. This tour is billed as a revitalized production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical—based on Harold Prince’s original direction, with staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne, recreated by Chrissie Cartwright. The last time the show toured through Minneapolis, the staging was noticeably different from the version I remembered. While I enjoyed that iteration, I’m thrilled this production brings back the staging I first fell in love with.

For the uninitiated, The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a mysterious, disfigured musical genius who lives beneath the Paris Opera House and becomes obsessed with a young soprano named Christine Daaé. As he manipulates the opera company to make her a star, Christine is torn between fear, fascination, and her love for childhood friend Raoul. The Phantom’s desperate obsession spirals into jealousy and violence, culminating in a confrontation where compassion becomes his final reckoning.

This is one of those musicals people tend to either love or loathe. I know plenty of musically sophisticated people who dismiss it entirely, but I’m not one of them. My love for this show goes back to my first encounter with it: a high school show choir trip to Los Angeles in 1990, where I saw Michael Crawford in the role he originated in the West End and on Broadway. That performance seared itself into my memory. It was probably the first massive Broadway caliber show I ever saw, and it left its mark. I played the cast recording endlessly, so much so that “All I Ask of You” ended up in my first wedding, which feels incredibly cliché now.

Like every version I’ve seen since, this production doesn’t quite reach the perfection of that first experience, but only just. If you’re a Phantom fan, this may be the strongest tour in a couple of decades.

The cast is solid overall, with a few minor quibbles. Daniel Lopez (Raoul) sings beautifully, though at times his constant smiling felt more like musical theatre autopilot than character driven choice. Jordan Lee Gilbert is a stunning Christine, her voice and emotional performance are exceptional. Isaiah Bailey (the Phantom) felt slightly tentative in Act I, but something clicked for him in Act II, and his performance deepened significantly. Of course, every Phantom I see ends up compared, perhaps unfairly, to Michael Crawford’s definitive interpretation. I also enjoyed William Thomas Evans and Carrington Vilmont as the new opera managers; they brought nuance and personality to roles that can easily become one-note.

As always, two things define Phantom: the music and the design. The score, depending on who you ask, is either lush romantic genius or overly popularist fluff. I fall firmly in the first camp. I find it sweeping, emotional, and unforgettable. Some of the most memorable melodies in musical theatre live here.

The production design is equally superb, truly lush in every sense. From the jaw-dropping moment when the chandelier transforms from dusty relic to blazing spectacle in under two seconds, to quieter scenes like the managers’ office framed by rich curtains, the visual world is breathtaking, theatrical, and immersive.

If you’re already a Phantom devotee, consider this a strong recommendation. If you’ve never seen it, now’s the time, if only so you can finally decide whether you’re a Phantom lover or Phantom leaver.

The Phantom of the Opera runs through December 7 at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis.
For more information and tickets, visit: https://hennepinarts.org/events/the-phantom-of-the-opera

Don’t rely on Facebook or Instagram algorithms to keep you in the loop about great shows. Subscribe and have every post from The Stages of MN delivered straight to your inbox. It’s the best way to make sure you never miss out on the theater action. To subscribe on a computer, enter your email address on the home page (right-hand side) and click subscribe. On mobile, scroll to the bottom of the page to find the same option. You can also follow me on Facebook @thestagesofmn and on Instagram thestagesofmn.