the phantom of the opera - 1986

MUSIC: Andrew Lloyd Webber
LYRICS: Charles Hart/Richard Stilgoe
BOOK: Andrew Lloyd Webber/Charles Hart/Richard Stilgoe

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has been running in London's West End since 1986. Based on Gaston Leroux's novel of the same name, The Phantom Of The Opera is one of Britain's most successful musicals and is considered by many to be composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's best. The lyrics were penned by lyricist Charles Hart and the songs have gone on to become musical theatre standards, among them Music Of The Night, Think Of Me, All I Ask Of You, Masquerade and perhaps the most famous title song of all time.

The show has had successful runs in many countries and cities and has been recorded in several languages. In 2004 it was made into a moderately successful movie starring Gerard Butler, Minnie Driver and Emmy Rossum. Remaining true to the original, the movie added only one song for the end credits - Learn To Be Lonely performed by Minnie Driver.

After running for more than twenty years, Lloyd Webber has taken The Phantom Of The Opera's success to a new level by creating a stage sequel entitled Love Never Dies. The new show takes Christine Daae, Raoul, Madame Giry, Meg and The Phantom ten years into the future where they are finding a new life in New York.