Immersive Phantom of the Opera: Everything we know so far

Over the last week, we’ve been receiving letters from the Opera Ghost.

The cursive black text against red paper (which you can see below, fully transcribed) has slowly been revealing details about a new revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber hit musical.

After 35 years, the show closed on Broadway back in 2023, and speculation around the music of the night’s return has been rife ever since.

It’s been a busy week for the composer, as Webber also gave an interview hinting at a new Phantom of the Opera film.

Initial rumblings

A couple of months ago, Webber and the official Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals Instagram accounts collaborated on a post. In it, the composer opens the recognisable seal of a letter on a Manhattan street.

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The street was identified by “Phans” as 218 W 57th St, New York City.

That isn’t the only haunting the Phantom has done to his “Dear Manager”. A masked figure was spotted lurking in his infamous cape and mask at the 78th Tony Awards, where Sunset Boulevard was up for seven awards (and won a number of them, including Best Revival and Best Leading Actress in a Musical for Nicole Scherzinger!). Later, Webber posted that there had been a break-in at his New York apartment…

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First letter

What has since been confirmed is as follows:

It is now expected that the new production will be titled Masquerade, due to the social media handles that have been created and signage on the website. Edit: This has been confirmed on 27 June.

In the first letter, received by “respected purveyors of mass communication”, dated 23 June and titled “Instructions from the Phantom of the Opera”, the Opera Ghost laid out his requirements that he says will “grant access to my production during the six weeks I have elected to present it to a very fortunate few.”

These instructions are as follows:

1. You must dress in black, white or silver or a combination of these colours.
2. You must at all times conceal your face. A masquerade mask in black, white, or silver is required. Bring your own or purchase one at the door.
3. Finally, a word of advice. Do not wear high heels. Whilst in certain circumstances these can be appropriate, they could be treacherous as you tread the secret catacombs and dark crannies that I have prepared for you.

In full, the letter reads:

“Fondest greetings, It has been brought to my attention that you are a respected purveyor of mass communication. I have need for certain messages to be disseminated concerning my grand Masquerade, an elaborate presentation that continues the story of my legend following my untimely and unwise eviction from The Majestic Theater. I have selected you to aid me in this matter. Here are the instructions for my intended guests—You are strongly advised to sign my ledger by the 30th of June. This will ensure you will be granted access to my production during the six weeks I have elected to present it to a very fortunate few. The following requirements must be strictly adhered to: You must dress in black, white or silver or a combination of these colours. You must at all times conceal your face. A masquerade mask in black, white, or silver isrequired. Bring your own or purchase one at the door. Finally, a word of advice. Do not wear high heels. Whilst in certain circumstances these can be appropriate, they could be treacherous as you tread the secret catacombs and dark crannies that I have prepared for you. Further instructions will follow at my pleasure, I remain, Your obedient servant, O.G.”

Second letter

A second letter, received on 26 June, revealed further information, starting with a strong statement:

“It has come to my attention that there has been some speculation about my plans for my legend to continue to be told after it was unwisely prevented from being recounted on Broadway. I can now confirm that these rumours have foundation.”

Before going on to confirm the 57th Street address.

In addition, director Diane Paulus has been named director of the “new vision”. The Opera Ghost confirmed: “Under my guidance, she has created, along with my minion Lloyd Webber, an event like no other with my characters played by performers of exceptional ability.”

Paulus, a Tony Award winner for her revival of Pippin, has worked on productions of Jagged Little Pill, Hair, and The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, for which she also received Tony noms.

Additionally, Paulus and her husband, Randy Weiner, directed an immersive disco adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Donkey Show played in venues across the world, including a stint in London. Weiner is one of the producers of the long-running (and also mask-wearing) immersive show Sleep No More.

The second letter in full reads:

“It has come to my attention that there has been some speculation about my plans for my legend to continue to be told after it was unwisely prevented from being recounted on Broadway. I can now confirm that these rumours have foundation. I have secured an address on 57th Street, a more salubrious part of town than my previous, where I have instructed the director Diane Paulus to prepare my new vision of the legend. I have observed that she has considerable credentials in the fields of opera and musical theater. Under my guidance she has created, along with my minion Lloyd Webber, an event like no other with my characters played by performers of exceptional ability. Further communications will be issued in due course. It will be greatly in your interest to comply with any commands therein at all times.”

The date, 30 June, mentioned in the first letter suggests that ticket information will be released at 10am US time. To receive the invitation to six weeks of preview performances, audiences are asked to sign the Phantom’s Ledger at Masqueradenyc.com.

The cast and creative team

Mere hours after we posted this article, the full company of the Masquerade cast were confirmed. The company includes Phantom veterans as well as newcomers, and you can get to know everybody involved in the show here.

In addition, according to press material, “Masquerade blurs the lines of reality, bringing audiences inside and closer than ever before to the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera – a mystery never fully explained. From the highest rooftop to the subterranean lair deep below the Opera Populaire, guests will be invited to experience the music of the night more intimately than ever before.”

The release goes on to explain that when the iconic chandelier rises again above New York City, it will feature a dazzling display of over 30,000 crystals provided by Preciosa, the official crystal partner of the show.

Tickets

Tickets to the special six-week preview performances sold out in a matter of hours! It must be all the fun of the campaign. Due to the fan response, tickets for additional dates will be released on Wednesday, 9 July. Again, these will be exclusively available to those who have signed the aforementioned ledger.

We’ll obediently update this article with any further details we receive from the Opera Ghost.

Meanwhile, The Phantom of the Opera continues to play in the West End.