After 35 years, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera took its final curtain call on Sunday night at the Majestic Theatre in New York. This was show No. 13,981 of the longest-running show in Broadway history and was dedicated by Lloyd Webber to his son Nicholas who died last month after a battle with gastric cancer.
Amid a standing ovation, Webber said, “I hope you won’t mind if I dedicate this performance to my son, Nick.” Turning to original Phantom star, Sarah Brightman, the composer recalled, “When Nick was a little boy, he heard some of this music.”
Said Brightman, “Yes, he did. When Andrew was writing it, he was right there. So his soul is with us. Nick, we love you very much.”
Also on Sunday night, Brightman performed the musical’s most famous song, “The Music of the Night,” along with current cast, previous actors and crew members,...
Amid a standing ovation, Webber said, “I hope you won’t mind if I dedicate this performance to my son, Nick.” Turning to original Phantom star, Sarah Brightman, the composer recalled, “When Nick was a little boy, he heard some of this music.”
Said Brightman, “Yes, he did. When Andrew was writing it, he was right there. So his soul is with us. Nick, we love you very much.”
Also on Sunday night, Brightman performed the musical’s most famous song, “The Music of the Night,” along with current cast, previous actors and crew members,...
- 4/17/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
The Phantom of the Opera, Broadway’s longest running show, will close in February following its 35th anniversary in January, producers have announced.
“We are sad to confirm that after 35 years on Broadway, Phantom will play its final performance at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday February 18th, 2023,” the show has announced on its website. “Tickets are currently on sale for performances through January 22nd, 2023, and we expect the final block of tickets to be placed on sale shortly.”
The news comes as the musical, known for its falling chandelier, its half-masked title character and its most famous song “The Music of the Night,” has become an icon of Broadway over the decades but has been as susceptible as other productions to the soft Covid market and weak tourist climate.
The musical has long played at the Shubert Organization’s Majestic Theatre.
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart,...
“We are sad to confirm that after 35 years on Broadway, Phantom will play its final performance at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday February 18th, 2023,” the show has announced on its website. “Tickets are currently on sale for performances through January 22nd, 2023, and we expect the final block of tickets to be placed on sale shortly.”
The news comes as the musical, known for its falling chandelier, its half-masked title character and its most famous song “The Music of the Night,” has become an icon of Broadway over the decades but has been as susceptible as other productions to the soft Covid market and weak tourist climate.
The musical has long played at the Shubert Organization’s Majestic Theatre.
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart,...
- 9/16/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Today in 1987, Starlight Express opened at the Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 761 performances. Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber music, Richard Stilgoe lyrics and Arlene Phillips choreography, with later revisions by Don Black lyrics and David Yazbek music and lyrics for the 2nd Us tour. The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life famously the actors perform wearing roller skates.
- 3/15/2016
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Today in 1987, Starlight Express opened at the Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 761 performances. Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber music, Richard Stilgoe lyrics and Arlene Phillips choreography, with later revisions by Don Black lyrics and David Yazbek music and lyrics for the 2nd Us tour. The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life famously the actors perform wearing roller skates.
- 3/15/2015
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Today in 1987, Starlight Express opened at the Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 761 performances. Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber music, Richard Stilgoe lyrics and Arlene Phillips choreography, with later revisions by Don Black lyrics and David Yazbek music and lyrics for the 2nd Us tour. The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life famously the actors perform wearing roller skates.
- 3/15/2014
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
She’s quite the looker, regardless of her context, and Pippa Middleton couldn’t help but add some eye candy to the unveiling of Blue Sandstone Memorial at Westminster Abbey today (March 13).
The beautiful brunette donned a navy blue dress with matching shoes and long flowing brunette locks as she joined her family in honoring the late broadcaster and journalist David Frost who passed away last year.
Given that Frost was quite the comedian, Joanna Lumley and Sir Richard Stilgoe put together a lighthearted poem called “A Sonnet of Sorts of a Star” which was read during the ceremony.
It stated, "Shall I compare thee to Sir Robin Day? Thou wert more lovely and more temperate. Earth has not anything to show more fair, Hello, good evening, welcome, Frosty's there."
They continued, “No more TV-am, no Al Jazeera - We end not a career, but end an era; For now he's gone,...
The beautiful brunette donned a navy blue dress with matching shoes and long flowing brunette locks as she joined her family in honoring the late broadcaster and journalist David Frost who passed away last year.
Given that Frost was quite the comedian, Joanna Lumley and Sir Richard Stilgoe put together a lighthearted poem called “A Sonnet of Sorts of a Star” which was read during the ceremony.
It stated, "Shall I compare thee to Sir Robin Day? Thou wert more lovely and more temperate. Earth has not anything to show more fair, Hello, good evening, welcome, Frosty's there."
They continued, “No more TV-am, no Al Jazeera - We end not a career, but end an era; For now he's gone,...
- 3/13/2014
- GossipCenter
Today in 1987, Starlight Express opened at the Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 761 performances. Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber music, Richard Stilgoe lyrics and Arlene Phillips choreography, with later revisions by Don Black lyrics and David Yazbek music and lyrics for the 2nd Us tour. The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life famously the actors perform wearing roller skates.
- 3/15/2013
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
London -- Kate Winslet has been honored by Queen Elizabeth II for her titanic contribution to the arts.
The actress, who won a best actress Academy Award in 2009 for "The Reader" and made her breakthrough as the feisty Rose in 1997 blockbuster "Titanic," has been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or Cbe, in the queen's Birthday Honors List, published Saturday.
Winslet said the honor made her "very proud to be a Brit."
"I am both surprised and honored to stand alongside so many men and woman who have achieved great things for our country," the 36-year-old star said.
Actor and director Kenneth Branagh was made a knight and will be known as Sir Kenneth. A respected Shakespearean actor whose films as a director range from "Henry V" and "Hamlet" to the comic-book fantasy "Thor," Branagh said he felt "humble, elated, and incredibly lucky" to get the honor.
The actress, who won a best actress Academy Award in 2009 for "The Reader" and made her breakthrough as the feisty Rose in 1997 blockbuster "Titanic," has been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or Cbe, in the queen's Birthday Honors List, published Saturday.
Winslet said the honor made her "very proud to be a Brit."
"I am both surprised and honored to stand alongside so many men and woman who have achieved great things for our country," the 36-year-old star said.
Actor and director Kenneth Branagh was made a knight and will be known as Sir Kenneth. A respected Shakespearean actor whose films as a director range from "Henry V" and "Hamlet" to the comic-book fantasy "Thor," Branagh said he felt "humble, elated, and incredibly lucky" to get the honor.
- 6/16/2012
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Actors pick up knighthood and Cbe while Pm revives British Empire Medal as reward for 'big society' volunteers
David Cameron's "big society" gong, the anachronistically named British Empire Medal, makes its first appearance for 20 years in the Queen's birthday honours today, rewarding "hands-on" service to local communities.
As actors Kenneth Branagh and Kate Winslet collect a knighthood and Cbe respectively, 293 BEMs, known as the "working-class gong" and scrapped by John Major in 1991 in his efforts to make the honours system "classless", are also awarded.
Revived by Cameron to encourage the "big society" and reward volunteering, Bem recipients include waitress Patricia Carter, for services to the hospitality industry, apiarist Geoffrey Hopkinson, for services to beekeeping, and many others involved with local community work, charities, and sports.
Sir Bob Kerslake, head of the civil service who chairs the main honours committee, said the re-introduction of the Bem for the Diamond Jubilee extended...
David Cameron's "big society" gong, the anachronistically named British Empire Medal, makes its first appearance for 20 years in the Queen's birthday honours today, rewarding "hands-on" service to local communities.
As actors Kenneth Branagh and Kate Winslet collect a knighthood and Cbe respectively, 293 BEMs, known as the "working-class gong" and scrapped by John Major in 1991 in his efforts to make the honours system "classless", are also awarded.
Revived by Cameron to encourage the "big society" and reward volunteering, Bem recipients include waitress Patricia Carter, for services to the hospitality industry, apiarist Geoffrey Hopkinson, for services to beekeeping, and many others involved with local community work, charities, and sports.
Sir Bob Kerslake, head of the civil service who chairs the main honours committee, said the re-introduction of the Bem for the Diamond Jubilee extended...
- 6/15/2012
- by Caroline Davies
- The Guardian - Film News
Today in 1987, Starlight Express opened at the Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 761 performances. Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber music, Richard Stilgoe lyrics and Arlene Phillips choreography, with later revisions by Don Black lyrics and David Yazbek music and lyrics for the 2nd Us tour. The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life famously the actors perform wearing roller skates.
- 3/15/2012
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
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Q: I´ve been reading the Kathy Griffin book and while it was much less fun than I was hoping for, there was something that really annoyed me -- besides the fact that in her world "the gays" is a synonym for hair dresser or shopping buddy. Kinda makes me wish she´d actually let me at her hair to change that attitude. Anyway, in the book she says that Andy Dick got punched in the face by Wesley Snipes for using (and I quote) "the n-word" in a club. Later there is another Dick story about one of his stand-up appearances where he called the audience repeatedly (and I quote again) "faggots.” So why isn´t it "the n-word" and "the f-word" Or "nigger" and "faggot"? -- Thomas,...
Q: I´ve been reading the Kathy Griffin book and while it was much less fun than I was hoping for, there was something that really annoyed me -- besides the fact that in her world "the gays" is a synonym for hair dresser or shopping buddy. Kinda makes me wish she´d actually let me at her hair to change that attitude. Anyway, in the book she says that Andy Dick got punched in the face by Wesley Snipes for using (and I quote) "the n-word" in a club. Later there is another Dick story about one of his stand-up appearances where he called the audience repeatedly (and I quote again) "faggots.” So why isn´t it "the n-word" and "the f-word" Or "nigger" and "faggot"? -- Thomas,...
- 10/5/2009
- by Brent Hartinger
- The Backlot
The Phantom Of The Opera is really a triumph of staging with Harold Prince's direction presenting and coordinating these spectacular set pieces with cinematic precision. The constant movement of actors and curtains and backdrops provides a dazzling display of theatrical technique and technical virtuosity. Maria Bjornsson's amazing production design and Andrew Bridge's moody concert lighting scheme also contribute immensely. And, of course, there's Webber's full-bodied orchestral score (with lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe) to contend with as well.
- 10/3/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
Musician Richard Stilgoe has blasted the BBC for axing Arlene Phillips from Strictly Come Dancing. The corporation announced that it had dropped 66-year-old choreographer Phillips in favour of popstar Alesha Dixon, 30, last week following weeks of speculation about her future. Songwriter Stilgoe, believed to be a close friend of Phillips, has now branded the decision "awful and ageist" in an interview with the Daily Mail. He added: "Arlene knows stuff, is brilliant. I can't believe any viewers think she ought to go. It's an older person being replaced (more)...
- 7/13/2009
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
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