-Phantom has been the largest single generator of income and jobs in Broadway
and U.S. theatrical history.
–244 actors have appeared in the New York production.
–Eleven actors have been cast as The Phantom:
Michael Crawford, Timothy Nolen, Chris Groenendaal, Steve Barton, Kevin
Gray, Mark Jacoby, Marcus Lovett, Davis Gaines, Thomas James O’Leary,
Hugh Panaro and Howard McGillin. Each actor playing the Phantom had a
mask custom-made from a mold of his face.
–The ballerinas have traveled up and down 1,026 miles of stairs
(six women @ two round trips per performance.)
– There have been four U.S. productions:
New York and three National Tour played Los Angeles and San Francisco for
a combined total run of almost ten years. The Second National Tour had
an eight and a half-year run. The Third National Tour (the only production
currently touring the U.S.) has played over 5,000 performances and celebrated
its 13th anniversary on the road in December 2005.
-73 U.S cities have hosted 167 engagements.
–The show has been performed in 119 cities in 24 countries: Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, England, Germany, Holland,
Hungary, Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland,
Singapore, south Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and The United State.
–There are currently seven productions around the world.
-53,166 flashbulbs!
The huge replica of the Paris Opera house Chandelier that crashes to the
floor each night is affectionately know a “Ruthie 2” in honor
of Ruth Mitchell, who died in 2000 and was assistant to the director
Harold Prince. (Ruthie 1 is working the West End in London.)
- 3,038,400 pounds of dry ice, 1,424,250 gallons of shot powder, 18981
sheets of flash paper and 6,899 ounces of liquid fog!
It takes a lot of ammo to produce those bits of magic onstage, including
the moment when the Phantom seemingly vanishes into thin air. After all
these years, that secret is still safe: “We all respect the illusion,” said
the production stage manager, Craig Jacobs.
-290,880 hours (estimated) to create the initial costumes and accessories
These days, the associate costume designer, Sam Fleming, is overseeing
the creation of 500 costumes for the forthcoming truncated Las Vegas
production. The Broadway show uses a relatively scant 230 costumes, 111
wigs and 35 masks.
-104,832 pounds of spray starch, 120,960 dryer sheets and 26,820 pounds
of fabric softener
It takes a lot to keep all of those costumes neat and clean. A staff of
30, including dressers, stitchers and day workers, arrives in the afternoon
to wash those costumes that are not sent to the overnight cleaner.
–82,355 makeup wedges and 1,832 sticks of Kryolan TV paint stick
No. 3W makeup for the Phantom.
It takes about 90 minutes to get the title character into his prosthetic
mask and makeup, and 30 more to get him out. “Occasionally you might
open the washing machine and find the Phantom’s face in there,” Scott
Westervelt, the wardrobe supervisor, said. “But of course it’s
even worse if it ends up in the dryer.”
-1 life-size mechanical elephant
When not onstage, the 1,000-pound steel-and-fiberglass structure-nicknamed
Yo Bimbo by a stage carpenter-hangs in the fly space, dangling over actors.
-7,486 loaves of Italian bread
The two stagehands who operate the mechanical elephant are seen tucking
into a loaf of bread and a jug of wine. The bread is real, but the wine
is not: drinking alcohol is not recommended when driving a 1,000-pound
quadruped.