Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical version of The Phantom of the Opera is one of the most successful pieces of entertainment of all time, produced in any media, and its success is continuing all over the world
Played to over 140 million people in 35 countries in 166 cities around the world with an estimated gross of $6 billion. Won over 70 major theatre awards including 3 Olivier Awards, an Evening Standard Award, 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical, 7 Drama Desk Awards and 5 Outer Critic Circle Awards. The production continues to play at the Majestic, where it became the first Broadway musical in history to surpass 10,000 performances on 11 February 2012. On 26 January 2013, the production celebrated its 25th anniversary with its 10,400th performance. It is, by over 3,500 performances, the longest-running show in Broadway history. By November 2016, Phantom had been staged over 12,000 times over 28 years.
It was announced in January 2015 that Barbour would take the role of Phantom in the Broadway musical Phantom of the Opera.
James Barbour is the lead cast of the most financially successful entertainment event to date, with total estimated worldwide gross receipts of over $5.6 billion (the highest in history) and total Broadway gross of $845 million (surpassed only by The Lion King). By 2011, it had been seen by over 130 million people in 145 cities across 27 countries and continues to play in London and New York.
James Barbour is the 15th Phantom on Broadway after:Timothy Nolen, Steve Barton, Mark Jacoby, Davis Gaines, Thomas James O'Leary, Marcus Lovett, Hugh Panaro, Howard McGillin, Gary Mauer, Brad Little, John Cudia, Peter Jöback, Norm Lewis, Amick Byram. (source Wikipedia, IMDB, Playbill, Broadwayworld, Phantom of the Opera)
"James Barbour in the titular character is a strong-voiced Phantom, but also shows vulnerability, most especially once his mask comes off in the second act. He’s a towering, imposing presence onstage (especially side by side with Ali as Christine … more on her in a bit), but his size doesn’t take away from his portrayal of this tragic, damaged character. Plus his vocals were incredible!" by Lea Salonga - ‘Phantom,’ then and now.
James Barbour at 15:05 and 20:55 - Two Phantoms?
James Barbour - "The Phantom of the Opera." (Credit: Matthew Murphy)
