The Phantom Of The Opera Breaks Records In Toledo

"The Phantom of the Opera" shattered all previous box office records at the Stranahan Theater in Toledo, pulling in ticket sales of $225,118, during its on sale weekend June 21-24. Patrons from as far as Ann Arbor, MI; Lima, OH; Fort Wayne, IN and Windsor, ON scooped up tickets during an Internet only pre-sale June 21-23 and on June 24, the first day of regular ticket sales.

"We are thrilled with the incredible response Phantom has received from single ticket buyers," said Theater League president Mark Edelman. "Also, the group sales phones have been ringing off the hook. Phantom will be a great holiday season event not only for Toledo but also Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan."

The Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera," directed by Harold Prince, will begin a three-week premiere, holiday season engagement at the Stranahan Theater in Toledo, on December 26, 2002 – January 12, 2003. Tickets are priced $65-$20.

With worldwide box office sales of over $3 billion, "The Phantom of the Opera" is the most successful entertainment venture of the twentieth century, surpassing such blockbuster films as Titanic, E.T., and Star Wars. Phantom had its world premiere on October 9, 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, winning every major British theatre award including the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards. The Broadway production opened on January 26, 1988, and is the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Phantom celebrated its milestone 10th anniversary on Broadway on January 26, 1998 and is currently Broadway's fourth longest-running show of all time. Worldwide, "The Phantom of the Opera" consistently plays to larger audiences and in longer engagements than any other musical in history.

The Toledo engagement of "The Phantom of the Opera" is presented by arrangement with Theater League and Clear Channel Entertainment, and is a subscription offering 2002-2003 Theater League Series.