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‘The Phantom of the Opera’ Lands in Minneapolis, Haunting and Stunning as Ever by Peyton Webb

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Daniel Lopez as Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny and Jordan Lee Gilbert as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera North American Tour Photo: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman Over a year after the conclusion of its record-breaking Broadway run, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera is back to enchant theater-goers across the nation. The North American tour hit the Orpheum last Friday, November 21, the second stop of its highly-anticipated return. Producer Cameron Mackintosh promised “a dazzlingly fresh version of the much-loved original,” and dazzlingly fresh he delivered, indeed. This updated Phantom reopened in 2021 at His Majesty’s Royal Theatre and was applauded by London critics and everyday fans alike. Now, the production has come to haunt American stages, and it’d be a shame to miss the wondrous horrors it brings. The newer version maintains much of the late Maria Björnson’s original award-winning designs. Her magnificent sets feature the grandness and ornamentation of a...
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The Phantom of the Opera Review by Finbar Kelly

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      The greatest mystery in The Phantom of the Opera lies not in the identity of the masked murderer, but instead in the show's ability to sell out theaters almost forty years after its release.  The 2025 National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera , now playing at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis until December 7th, brings a refreshed theatricality to a musical long defined by its iconic images and grand emotional sweep. What makes this staging particularly compelling is not an attempt to reinvent Phantom , but rather its thoughtful reimagining of the set design as a blend of classic visual motifs and modern theatrical fluidity. The result is a production that feels both familiar and newly atmospheric, more focused on mood and movement than on massive machinery. While the show still features the lavish grandeur audiences expect, the scenic design emphasizes transitions that flow with remarkable smoothness. Instead of relying solely on the monumental, highly liter...
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The Phantom of the Opera: My New Personal Angel of Music by Elizabeth Teskey

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(L to R) Isaiah Bailey as The Phantom and Jordan Lee Gilbert as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera North American Tour Photo: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman. Thirty seven years after its Broadway debut, walking into the 2025 tour of Phantom of the Opera, I found myself wondering whether this Andrew Lloyd Webber mega-musical still earns its fame following its post-pandemic departure from Broadway. Two and a half hours of jaw dropping performance later, I couldn’t believe it took me this long to become thoroughly obsessed. Although not every seat in the house experienced a Phantom performance worth the price of their ticket, it was evident that Phantom’s enchanting cast, grandiose technical prowess, and spellbinding score is a rare treat to all.  From the moment we set foot in the theater, this production immersed its audience into the world of the Paris Opera House. With its set exposed at top of show, and classic chandelier glistening over audience heads, there was n...
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The Phantom of the Opera by Augustine Muraski

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  Isaiah Bailey as The Phantom and Jordan Lee Gilbert as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera North American Tour Photo: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman What does a show do after a forty year Broadway run? The Phantom of the Opera is a classic work within musical theater. Sporting the title for longest-running Broadway production ever, Phantom has consistently delighted audiences since 1986. It is based on a novel of the same name, taking place in The Paris Opera House. It follows the company as it is haunted by a masked figure and musical genius, the Phantom obsessed with a certain soprano, Christine Daae. He ensues havoc upon the theater as they don’t cave to his demands. The show is known for its great use of spectacle, with a massive chandelier and a variety of effects. The score is by Andrew Lloyd Webber, who has risen to great success as a composer with other hits such as Cats and Jesus Christ Superstar (which will be playing at the Ordway this December). It is...
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A Beautiful Noise: When a Newcomer’s Trash is a Superfan’s Treasure - by Elizabeth Teskey

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  A Beautiful Noise: When a Newcomer’s Trash is a Superfan’s Treasure You’ve had this nightmare before. You’re certain of it. You’re attending someone’s retirement party but- you’ve never met the honoree in question. The night is a collage of melodies passionately belted by the partygoers, adeptly recognizing the song within seconds of its opening melody. You don’t know the words. You hear tale after tale of the retiree’s greatness. You’re given little time to arrive at this conclusion yourself. You hear a touching speech about his persistent loneliness. You can’t help but feel the same. You’ve spent your night crashing a party ill-equipped to newcomers.  But the velvet covering the plush theater-style chair under your fingertips feels all too real. You’ve just endured a night at The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise .  ABN follows retired rockstar Niel Diamond (Robert Westenberg) in his mid-seventies, processing the twilight of his career, using a comprehensive alm...
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A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical Review - by Peyton Webb

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Two brown armchairs face each other on an otherwise empty stage. One is occupied by an empathetic counselor, eager to listen. In the other sits a bitter old man who was once a king of rock. And thus, the scene is set for A Beautiful Noise . (From left) Nick Fradiani as ‘Neil - Then,’ Robert Westenberg as ‘Neil - Now’ and Lisa Reneé Pitts as ‘Doctor’ in A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical Photo credit: Jeremy Daniel The Tony-nominated 2022 musical presents the life and times of legendary singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. The guitar-clad performer is an imposing, prolific cornerstone of American music history, boasting 37 Top 40 Hits, a Grammy, and a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A Beautiful Noise depicts a modern, retired Diamond (“Neil Now”) in therapy. He unpacks his life through a series of flashbacks beginning in the 1960s (“Neil Then”). Directed by Michael Mayer, Beautiful Noise ’s Broadway tour opened in Minneapolis on Tuesday for a nearly full house, which seeme...
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& Juliet: Kissed By The Book - Nafisa Ahmed

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  In my freshman year of ‘Honors English’, there was an infamously hard test, like nobody had gotten an A in YEARS. What was the test on, you ask? The original version of Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare. Who would have guessed that by junior year, I’d be watching the 2025 Broadway on Hennepin tour of & Juliet (here May 13th through 18th) and enjoy it– especially after such dreadful memories regarding its source material. Despite this, I cherished this production, as the premise is retelling the ending that had me rolling my eyes in class. By reimagining the story while still paying homage through the script, actors, and scenery– & Juliet truly surprised me with how much fun I had.  What are some famous lines when you think of Romeo & Juliet ? Mayhaps, "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"- or maybe- “Parting is such sweet sorrow”? Within & Juliet, you’ll find many ways Max Martin and David West Read (songwriter and author, respectively) m...
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