The Phantom of the Opera Review by Finbar Kelly

     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 literal sets of earlier productions, this touring version uses layered scenic pieces, shifting lighting, and a flexible visual vocabulary to evoke the Paris Opera House and its underworld. Curtains remain present as part of this design; rising, falling, and occasionally framing scenes, but they function as one component among many, supporting the sense of an ever-moving theatrical environment rather than dominating it.

This fluidity is especially effective in the sequences that transport the audience beneath the opera house. The descent to the Phantom’s lair is staged with atmospheric lighting, reflective surfaces, and subtle scenic illusions that make the world feel deep and unstable, almost as though it were breathing. The journey is less about rotating sets and more about shifting perspective, giving the descent a dreamlike quality that complements the score’s hypnotic pull.

By contrast, the scenes set in the opera house itself burst with color and opulence. Rehearsal rooms, backstage corridors, and the grand proscenium are rendered with rich textures and painterly detail, capturing a balance of elegance and theatrical bustle. During “Masquerade,” the stage explodes with visual splendor, creating a fever of color, motion, and layered ornamentation. It’s one of the few moments where the production leans fully into spectacle, and it feels well earned.

The iconic chandelier moment remains a highlight, not simply for the effect itself, but for the staging around it. Framed by stark lighting and an increasingly claustrophobic atmosphere, the drop feels like a rupture in the opera house’s carefully crafted façade, a visual metaphor for the destructive undercurrents driving the story. It’s a reminder that Phantom is as much about the collapse of illusions as it is about their creation.

The performances anchor this visual world with emotional clarity. The Phantom is portrayed by Isaiah Bradley, who gives the character an aching mix of menace and vulnerability with his voice cutting cleanly through the cavernous Orpheum like a confession. Christine’s portrayal by Jordan Lee Gilbert is warm and nervous yet assertive and powerful, and her vocal control adds depth to the character’s journey from ingénue to self-determined artist. The ensemble, crisp and cohesive, keeps the theatrical world spinning with energy and nuance.

What emerges in Minneapolis is a Phantom that respects its own legacy while embracing a more

atmospheric, less literal approach to staging. The result is a production that feels alive, mysterious,

romantic, and steeped in theatrical imagination. For longtime fans and first-time visitors alike, this tour

offers a powerful reminder of why the ominous white mask of the phantom continues to haunt stages

around the world.