'The Phantom of the Opera' Remade the Musical In Its Own Image

The latest in pop-culture news, recaps, and reviews, plus close reads, profiles, interviews, and more from Vulture.com. [Brand Logo]( theater [The Opera Ghost]( The Phantom of the Opera was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s manifesto for what musical theater should be and, ultimately, what it would become. Illustration: Philip Burke In 1988, [New York Magazine]( ran a cover story about the arrival of a new Broadway show. Described as an “old-fashioned, romantic musical that assaults the senses,” [The Phantom of the Opera]( told the tale of a deformed composer — the masked Phantom — who falls tragically in love with a beautiful soprano. The actual composer, [Andrew Lloyd Webber](, had written it for his mistress turned wife, Sarah Brightman; their affair had been all over the tabloids back in London. Interviewed at the couple’s $5.5 million duplex in Trump Tower, Lloyd Webber called the show his “favorite” to date, all due respect to [Evita](, and, in any case, it was hard to argue with a record-breaking $17 million in advance tickets. Phantom might have been a British [musical]( based on a French novel, but the show’s fin de siècle grandeur fit perfectly with the decadence of the Reagan years: opulent architecture, sexual nostalgia, rock-and-roll pyrotechnics. (Plans to release a flock of live pigeons had been scrapped before the London premiere.) Even the unforgiving [Frank Rich](, in an otherwise negative review for the [New York Times](, admitted, “It may be possible to have a terrible time at The Phantom of the Opera, but you’ll have to work at it.” [Read More]( [Spring Sale:]( For a limited time, save over 70% on unlimited access to Vulture and get a free tote with any annual plan. The Latest TV Recaps • Perry Mason: [Living a Life of Illusion]( • Summer House: [Let’s Hear It for the Boys]( • The Bachelor: [Villain Era]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Stories We Think You’ll Like [Every Detail of the Vanderpump Rules #Scandoval Drama in Chronological Order All the TomTom and Rachel news that’s fit to print.]( By Hannah Selinger [Gwynvestigation: Is Gwyneth Paltrow Good at Skiing? It just seems like something a rich person can do.]( [Jay-Z Didn’t Give Ed Sheeran Any Love on ‘Shape of You’ “He said, ‘I don’t think the song needs a rap verse,’” Sheeran told Rolling Stone.]( By Justin Curto [Taylor Swift Is Gonna Innovate, Vate, Vate at iHeartRadio Awards “I never woke up in the morning and thought, You know what I’m gonna do today? I’m gonna innovate some stuff.”]( By Alejandra Gularte [Bad Bunny Isn’t Worried About Losing Fans Over Dating Rumors “There are plenty of artists, and perhaps you’ll find someone you’ll like.”]( By Zoe Guy [Pixar Wants You to Brave the Elemental Introducing Sharkboy and Lavagirl’s spiritual successors.]( By Jason P. Frank [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Today’s Crossword]( 23-Down, Four Letters: McGregor of Moulin Rouge! Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty Images [Who Is the Worst Househusband?]( Graphic: by Vulture; Photos Getty Images We know that plenty of the Real Housewives are horrible, but what about their husbands? They comprise many cheaters, countless jerks, and a few actual criminals, with a handful of nice guys thrown in for good measure. They’re each bad in their own way, but here at the Housewives Institute we couldn’t help but wonder, if you put them in a head-to-head matchup, [who would be the worst?]( [Click here]( to vote for your pick for The Absolute Worst by March 30. [Read more from Vulture]( A weekly newsletter of TV and movie recommendations. [Sign up]( to get it every week. [Get the Newsletter]( [logo]( [facebook logo]( [instagram logo]( [twitter logo]( [unsubscribe](link.nymag.com/manage/588/optout-vulture?email={EMAIL}&hash=39357a76f6d08b16239fd2ffa65e9c6f¶m=vulture-daily) | [privacy notice]( | [update preferences]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Was this email forwarded to you? [Sign up now]( to get this newsletter in your inbox. [View this email in your browser.]( You received this email because you have a subscription to New York. Reach the right online audience with us For advertising information on email newsletters, please contact AdOps@nymag.com Vox Media, LLC 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, 12th Floor Washington, DC 20036 Copyright © 2023, All rights reserved