Phantom Turns 22 as Record-Breaking Run Continues

A five-year run is considered a spectacular success for any Broadway show, but for The Phantom of the Opera, that was only the beginning. Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega-musical, which opened at the Majestic Theatre on January 26, 1988, continues to shatter records—and it reached another milestone on January 26, 2010, celebrating its 22nd Broadway anniversary with performance number 9,149. After the show, the stars and crew gathered backstage for cake and toasted the enduring appeal of the man in the mask. Happy birthday, Phantom!