Immersive 'Masquerade' adaptation draws Phantom fans back in Midtown

An immersive adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, titled Masquerade, has become a hit in Midtown Manhattan, with some audience members returning a dozen times or more since performances began last summer.

The production, housed in the former Lee’s Art Shop on West 57th Street, cost about $25 million to stage and employs a cast of 40 and a creative team of more than 100. Overlapping groups of roughly 360 attendees a night, spread among six staggered start times, move through more than 30 scenes across six floors and a roof; many pay at least $195 per ticket and dress in tuxes and ball gowns. Creators added material to the original musical, including scenes that explore the Phantom’s back story, a carnival sequence with a fire‑eater, a new song and a restored song from the 2004 film, and details such as a chandelier with more than 30,000 crystals.

Tickets for the first six weeks sold out in three hours after social media teasers and pop‑up events, and the production has continued to add elements during its run, including a rooftop rose garden in September and iron gates fashioned by Bob Dylan in October. The show has been running for about six months; fans and some cast members who previously performed in Phantom productions have embraced the immersive format, and attendees say repeat viewings reveal new details each time. The report did not specify plans beyond the ongoing run.

Key Topics

Culture, Masquerade, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lee's Art Shop, Midtown Manhattan, Diane Paulus