Phantom of the Opera in Broadway NYC: everything you need to know about the musical

The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway takes you on a journey to Paris in the late 19th century. Oh là là! It's impossible not to get your hair standing on end with this musical that takes place in the imposing Majestic Theatre on a stage lit only by candlelight. The pity is that it's no longer available on Broadway and you'll have to travel to London or Madrid to see it.

The Phantom of the Opera has been impressing audiences for over a century, first on paper and since 1986 in the theatre. The story of this unique character, who wanders backstage at the Théâtre Garnier in Paris causing death to anyone who dares to look at him, first appeared in 1909 and readers were captivated.

This strange ghost returned and became the star of the longest-running musical in Broadway history. I leave you all the information in case this mythical musical returns to the stage and in the meantime, you can also take a look at other Broadway musicals that are still running.

Running out of tickets to Phantom of the Opera in New York is not an option. So take note of these tips. This is a world-famous musical, so the best advice I can give you is to buy your tickets online and well in advance.

If you follow these recommendations, the minimum price you can pay is 50 € and the highest price is around 500 € if you travel to New York at Christmas, in the most exclusive area of the stage.

Christmas is a special time in New York and winter is the perfect excuse to take shelter from the cold and enjoy a good musical in the warmth of the theatre. Here are the best tours to see the Christmas lights as you leave The Phantom of the Opera.

Another reason why I recommend buying your ticket online is to avoid waiting (and despairing) in the hellish queues in New York, especially in winter when temperatures drop to 2 degrees Celsius. This way you will only have to worry about enjoying the fantastic duet from your seat, which you will have got at the best price and with better visibility than if you had bought it at the last minute at the box office.

The rule for saving money is very easy: the further in advance, the less you will pay for your tickets and the better visibility you will have. Pure mathematics. If you know in advance that you're going to New York, it's best to buy your tickets two to three months in advance to get the best price. The 1pm performances are much cheaper than the evening ones.

In this case, an excellent website to buy tickets is Hellotickets because you can see the stage virtually, pay in euros and read the information in Spanish, which will make your life easier if you are not fluent in Shakespeare's language.

Seeing the musical in one seat or another can make the difference between the performance being a bummer because you don't appreciate it or an unforgettable experience. The good news is that the Majestic Theatre does not have balconies, which is usually the section furthest from the stage and with the worst views, and therefore also the cheapest.

Here are the two types of seats available, from the cheapest to the most exclusive:

• Mezzanine (from 50 €): this section covers the first floor of the theatre and is the cheapest. Within this area you have two options: the sides and the central area. If you want a great panoramic view of the stage at a good price, your preferred option will be the central seats.

• Orchestra (from €100): if you are a demanding traveller, appreciate culture, quality and don't mind going the extra mile, this will be your favourite area. The ideal place to sit is from the fourth row upwards (as in the cinema), which are the premium seats. This way, you will have an incredible view of the stage with a wide and very complete perspective, more so than if you are in the front row.

Nuria's Traveller Tip

The Majestic Theatre is one of the largest on Broadway with about 1,700 seats. Choose your seat carefully and make sure it's not too far from the stage!

This classic is performed at the Majestic Theatre, one of Broadway's oldest theatres with almost a century of history and, for me, one of the most beautiful. It is considered a New York City landmark.

Did you know that the theatre's stage was also enlarged to accommodate the complex scenic elements of the show? Subsequently, the walking corpse has toured the boards halfway around the world: Madrid, Buenos Aires, Mexico... Bad guy never dies!

Location of the Majestic Theatre: 245 West 44th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue

Nuria's Traveller Tip

Don't miss the impressive ceiling of the Majestic Theatre!

• Monday: 8pm
• Tuesday: closed on some Tuesdays (not all)
• Wednesday: 7 p.m.
• Thursday: 7 p.m.
• Friday: 7 p.m.
• Saturday: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Sunday: 5 p.m.

The Phantom of the Opera is performed every day of the week (except Tuesdays). It runs for a total of eight performances a week and lasts two and a half hours with an intermission - ideal for refreshments in the theatre bar or to stretch your legs!

The Phantom of the Opera, which has won seven Tony Awards (which are like the Oscars of American theatre), including Best Musical, is a magnificent theatrical adaptation of the novel by French writer and journalist Gaston Leroux, a pioneer of the popular mystery novel and famous for his tales of the detective and horror genre.

The musical tells the story of a disfigured ghost with his face covered by a half-mask who wanders through the Paris Opera House and spreads terror among the audience. The ghost falls in love with a young soprano and vows to make her a new opera star. To do so, he will mould the young woman's extraordinary talents and use every weapon at his disposal (including abducting her) to keep her by his side. Throughout this tale of obsession and jealousy there will be death, revenge... And a lot of emotion!

The best thing: the impressive orchestra on stage

What can you expect from the musical? What will surprise you most, without a doubt, is the impressive live orchestra - you'll feel like you're in one of the great European operas! In addition, the songs, sung with care in an intimate atmosphere, will give you goose bumps. The costume changes, the irony and humour of the main character, the surprises, the candles... Everything is impressive!

Did you know that...?

To create the famous character, Leroux was inspired by real events that he investigated as a journalist, whose investigations he published for five months in the French newspaper Le Gaulois.

If your guts are growling after the show, I suggest you refuel with a good American burger and a lot of rock and roll. My favourite place on Broadway is the Hard Rock Cafe.

The place has a wealth of memorabilia from legends like The Beatles, the King of Rock, Elvis Preysler, and more recent stars like Madonna - you'll find some of their iconic costumes here! The relics found in this bar are more famous than the food itself.

• Prices: from €25 per person
• Where: In Times Square at 1501 Broadway.
• Hours: Open daily, 11am-10pm.

Should I have dinner before the musical?

As the saying goes, "Where you go, do as you please", a famous piece of advice that recommends adapting to the customs and habits of a place. In the USA, people eat dinner very early, between 5 and 7 p.m., so think that you might want to eat something before the musical, because when you leave, you might find a good number of restaurants closed.

A (literal) movie restaurant on Broadway

If you're more of a movie buff, I'm sure you'll love the Bubba Gump restaurant, inspired by one of my favourite films, Forrest Gump. In this case, its speciality is not chocolate bonbons like the film's protagonist, but seafood.

And if you're still hungry, here's a complete gastronomic guide to the 10 best places to eat in New York. Enjoy your meal!

Prices: from €17 per person on average.Where: Times Square, 1501 Broadway.Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11:30am-9pm. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 11am-10pm.

If after this post, you still have doubts about whether you'll like The Phantom of the Opera, here's a list of the 10 best Broadway musicals for the 2024 season in New York. Check them out!

• Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the most Christmassy musical.
• The Lion King, my favourite choice.
• Aladdin, ideal for all audiences.
• Chicago, considered one of the longest running American musicals in the history of the industry.
• Cats
• Wicked
• Moulin Rouge