The Gospel of Musical Theatre

4.5 Phantom of the Opera!

We descend into the depths of the Paris Opera for the 1986 musical phenomenon The Phantom of the Opera – a troubling story about abuse, lust, and the power of music.. and one of the most successful & beloved musicals of all time.

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We talk about:

– The Phantom:  Is the Phantom (or "Erik" as he’s known in the original novel) a serpent or a savior?

– The Ick Factor:  What is this relationship between Christine and the Phantom? An abusive mentor relationship? Forbidden love? Artistic partnership? Or is it just a classic Gothic obsession?

– Power & Patriarchy:  How did power and patriarchy operate in the Victorian world of the Paris Opera – and in the 1980s world of rock musicals?

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You’ll hear:

– Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman and the cast of the 1988 Broadway Cast Recording.

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Check out some of our all-time favorites!

  • Phantom of the Opera
  • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
  • Jesus Christ Superstar!
  • Schmigadoon! (Season 1 / Season 2)
  • West Side Story!
  • Yentl!
  • Frozen!
  • Barbie!

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