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

With The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, you'll take a trip back to late 19th-century Paris. Oh là là! It's impossible not to get goosebumps with this musical set in the imposing Majestic Theatre on a stage lit only by candles. The only downside is that it's no longer available on Broadway, so you'll have to travel to London or Madrid to see it.

The Phantom of the Opera has been thrilling audiences for over a century, first on paper and then, since 1986, on stage. The story of this unique character, who roams the wings of the Garnier Theatre in Paris, killing anyone who dares to look at him, first appeared in 1909 and captivated readers.

This strange ghost returned to wreak havoc and became the star of the longest-running musical in Broadway history. Here's all the information you need in case this legendary musical returns to the stage. In the meantime, you can also check out other Broadway musicals that are still running.

Missing out on tickets for The Phantom of the Opera in New York is not an option. So take note of these tips. We're talking about 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, but that's in the most exclusive area of the theatre.

Christmas is a special time in New York and winter is the perfect excuse to 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 after The Phantom of the Opera.

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

The rule for saving money is very simple: the earlier you book, the less you'll pay for your tickets and the better your seats will be. It's pure mathematics. If you know in advance that you're going to New York, it's best to buy your tickets two or three months in advance to get the best price. The 1 p.m. performances are much cheaper than the evening ones.

In this case, an excellent website for buying 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 don't speak Shakespeare's language.

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

Here are the two types of seats available, from the most economical 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 centre. If you want a great view of the stage at a good price, the centre seats are your best bet.

• Orchestra (from £100): if you are a discerning traveller who appreciates culture and quality and doesn't mind splashing out, this will be your favourite area. The ideal seats are from the fourth row onwards (as in a cinema), which are the premium seats. This way, you'll have incredible views of the stage with a wide and comprehensive perspective, more so than if you sit in the front row.

Nuria's Traveller Tip

The Majestic Theatre is one of the largest on Broadway with nearly 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 the oldest theatres on Broadway with almost a century of history and, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful. It is considered a New York City landmark.

Did you know that the theatre stage was enlarged to accommodate the show's complex set design? Since then, the walking corpse has toured the world: Madrid, Buenos Aires, Mexico... A bad bug 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: 8 p.m.
• Tuesday: closed on some Tuesdays (not all)
• Wednesday: 7pm
• Thursday: 7 p.m.
• Friday: 7pm
• Saturday: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Sunday: 5pm

The Phantom of the Opera is performed every day of the week (except some Tuesdays). In total, there are eight performances per week, each lasting two and a half hours with an intermission. Ideal for grabbing a snack at the theatre bar or stretching your legs!

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

The musical tells the story of a disfigured ghost with his face covered by a half mask who roams the Paris Opera House and spreads terror among the audience. The phantom falls in love with a young soprano and vows to make her a new star of the opera. To this end, he will mould the young woman's extraordinary talents and use every weapon at his disposal (even kidnapping her) to keep her by his side. Throughout this tale of obsession and jealousy, there will be deaths, revenge... and lots of excitement!

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 at one of the great European opera houses! What's more, 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?

To create the famous character, Leroux was inspired by real events that he investigated as a journalist, publishing his findings over a five-month period in the French newspaper Le Gaulois.

If you're feeling peckish after the show, I suggest you recharge your batteries with a good American burger and lots of rock and roll. My favourite place on Broadway is the Hard Rock Cafe.

The place has a lot of memorabilia from legends such as The Beatles, the King of Rock, Elvis Presley, and more recent stars such as Madonna. Here you'll find some of their iconic costumes! 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.
• Opening hours: open every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Should I eat dinner before the musical?

Be careful! As the saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," a famous piece of advice that recommends adapting to the customs and habits of a place. In the United States, dinner is eaten very early, between 5 and 7 p.m., so you might want to grab a bite to eat before the musical, because you may find that many restaurants are closed when you leave.

A restaurant straight out of a film (literally) on Broadway

If you're more into cinema, I'm sure you'll love Bubba Gump , a restaurant inspired by one of my favourite films , Forrest Gump. In this case, the speciality isn't chocolate bonbons like the film's protagonist, but fish and seafood.

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

Prices: from €17 per person on average.
Where: in Times Square, at 1501 Broadway.
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

If after reading this post you still have doubts about whether you will like The Phantom of the Opera, here is a list of the 10 best Broadway musicals for the 2025 season in New York. Take a look!

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