Celebrating its 40th anniversary, The Phantom of the Opera has returned to Shanghai for a run of 104 performances at the Shanghai Grand Theatre through Dec 27, setting a new record for the musical's longest run in a single city on the Chinese mainland.

First staged at Her Majesty's Theatre in London in 1986, The Phantom of the Opera has become a global phenomenon over the past four decades, playing in more than 200 cities worldwide and attracting over 160 million visits.

Set in a Parisian opera house, the musical follows the lonely Phantom as he falls in love with young soprano Christine. A tragic tale of unrequited love unfolds, drawing audiences into a world of obsession, secrets, and dark romance.

This time, the production brings together a world-class cast to Shanghai, featuring Ramin Karimloo, widely regarded as one of the definitive interpreters of the Phantom, alongside Bebe Moss and Ralph Watts, both of whom earned widespread acclaim at the Wuhan and Chengdu stops.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer of The Phantom of the Opera, said that Shanghai is one of the world's most dynamic and promising musical theater markets, thanks to its vibrant performing arts scene and enthusiastic, discerning audiences. He also expressed his hope to deepen exchanges with the local musical theater industry and to foster greater cultural exchange and development between the East and West.

Source: Huangpu district government