Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera is what people picture when they think “Broadway.” Big voice. Big drama. Zero restraint. The score hits instantly in a way most musicals here can’t touch. But the knock has always been the same—it’s all vibe. Against Sweeney Todd, Phantom looks simple. Against Wicked, it feels less emotionally grounded. Still, nothing else here commits this hard to being theatrical. It doesn’t wink at you. It doesn’t modernize itself. It just goes all in. You’re either overwhelmed by it… or you think it’s a beautifully staged soap opera.