I can only imagine how many people in Seattle this week (and next) will have the soundtrack of Phantom of the Opera running through our heads. This iconic musical first made in 1986 (from a novel written by Gaston Leroux) is back touring in our city for only the 6th time ever and this is the longest running show in Broadway history (it ran from 1986-2023). I remember seeing the Phantom of the Opera tour in Vancouver BC in the 90’s and I realized that I probably haven’t seen it since then even though I’ve listened to the soundtrack on repeat for decades and know nearly every word. I was really glad to see the Phantom of the Opera on the listings for Broadway in Seattle’s musicals for the 2025/2026 season and this is one I definitely looked forward to seeing on media night. Phantom of the Opera is in Seattle through May 24th. Tickets, at this point, are sparse. It would be my best guess that the Phantom of the Opera is the most popular musical we’ve had in our city this year.
Going into this show I knew that the underlying story of the Phantom of the Opera might be hard to digest in 2026 and it’s worth at least a wikipedia before you go. The Opera Ghost who haunts the Paris Opera House is the typical older male predatory stalker figure that falls in love (becomes obsessed) with a younger female that we saw so much of in the 90s but (thankfully) find cringe even in fiction in this modern era. We learn a lot of his story from Madam Giry, the Ballet Mistress who delivers his notes to the theatre and knows where he lives (I wish we got to know more about Madame Giry and what relationship if any that she has with the Phantom…maybe this could be another musical.) I don’t remember thinking about all of this underlying story when I saw Phantom in the 90’s, and I don’t think I knew anything going into the musical the first time, but wondered what I would feel like watching it 30ish years later.
So now after seeing this as a woman through the lens of middle age, I felt myself focusing more on the character of Christine this time than the musicals’ namesake. I found myself proud of Christine, the receiver of the Phantom’s romantic advances. She asks the Phantom to show himself when she doesn’t know who this angel is, she stays convinced about her fears of him even though people tell her it’s her imagination, and she refuses his advances and is firm in her refusals. And then she asks for what she wants “All I ask of you” as she looks for love on her own terms with Roaul and gets what she wants, all while navigating the grief of losing her father, finding out a mentor has completely betrayed her and dealing with disasters beyond our imagination. Jordan Lee Gilbert who plays Christine in this tour is perfectly cast too.
And then we have the Phantom. The OG. (Can you believe he is called Erik in the original novel?) Played by Isaiah Bailey this emotive, exquisitely balanced portrayal of insanity and humanity makes you feel deeply for this poor outcast of society even though he is nightmarish and a murderer. Isaiah’s voice is impeccable for the part too. I shared that I went to the Phantom of the Opera in Seattle in my instagram stories and was told a few times that this portrayal of the Phantom was the best people had ever seen. If you see this Phantom of the Opera in Seattle, please feel free to message me what you think as well.
The Chandelier deserves every ooh and ahh it commands at every performance too. I’m so curious how much this piece of this musical has changed since 1986. I’m so curious how the set, choreography and costumes have changed if any too.
The rest of the cast in this tour is magical as well (along with the set, costumes, music and choreography) and it’s no wonder this will be a sold out play. I think this professionally taken photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman (not by me, in 2026 you still cannot take photos during musicals) during Masquerade captures the total essence of of the production.
This production expertly utilizes every minute of the two and a half hours including intermission to be a glorious spectacle for the senses. There are even pyrotechnics. (Some a little noisy and also there is a bit of death-I’d definitely pre-read the story if you bring kids-the 8+ age recommendation feels like it’s a good fit.)
After Seattle the Phantom of the Opera travels on to San Francisco and the tour dates continue across North America through the summer of 2027. I wonder if there will ever be a musical as iconic as this one, or one that runs as long in Broadway. And I wonder when it will be back in Seattle again.
To find out more about the rest of this year’s Broadway in Seattle season you can check out this list. I also have a list of the 2026/2027 season here as well.
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)