At this rate, it's unclear when any of us will get the thrill of seeing a musical or play in person again. The Broadway League, which initially closed theaters in mid-March, recently extended its shutdown through May 30, 2021. Many local theaters around the country are closed until the new year, but are expected to follow Broadway's lead.
Still, there are so many incredible performances to be enjoyed. That's exactly why the YouTube channel, The Shows Must Go On!, was created. Over the last seven months, they have shared behind-the-scenes clips, backstage interviews, and live performances from everyone's favorite shows like Evita and Hairspray. This weekend, they're doubling up on their offerings with an encore presentation of The Phantom of the Opera at Royal Albert Hall. (In April, they also streamed the musical in full.)
This version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, which was filmed in 2011 in celebration of the musical's 25th anniversary, takes us back to more exciting times when the famed London theater was packed with a crowd, full cast, and 200-person orchestra. Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess take the lead as Phantom and Christine, and are joined by an incredibly talented cast in the large-scale production.
How to Watch and Stream The Phantom of the Opera
Enjoy a West End show in the comfort of your home this weekend only: The Phantom of the Opera will be available to stream on The Shows Must Go On! YouTube channel, starting Friday, October 9 at 2 p.m. EST. Set a reminder beforehand, so you can be alerted when the time comes. It will only be available to stream for 48 hours, so enjoy it while it lasts!
The show is completely free to watch, but The Shows Must Go On! is asking for donations to Broadway Cares, Acting for Others, and other charities supporting the theater community that has been affected by COVID-19. You can donate directly on YouTube in the amount of your choice, no matter how small.
Like the name implies, the show must go on: After streaming Phantom this weekend, you can check out The Bring Him Home Tour on October 16 and Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds: Alive on Stage! on October 23.
