If you’re a big Broadway musical fan, chances are you’ve seen “The Phantom of the Opera” on one (or more) of its five past tour visits to the San Diego Civic Theatre since 1995.
Now it’s back, for the first time since 2018, in a lavish new touring production that incorporates a mix of new (and renewed) design, technical and staging elements that combine for a luxurious and surprise-filled show. The tour opened Tuesday at the Civic and continues through Sept. 13.
Told as a memory tale, “Phantom” begins in 1905 on the stage of a long-shuttered Paris opera house, which closed decades before due to a catastrophic event. Then the story spins back to the 1880s, a visually stunning coup de théâtre where the broken-down opera house restores itself to its former glory.
The “Phantom” of the title is a disfigured and ghostlike musical genius who secretly lives within the walls and beneath the opera house. He falls in love with young soprano Christine Daaé and uses his trance-inducing powers to make her his musical protégé. But when the Phantom realizes she’s in love with another man, Raoul, he vows revenge and murder.
Leading the new tour’s cast are Isaiah Bailey as the Phantom, and Jordan Lee Gilbert as Christine.
In the first act, the elegant Bailey restrains his vocal power to transmit a gentler, more angelic quality to his sound. But as his character’s vengefulness grows in act two, he unleashes the true heft and fury of his voice.
The classically trained Gilbert has a beautiful and flexible soprano voice with a sweet sound, and she moves around the stage with a dancer’s grace. Tenor Daniel Lopez brings a warmth and sincerity to the role of Raoul. And coloratural soprano Midori Marsh is also fun and entertaining as opera company diva Carlotta.
The “Masquerade” ball scene in the national touring production of “Phantom of the Opera,” playing through Sept. 13 at the San Diego Civic Theatre. (Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)
The new North American touring production originated in London in 2021, and it features the original 1986 production design by the late Maria Björnson. Her original 1986-era ornate costumes (more than 200 in total) are back. So is the massive horse sculpture on the opera house roof. And so are the grand staircase and huge elephant sculpture, both of which were missing from the 2015 tour.
This production also features terrific projections that create moving clouds and staircases. Mick Potter’s surround-sound, multi-speaker array creates the auditory effect of the Phantom speaking from different corners and tiers of the 3,000-seat Civic auditorium.
And the tour’s massive new chandelier, which moves in a strikingly different way than in past tours, has built-in sparking and pulsing light effects. The production also includes a 38-member cast and 14-piece touring orchestra.
While “Phantom” has its campy moments, it remains one of the most beloved musicals in theater history. That’s because it more than delivers bang for the buck, as well as a memorable songbook and an emotional journey.
At Friday night’s sold-out performance, many attendees arrived in “Phantom” character-inspired costumes and filmed themselves in and around the theater. Even after 40 years, “Phantom” is still a major event for theatergoers, and this tour delivers the experience they remember and expect.
‘The Phantom of the Opera’
When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Through Sept. 13
Where: San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown
Tickets: $88 to $236
Online: broadwaysd.com