Honestly, we all knew he couldn’t stay away forever. After that heartbreaking final curtain call on Broadway back in 2023, the "Phans" were left in a bit of a lurch. But the opera ghost has a habit of resurfacing when you least expect it. Now, the The Phantom of the Opera 2025 tour is officially haunting North America, and it’s not exactly the same show you remember from the nineties.
It’s different. It's refreshed.
If you’ve been following the drama behind the scenes, you know that the "Restaged" tour that wrapped up right before the pandemic was... controversial. Some people loved the grittier, more "realistic" take. Others? Well, they missed the grand staircase and the iconic Maria Björnson aesthetic. Good news for the purists: this new 2025-2026 run is a "revitalized" version of the original production. We’re talking about the version currently playing at His Majesty’s Theatre in London. It’s got the DNA of Hal Prince and Gillian Lynne, but with some clever modern tweaks that make it feel alive for a 2026 audience.
Where is the Phantom hiding?
The tour kicked off its multi-year journey in late 2025, starting at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of organ chords and dry ice. If you’re trying to catch it, you’ve gotta be quick—tickets for the major hubs are disappearing faster than the Phantom through a trick mirror.
Right now, the production is settled into the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, where it’s scheduled to run through February 1, 2026. After the Windy City, the chandelier starts traveling again. Here is a rough look at where the The Phantom of the Opera 2025 tour is heading next:
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- Detroit, MI: Feb 4 – Feb 15, 2026 (Detroit Opera House)
- St. Louis, MO: Feb 18 – March 1, 2026 (Fabulous Fox Theatre)
- New Orleans, LA: March 4 – March 15, 2026 (Saenger Theatre)
- Denver, CO: March 18 – April 5, 2026 (Buell Theater)
- Salt Lake City, UT: April 8 – April 26, 2026 (Eccles Theater)
- San Francisco, CA: May 28 – June 21, 2026 (Orpheum Theatre)
- Los Angeles, CA: June 24 – August 9, 2026 (Hollywood Pantages)
The schedule basically snakes through the West Coast through the summer of 2026, with stops in Portland and Seattle squeezed in there too. If you’re in San Diego or Costa Mesa, mark your calendars for late August and September. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Who is behind the mask this time?
Casting can make or break a tour. You can have the best sets in the world, but if the chemistry isn't there, "All I Ask of You" just feels like a long walk in a park. For this run, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber went with some fresh faces who are already drawing massive praise.
Isaiah Bailey is leading the company as the Phantom.
Coming off a stint in Jesus Christ Superstar and The Lion King, Bailey brings a "pillowy-soft tenor" that turns into a roar when he gets rejected. He’s the first Black actor to lead a major North American tour of this show, and people are raving about the way the production has updated the makeup and wig to be authentic to his natural hair texture while staying true to the Victorian period. It’s a small detail, but it matters.
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Opposite him is Jordan Lee Gilbert as Christine Daaé. She’s an opera veteran, having done Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni, so she actually has the classical chops to handle the high E6 in the title song without breaking a sweat. Daniel Lopez rounds out the trio as Raoul. Word on the street is that this Raoul is a bit more "feisty" and less of a cardboard cutout than usual, which makes the love triangle actually feel like a competition.
The Chandelier and the "New" Tech
Let's talk about the elephant in the room—or the light fixture in the ceiling.
This production uses the "revitalized" designs from London. Is it exactly like the 1980s Broadway version? Not 100%. The orchestra has been scaled down to 14 musicians, compared to the massive 27-piece pit they used to have on Broadway. However, thanks to some really high-end sound design by Mick Potter, most people say you can barely tell the difference. It sounds lush.
There's also an LED wall in the far back now. Before you groan, it’s not used for "digital sets." It’s subtle. It adds depth to the boat scene and the lair, making the lake look like it goes on forever. And yes, the chandelier still falls. It's a newer, rounder design that's equipped with updated lighting and sparks. It doesn't start on the stage anymore; it's suspended above the audience during the auction and drops at the end of Act 1.
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Pro Tip: If you want the full experience, try to snag seats in the front mezzanine. You get the best view of the chandelier’s "flight" and the floor-level pyrotechnics during Masquerade.
Is it worth the ticket price?
Touring Broadway shows aren't cheap. You're looking at anywhere from $50 to $200+ depending on the city. But honestly, seeing Phantom in a historic house like the Fabulous Fox or the Pantages is a different beast than seeing it in a modern theater. The Gothic architecture of those old movie palaces just bleeds into the show's atmosphere.
One thing that people get wrong is thinking this is a "budget" version. It’s not. There are 38 people in the cast. The costumes, designed by the late Maria Björnson and adapted by Jill Parker, are still incredibly heavy and detailed. Christine’s "Star Princess" dress has had a slight color shift (it’s a bit more pink now), and there’s been some chatter about her boots being different, but the core "Phan" experience is intact.
How to actually get tickets without getting scammed
This is the part where you need to be careful. Because the The Phantom of the Opera 2025 tour is such a massive draw, "resale" sites are marking up prices by 300%.
- Go to the official site first: Start at
us.thephantomoftheopera.com. It will link you to the authorized ticket seller for each city (usually Ticketmaster, Lucky Seat, or the venue's own box office). - Check for Lotteries: Most cities on this tour are offering a digital lottery. You can often snag front-row or box seats for about $30-$45 if you’re lucky.
- Avoid "Ticket Concierge" sites: If the URL looks weird or the price is in a different currency, run.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're planning on going, don't wait for the "last minute" deals. They don't really happen with Phantom.
- Check the Broadway in Chicago or Detroit Opera House sites immediately if you are in the Midwest; those blocks are currently on sale and filling up.
- Sign up for the "Box 5 Club" newsletter. It’s the official Lloyd Webber fan club, and they usually blast out pre-sale codes a few days before the general public gets a crack at tickets for new cities.
- Verify the "Chandelier Zone." If you have a phobia of things hanging over your head, check the seating chart. Usually, the "fall" zone is clearly marked or you can ask the box office which rows are directly under the rig.
This tour is expected to run through at least 2027, so if your city isn't on the list yet, keep your eyes peeled for the "Year Two" announcement which should drop later this spring. The Angel of Music is definitely back, and he's sounding better than ever.