Hello, Saturday. With all entertainment venues closed, and an alcohol ban that looks like it’s going to last on till May, it’s getting tougher to come up with exciting weekend plans. So you’ve made your Dalgona coffee, and binge-watched all the films on your to-watch list — what else is there to do? Thankfully, this weekend comes with something a little more special for us all to look forward to. For 48 hours, you can now watch The Phantom of the Opera — also known as Broadway’s biggest, longest-running musical — online at zero cost.
In face of Covid-19 closures, Andrew Lloyd Webber has launched a special YouTube channel, to keep theatre enthusiasts entertained during the pandemic. On the channel — called The Show Must Go On — audiences can expect to see some of his most beloved productions, available for free streaming for viewers all across the world. This weekend’s pick is a pretty big one, as Andrew Lloyd Webber will be releasing a special 25th anniversary version of The Phantom of the Opera, which was filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011.
What’s the Plot?
For those of you who haven’t yet seen The Phantom of the Opera, or are perhaps taking this quarantine as a chance to venture into theatre, now makes a great chance to try something new. The musical tells the bittersweet story of a masked musical prodigy, who lives in hiding under a Parisian opera house, and falls in love with a beautiful opera singer. It features an iconically moving repertoire of songs, including All I Ask of You, Music of the Night, and The Phantom of the Opera.
How to Watch it?
Tune into the official YouTube channel at The Show Must Go On. The Phantom of the Opera will be aired online from 1am onwards, Saturday April 18, 2020, and will be available to viewers for the next 48 hours. While streaming is completely free, audiences are encouraged to support the industry, by contributing donations to charities that support theatre, including Broadway Cares and the Actors Benevolent Fund.
What Else is There to See?
Asides from full-length videos, you can also stream clips that contain behind-the-scenes footage and more, including several songs that Andrew Lloyd Webber himself plays at his piano.
