Happy July 4th weekend!

With lots of shows deeply discounted for the holidays, it’s a great time to head to the box office. And it’s also a great time to salute Phantom, which with it’s evening perfomance on Thursday, July 3, will become the first Broadway show ever to reach 8,500 performances.

On Broadway, since its debut on January 26, 1988, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has grossed $690 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history. Total New York attendance is at 12.5 million. Did you know as an international success PHANTOM is the most successful entertainment venture of all time, surpassing not only any other stage production, but also far surpassing the world’s highest-grossing film Titanic (at $1.2 billion) and such other blockbusters as The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars. There are currently eight productions around the world. Worldwide attendance is over 80 million people, having played over 65,000 performances in 25 countries and 124 cities.

A-mazing!

Hey Kids!

This Friday (June 27) offers two exciting Broadway events:

The Samsung Experience Store, located on the third floor of the Time Warner Center, will host an afternoon with A Catered Affair. The event will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will include a meet and greet with cast members, including stars Faith Price, Tom Wopat and Harvey Fierstein, an in-store performance from Mr. Wopat, and a cast CD signing.

Also, you can meet Tony Award winning choreographer and director Jerry Mitchell of Legally Blonde, La Cage aux Folles and Hairspray fame. He’ll discuss his new book “Broadway Bares: Backstage Pass” at the Barnes and Noble Lincoln Triangle (Broadway at 66th Street).

Joining Mitchell will be past stars and poster boys and girls of Broadway Bares Angie Schworer (The Producers), Sebastian La Cause (Rocky Horror Show), Michael Curry (Cabaret), Matthew Risch (Legally Blonde), and Julio Agustin (Never Gonna Dance).

The event will take place in the third floor event space at 5:30 PM with a book signing by Mitchell and friends to follow.

Enjoy!

Okay, kids, this just in:

There will be a special event for Broadway fans this Wednesday to kick off the first musical of the post Tony Broadway season…with the upcoming cast and creative team of [title of show].

That’s Wednesday June 18th at the Lyceum Theatre, West 45th between 6th and Broadway, from 11am to 1 pm. It includes a meet and greet, signing of the cast recording, and the announcement of a new ticket price.

Open to everyone!