The Phantom of the Opera himself was spotted on the Tony Awards red carpet this evening, lurking about in his infamous cape, mask, and fedora hat. During 半岛体育's live red carpet coverage, he was spotted by thousands of viewers crossing amidst the sea of Broadway stars and nominees, and viewers were quick to call out his appearance.
Many "phans" (Phantom of the Opera megafans) have declared online that the elusive figure bears an uncanny resemblance to a past man-in-the-mask, Jeremy Stolle, who was an understudy and swing in the role of The Phantom on Broadway for years until the show's closure in April 2023.
Earlier today, Phantom of the Opera and Sunset Boulevard (which is up for a Best Revival of a Musical award tonight) composer sharing that The Phantom had visited his New York City apartment, leaving behind a red carnation and a piece of his opera house's broken chandelier. In it, Lloyd Webber remarks: "He's back...he's in New York. I am a bit scared for anybody who comes here now."
It appears the Phantom is back to haunt us all, but where will he go after the curtain closes on Broadway's big night?
As previously reported, an immersive production of Phantom of the Opera has been teasing its arrival for several months now, beckoning "phans" far and wide with easter eggs and hints both online and around New York City. Some of the first major clues came with the debut of the show's official Instagram account, which first posted a simple note in cursive on bright-red parchment, reading: "Have you missed me?" Not long after, the account collaborated with Andrew Lloyd Webber's official account to share a video in which the prolific composer opens a note from the Opera Ghost himself announcing his return.
With The Phantom no longer hiding at the Majestic, but facing the spotlight of thousands of viewers at home watching the stars on the red carpet, it would seem that he may be ready to take to the stage again very soon. Stay tuned鈥攁nd keep your hands at the level of your eyes, just to be safe.
