Phantom of the Opera – Orpheum Theater – Minneapolis MN – November 25th 2025

Orpheum Theatre — November 25, 2025

Review by Kyle Hansen

The Orpheum Theatre’s November 25th performance of The Phantom of the Opera delivered exactly what longtime fans hope for: grand romance, soaring vocals, and gothic spectacle — but with a few distinctive touches that made this particular night feel personal and electric.

Performances

The cast performed with an energy that suggested they knew they were playing to a near-full holiday-week crowd.

The Phantom performed with a voice rich enough to fill the ornate hall without ever feeling forced. His “Music of the Night” struck a quiet balance between seduction and sorrow — his final notes hung in the air long enough to draw a brief hush before applause erupted.

Christine was the emotional core of the evening. Her vocals had a crystalline tone that carried beautifully in the Orpheum’s acoustics, especially in the title song and “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” which prompted one of the longest mid-show ovations of the night.

Raoul offered a grounded, warm counterbalance — the kind of performance that avoids the common pitfall of making him bland. Instead, his chemistry with Christine felt genuine, heightening the love-triangle tension in the final act.

Music & Orchestra

The orchestra sounded tight and bright, with the brass section particularly sharp in the overture (the famous chandelier cue drew audible excitement from the crowd). Strings added lushness without overpowering the singers, and the conductor kept the pacing brisk.

️ Staging & Design

The Orpheum’s classic architecture paired beautifully with the production’s moody, shadow-heavy design. The boat scene on the underground lake was a standout: fog rolling off the stage, candles rising from the darkness, and a smoothly executed illusion that drew gasps even from viewers who clearly knew it was coming.

The chandelier drop — always a crowd-pleaser — felt controlled yet thrilling. From orchestra row, the descent felt surprisingly close and visceral.

Atmosphere & Audience

Being two days before Thanksgiving meant a lively, mixed crowd: families, theater-goers in from out of town, and season-ticket regulars. The lobby buzzed with excitement before the show, and the energy carried into the auditorium.

By the final blackout, the applause turned into a full standing ovation — not the polite kind, but the “we really loved this” kind.

⭐ Overall Impression

This performance didn’t reinvent Phantom — nor did it need to. Instead, it leaned confidently into what makes the show endure: passion, spectacle, haunting beauty, and a timeless score.

A strong, emotionally charged performance and one of the Orpheum’s standout productions of the year.