Listeners, we have gone past the point of no return in this TWO-PART, MEGA MUSICAL EPISODE!!! Masks will be ripped off, costumes will be grand, and chandeliers will swing in this musical spectacular. This week, the Broadway Babies jump in, lassos spinning, to rein in the king of MEGA musicals: The Phantom of the Opera. Join Alex and Daisha as they discuss the 25th Anniversary, Royal Albert Hall performance starring Sierra Boggess, Ramin Karimloo and Hadley Fraser. Phantom of the Opera is glamorously basic, captivatingly simple, and addictively charming, but why? Let us know what you think after listening!  Podcast cover art: David Taylor Twitter: @bwaybabies Facebook: Facebook.com/broadwaybabiespodcast Cast recording: Amazon | iTunes Video recording: iTunes | Amazon Songs: “The Phantom of the Opera,” performed by Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo ”Think of Me,” by Wendy Ferguson and Sierra Boggess “Notes.../Prima Donna,” by Wendy Ferguson, Hadley Fraser, Barry James, Gareth Shook, etc. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe.  Released by Really Useful Group Ltd. Show Notes: Frank Rich’s 1988 New York Times review of the original production had some shade to throw Lloyd Webber’s way … and especially about his wife, y’all The unmasking scene is so much scarier in the silent Lon Chaney film; the 2004 movie’s unmasking scene, on the other hand The really great book “Razzle Dazzle” by Michael Riedel, among other stories, details the history of both Les Mis and Phantom when they came to the West End and then Broadway — and some of the Drama that ensued when the Shubert Group tried to book it into the Majestic in New York Ben Lewis singing "Till I Hear You Sing" from Love Never Dies An article about a TV show about how sleazy Times Square used to be. There are cool pictures!