Reader Judy Del Carlo of Cedar Lake wrote to me with a question that has been “haunting” her lately.
“We used to live in Lansing,” Del Carlo said.
Isaiah Bailey plays the title role opposite Jordan Lee Gilbert as Christine in the new North American Broadway tour of “Phantom of the Opera” playing from Dec. 11, 2024 to Feb. 1, 2026 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago. (Photo by Matthew Murphy)
“Then during Covid, we moved to Cedar Lake. I still get to downtown Chicago for shows and dining and so I’m curious about the return of ‘Phantom of the Opera.’ I’ve seen it three times, including originally when it was on Broadway tour at The Shubert Theater, and then two more times at Cadillac Palace Theatre, once to take my son, and two other times with friends. Is this latest touring production any different?”
Del Carlo is exactly right about a newly launched tour of the iconic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Phantom of the Opera” haunting the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 121 West Randolph St., Dec. 11 through Feb. 1, 2026 for a limited eight-week run hosted by Broadway in Chicago produced by Cameron Mackintosh with LW Entertainment and NETworks Presentations.
As for unmasking what’s different for this new North American tour, “what’s old is new again” since this run is directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn and based on the original direction by Harold Prince with musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne as recreated and adapted by Chrissie Cartwright.
Launched last month in November at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland, this “Phantom” features an almost entirely new cast with Isaiah Bailey in the title role and Jordan Lee Gilbert as Christine.
Since 1986, this is the musical that has played to more than 160 million people in 205 cities, 58 territories and 21 languages, all dodging that signature swinging chandelier while hypnotized by the score that includes “The Music of the Night,” “All I Ask of You,” “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” “Masquerade” and of course, the iconic title song.
To find out even more of the scoop of what’s new about this “Phantom,” I went right to the man behind the mask, actor Isaiah Bailey, who originally hails from Little Rock, Arkansas and a nice guy I first met last summer in August when he performed in Millennium Park at the annual free Broadway in Chicago Summer Preview Concert.
“You want to know what’s new and my answer is ‘a lot,’ but without any sacrifice to all of the signature favorite moments and scenes of the story,” Bailey told me while chatting by phone Wednesday.
“I first saw ‘Phantom’ in New York on Broadway in 2014 when my friend was playing Christine and there have been plenty of tours because the story and music are so popular. Now I’m living my stage dream. A highlight for this tour compared to the last tour is our traveling set includes the full, expansive impressive grand staircase for the ‘Masquerade’ scene. The last tour used a smaller scale version.”
Bailey is also still getting used to wearing his all-important mask accessory.
“My mask was created just for my face shape, but it’s also a different fit once I have all of my prosthetic make-up on underneath,” he said.
“But I’m getting more comfortable in it while experiencing everything going on around me, from the theatrical haze and fog and lighting special effects to the fire blasts and pyrotechnics. When we met over the summer at the outdoor Broadway in Chicago concert, that night was my first time ever singing the song ‘The Music of the Night’ before any audience. It was a bit scary.”
Bailey’s last visit to Chicago was two years ago as the understudy for Mufasa in the Broadway tour of “The Lion King.”
“I’m really getting used to wearing masks on stage as part of my stage life,” he said.
Tickets to “Phantom of the Opera” range from $59 to $195 with more details at www.BroadwayinChicago.com or www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com
Another adventure
Best-selling author Catherine Lanigan is always ready for adventure.
Hailing from LaPorte, she wrote the 1984 novelization of the popular 1984 film “Romancing the Stone” starring Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas.
She also published the book version of the film sequel’s story, “The Jewel of the Nile,” released in 1985 at the same time the second film hit theaters, reuniting the stars Douglas and Turner from the original movie.
Lanigan’s new 264-page paperback “Magical Midnight” ($19.99), released in March 2024, is perfect for the holidays.
Set during the winter solstice, the story details a magical phenomenon that occurs on the Michaels Family’s Wisconsin dairy farm. When Angel 7777 realizes that many humans have lost hope, she takes on the task of coming to earth to bring estranged Owen Michaels back to his aging father, Gregory. This is an angel who has never been to earth and who is telepathic so must now learn the human language while navigating strong emotions of the heart. With only a few days until Christmas Eve, the angel must return to heaven, choosing between her growing love for Owen and her commitment to the higher forces.
Lanigan will be reading from her new book and answering questions before a book signing event 6-7 p.m. Dec. 18 at The Starke County Public Library Knox Branch, 152 W. Culver Road in Knox. For more information, visit www.scpls.org or call 574-772-7323.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and weekly radio host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at philpotempa@gmail.com.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/potempa-this-broadway-phantom-living-stage-dream/
