The musical classic “The Phantom of the Opera” is returning to Germany after more than ten years. Starting this fall, it will be staged at the Cologne Musical Dome, with the premiere on November 15. It is planned to run there, according to current plans, until early 2028, possibly longer, a spokesperson for ATG Entertainment said. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical first reached the stage in 1986 in London and has since developed into one of the world’s most successful productions. According to ATG Entertainment, it has drawn more than 160 million attendees worldwide. Well-known songs include “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Think of Me.” In Cologne, the show is to be presented in a 2012 staging by British theater producer Cameron Mackintosh. The story of a disfigured man living hidden in the underground passages of an opera house originates from a 1911 French novel. The musical offers many touchpoints for queer interpretations—especially around identity, concealment, otherness, and emotional intensity. Through July, the Moulin Rouge production is still running at the Musical Dome. In the medium term, the building is slated for demolition to enable an expansion of Cologne’s main train station.
