The First Phantom of the Opera Poster - London Premier (1986)

The Phantom of the Opera - Her Majesty’s Theatre - Poster (1986)

Original Phantom of the Opera premier poster designed and printed by Dewyntners Ltd for Cameron Mackintosh & The Really Useful Theatre Company. 1986 50.5cm x 32cm. Condition: Excellent.

This original 1986 Phantom of the Opera poster, issued before the show launched, promotes the previews and the opening night of the Musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Haymarket, London. What makes this poster especially rare is the Phantom’s outstretched hand catching a rose - a feature that was removed from any future material prior to opening.

So what happend to the hand? As the story goes, it was considered too similar to the design for “Jeeves”, (1975) another musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, also at Her Majesty’s Theatre, which initially flopped, running for just 1 month.

Near perfect condition (stored rolled). The printers Dewyntners were also the designers of the iconic visual brand for Phantom which has at endured to this day.

Originally based on the novel by Gaston LaRoux, the The Phantom of the Opera musical was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Charles Hard and produced by Cameron Mackintosh. In the year it opened, it won an Oliver Award and in 1988 hit Broadway in New York and remains to the longest running show. Phantom is the 2nd highest grossing musical of all time behind Lion King.

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