Meet the lifers who have worked on 'The Phantom of the Opera' for decades

After much than 3 decades, "The Phantom of the Opera" is getting acceptable to bent up its disguise connected Broadway.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber philharmonic has played to implicit 145 cardinal radical worldwide successful 41 countries, 183 cities, and successful 17 languages — and it has received 70 large theatre awards including 7 Tony Awards and 4 Olivier Awards.

The amusement besides lays assertion to the rubric of the biggest occupation shaper successful U.S. theatrical history. During its run, "Phantom" created an estimated 6,500 jobs, including those of 400 actors, successful New York City, portion grossing $1.3 cardinal successful summons sales. The show's past show astatine the Majestic Theater is slated for April 16.

Casting manager Tara Rubin has helped hand-pick the actors for the beloved philharmonic for much than 3 decades — moving conscionable down the thoroughfare from the Majestic.

"I ne'er truly dreamed that I would person a occupation similar this," Rubin told CNBC. "In 1987, erstwhile we archetypal started casting, I typed each the casting sheets that we utilized successful auditions connected a Selectric typewriter."

Back then, she besides made telephone calls to the agents — alternatively than emailing them, and did it each connected a rotary phone.

"[Phantom's] maintained a beingness connected the street, and past the metropolis for truthful long. It's inspired different shows, it's inspired radical to go actors," Rubin said.

Rubin is conscionable 1 of 20 "lifers" who person worked connected the amusement for much than 3 decades.

Dresser Ron Blakeley is different lifer who was moving backstage successful the wardrobe section erstwhile the curtain roseate astatine the Majestic for the precise archetypal time.

Blakeley's occupation is to inspect the show's costumes to marque definite they're successful tip-top shape. He gave CNBC a circuit of his backstage area, which is loaded with intricately beaded costumes and ballowns.

After each performance, Blakeley checks the costumes for immoderate signs of deterioration and tear. "I get a needle and immoderate thread and I stitch it and I enactment the backing backmost successful place."

But what he'll miss most?

"The people," said Blakeley.

The one-ton chandelier is the centerpiece of the show. It flies implicit the assemblage each night. For 3 decades, caput electrician Alan Lampel has kept its lights on.

It's named "Ruthie Two," arsenic a tribute to adjunct manager Ruth Mitchell, helium said.

Lampel said he's seen hundreds of actors travel and spell astatine "Phantom," but the chandelier hasn't near the signifier since opening night.

"I ticker it from my perch retired determination successful the backmost of the orchestra. And it's rather powerful," helium said.

Below the chandelier, different lifer is successful the orchestra pit, violinist Jan Mullen.

She's 1 of 27 musicians who marque up 1 of Broadway's largest orchestras.

"In euphony similar this, which is complex, there's ever thing antithetic you tin spot oregon what you tin bash with it," said Mullen, who ne'er expected to onshore the occupation erstwhile she auditioned aft graduating from Juilliard.

"This is arsenic bully arsenic it gets," said Mullen. "I'm truthful gladsome truthful galore radical person been capable to bask it."