Theater Review: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at The Fabulous Fox

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical based on the 1910 novel, The Phantom of the Opera, is back at The Fabulous Fox and it couldn’t be fresher than ever. The current tour is inspired by a revitalized production featuring Maria Bjornson’s original design which saw the show take on a modernized lifeform in 2021. This inspiration sets the stage as the epic musical presents a wonderfully decorated stage, costumes and a classic narrative that breathes new air into the beloved tale.  

Following the tragic love story of a musical genius known as The Phantom who haunts a theatre and develops an obsession and admiration for the talented soprano Christine, audiences are invited to fall in love all over again with the macabre and beautifully written show, with features equal parts operatic symphonies and belted ballads. The current tour started in 2025 and is currently at the Fox Theatre until March 1^st. 

Friday night’s production started off with a slight technical difficulty, but in all honesty, given the “production within a production” element of the show, it felt like it could have seamlessly been integrated into part of the experience. The orchestra was absolutely incredible, and the music echoed and boomed through the theatre. The show began with the infamous auction scene and an elaborate chandelier hovered about the audience and glistened and lit up as the production began. 

The cast was fantastic, and the costume design was one of the most elaborate setups I’ve seen in a production in the past decade. Each character and each scene was so elegantly blocked and there were several moments where I forgot I was in the audience, feeling completely encapsulated by the set design and performances of the players. Featuring hit songs like “The Music of the Night,” “All I Ask of You,” “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,’ and my personal favorite, “Masquerade,” were executed with the most beautiful and dazzling proficiency.  

This particular production is one of the most amazing performances I have seen come through St. Louis, and can confidently say that the show is more than a musical event, but an experience, one that needs to enjoyed live. Tickets are still available for performances and can be purchased at the box office or through MetroTix. Grab yours today and lose yourself in the beauty as you relive, or experience for the first time, The Phantom of the Opera, as it has never been seen before. 

See THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at The Fabulous Fox Theatre February 18 – March 1, 2026.

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman