'The Phantom of the Opera' turns 25

When "The Phantom of the Opera" first hit Broadway, Ronald Reagan was president; Lady Gaga probably still in diapers. And Times Square? A dump.

Times change. The extravagant production became the longest running show in Broadway history, surpassing "Cats" back in 2006 -- and it reaches an even greater landmark this Saturday, celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special gala performance.

With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and direction by Harold Prince, the show debuted at the Majestic Theatre on Jan. 26, 1988. Michael Crawford starred as The Phantom, an obsessed, elusive figure who haunts the Paris Opera House and mesmerizes Christine, a young soprano played by Sarah Brightman.

The show was a sensation -- and source of controversy, from casting (Brightman was unknown on Broadway . . . but she did just happen to be married to the composer) to production values (some music tracks are pre-recorded).

But the show survived, and has been hitting high notes, dropping chandeliers and thrilling audiences ever since. For 10,400 performances, come Saturday. Here are other impressive numbers associated with the show (estimates through Jan. 26, 2013, the show's 25th anniversary performance).

But The Phantom requires a special commitment. Applying the makeup -- plus bald cap, prosthetics, two wigs and the infamous mask (custom-made for each actor) -- takes 90 minutes. Add in performing, then washing up, and you've got about five hours a show. For McGillin, that makes 12,720 hours . . . or 530 days.

"Oh . . . there's . . . there's something wrong with me if I was able to do that," he says, laughing. "I was a distance swimmer in school, so maybe I have a certain amount of endurance. You put your head down in the water and think, 'Why the heck wasn't I a sprinter?' But you just keep swimming . . . lap after lap."

All Christines live in fear the recording will break, meaning they'd have to hit the note again, says Rebecca Luker, who played the role from 1989 to 1991, and went on to star in shows such as "Show Boat," "The Music Man" and "Mary Poppins," earning three Tony nominations.

"It was a great way to start my career," says Luker, who made her Broadway debut in the show. "I call it 'Phantom Camp' -- it taught me the importance of persistence, hard work, setting goals. And it was beautiful. I miss that. I miss the grandness of it."

"When I got the job, I called my dad and just cried," recalls Wills, who played Christine from 2006 to 2010 (the third-longest Christine) and now lives in Mineola with her husband, Vincent Schicchi, and their son.

"The first time my parents sat in actual seats for that show was when they first came to see me as Christine," she says. "Many nights singing 'Think of Me,' I'd look out to that back row and remember those magical days where dreams began."