Spokane Has Seen Nothing Like ‘Phantom’

How big is “The Phantom of the Opera”?

It’s only the biggest theatrical event in Spokane’s history, both in terms of budget and in sheer numbers of paying customers.

This four-week run, which begins Wednesday at the Spokane Opera House, will easily bring in more than 70,000 people, or up 82,000 if the entire run sells out, which is a distinct possibility.

This is more than double the attendance record of “Miss Saigon,” set a mere month ago.

Yet even if you go back to the heyday of live touring theater in Spokane, in the 1900s and 1910s, nothing has rivaled this 32-show run.

But what about quality?

Depends on how you feel about the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Even if you find his music derivative and simplistic, as many do, you can at least enjoy the big-budget spectacle, which is recreated with state-of-the-art technical wizardry.

This run will have two Phantoms — Brad Little for the first10 shows, through March 1, and then Ted Keegan for the remainder of the run through March 18. Both are veterans of the Broadway version.

Tickets are still available for many shows; see the Theater listings inside for more information.