"The Phantom of the Opera" Original Broadway Cast Archive Footage
A full length production recording of the Original Broadway Cast (Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Steve Barton) exists in the archive of the New York Public Library's Theatre on Film and Tape archive at Lincoln Center. It was filmed on May 25, 1988. In January 2026, I was fortunate enough to view this archived footage. You can read my detailed review of the performance, and how you might be able to view the video yourself, at the link below:
Original Broadway Cast Review by
Phantom on a Budget
Please read the Frequently Asked Questions below the cut.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐ฟ ๐ค๐ง ๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐?
No. You must physically view it at the New York Public Library (NYPL) Theatre on Film and Tape (TOFT) archive at Lincoln Center, New York City.
2. ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ช๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ข๐?
It is not being released, and likely never will be. The only way to view it is at the NYPL TOFT in NYC. It will not be released for home viewing (like the Royal Albert Hall anniversary concert) because this is meant for research and reference only. The recording is owned by NYPL, and Andrew Lloyd Webber/LW Entertainment has not authorized it ever being released.
3. ๐พ๐๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐?
NO! Photographs and video recordings of this archived footage are strictly prohibited. If you are fortunate enough to see the video at TOFT, please follow the rules and DO NOT record or photograph. Doing so will ruin future access to the video at TOFT for the rest of us. Donโt be that guy.
4. ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐จ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐?
It is available to the public with NYPL library cards (which are available for free, even to non-NYC residents). However, TOFT is technically a restricted research archive. As such, please have a valid reason for your visit. Maybe youโre researching for an upcoming high school production. Or youโre researching for your own Phantom website or blog. Whether any of that is true is between you and whatever deity you subscribe to. Find a reason you can actually defend, and be professional when viewing the video. I listed โresearchโ as my reason for the viewing; I was not asked at booking or on the day for additional information or justification.
5. ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ช๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐๐จ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ค?
Iโm a career Phantom cosplayer, effects makeup artist, and wig maker. I have a public website with free costuming and makeup resources available, and have consulted on several school productions of the show over the years. Also Iโm a huge phan and have always wanted to see it!
6. ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐?
According to the NYPL website, you can only view the complete footage once. We were able to stop, rewind, and rewatch scenes multiple times to take notes during our viewing. That said, if there are legitimate reasons for an additional visit, itโs worth contacting TOFT to see if another viewing could be granted. I have not tried it yet as I only just saw it recently and I donโt need another viewing at this time.
7. ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ข๐ช๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐จ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐จ๐ฉ?
Itโs free! You only need to sign up online for a NYPL card and create a Special Collections account through TOFT. It takes about 15 minutes to sign up for these and book an appointment.
8. ๐โ๐ข ๐ซ๐๐จ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐พ ๐จ๐ค๐ค๐ฃ, ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ช๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ?
Technically, yes. You can theoretically sign up for the NYPL card and Special Collections account in person. But I do not recommend walking in without an appointment. Sign up for everything online and request an appointment ahead of time to make sure the media will be available when you need it.
itโs such a little thing but iโm obsessed with the way obc recording hermes says โthe car door opened and a man shtepped outโ in way down hadestown
An incredible find! Two lengthy clips from the Original Broadway Cast of Les Mis, 1987.
The Runaway Cart/Who Am I?/Come to Me/Confrontation.
And the Epilogue.
Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, Terrence Mann as Javert, Randy Graff as Fantine, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, David Bryant as Marius, and Frances Ruffelle as รponine.
