‘Phantom of the Opera’ coming to Springfield for first time

Capitalizing on strong ticket sales in its 2015-16 season, Juanita K. Hammons Hall is bringing “The Phantom of the Opera” to Springfield for the first time.

The Broadway show - performed by a cast and orchestra of 52 - is scheduled to debut at Hammons Hall in May 2018 for the Missouri State University center’s 2017-18 season, officials announced last night.

“Springfield is not quite such a small twinkle in the eye of New York anymore – we’re starting to get on the radar,” Hammons Hall Executive Director Keith Boaz told Springfield Business Journal. “The next show should kick the doors wide open.”

Officials give credit for the success of the 2015-16 season to the Broadway musical “Wicked.” During its 16-show run in February, the musical sold 97 percent of available seats, with attendance figures hitting nearly 35,000. The musical represents more than half of the total 61,000 tickets for the year, when Hammons Hall grossed $3.7 million in sales, or roughly four times the revenue in the prior season. Comparatively, Hammons Hall had 2014-15 revenue of around $1 million on 29,000 tickets.

Deb Gallion, director of marketing at Hammons Hall, said season ticket holds have first rights to buy “Phantom” tickets.

In the upcoming 2016-17 season, Hammons Hall’s scheduled shows include “Elf: The Musical,” “Cinderella,” “Dirty Dancing” and “Mamma Mia!”