A new national touring production of “The Phantom of the Opera” will launch at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre in November 2025.Producers announced this week that a new, “revitalized” production of the show will premiere in Baltimore with the help of Maryland’s Theatrical Production Tax Credit program that’s designed to encourage producers to launch their shows in Maryland.Additional tour cities and casting for the multi-year North American tour will be announced at a later date.The selection, first reported by The New York Times, is a “phenomenal win” for the directors of the France Merrick Performing Arts Center, home of the Hippodrome, and Baltimore’s arts and culture community, according to Hippodrome spokesman Patrick Seidl. The Phantom of the Opera is the second longest-running musical in history, and the new production will be based on celebrated original direction and choreography.This will be the fifth show to be launched at the Hippodrome since the General Assembly approved the tax credit program in 2022. The program provides an incentive for theatrical production companies to launch national tours and set pre-Broadway runs in Maryland. The credits encourage producers to bring their productions to the state for weeks of technical work and rehearsals prior to launching their tours and/or bringing new shows to Broadway.The state tax credits were previously utilized to make the Hippodrome the site of the pre-Broadway national tour launch of “The Wiz” in September of 2023 and the national tour launch of “& Juliet” in September of 2024. The program will also support the Hippodrome’s tour launches of “Life of Pi” in December of 2024 and “Water for Elephants” in the fall of 2025.The characters Christine Daaé and the Phantom in the mausoleum in the musical “The Phantom of the Opera.” A new touring production of the show will launch from Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre in November 2025. Courtesy photo.“The Phantom of the Opera is near and dear to my heart,” said Ron Legler, president of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, in a statement. “It was the first mega-musical I worked on more than 30 years ago. To see this iconic production come back into my life decades later and begin its new tour at the Hippodrome is a full-circle moment and a true honor. On behalf of our historic theatre, our team can’t wait to play our part in continuing this title’s legacy and for our audiences to experience the sweeping romance and grandeur of such a wonderful masterpiece.”Widely considered one of the most beautiful and spectacular theater productions in history, “The Phantom of the Opera” has been performed before more than 160 million people in 47 territories and 195 cities in 21 languages. On previous North American tours, the show has typically stayed in theaters for weeks because of its popularity.The musical tells the story of a disfigured musical genius known only as ‘The Phantom’ who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House. Mesmerized by the talents and beauty of a young soprano, Christine, The Phantom lures her as his protégé and falls fiercely in love with her. Unaware of Christine’s love for another man, The Phantom’s obsession sets the scene for a dramatic turn of events where jealousy, madness and passions collide. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score includes “The Music of the Night,” “All I Ask of You,” “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” “Masquerade” and the title song.“I’m really delighted to bring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Phantom of the Opera’ back to thrill American audiences once again after its phenomenal record-breaking run on Broadway,” said producer Cameron Mackintosh, in a statement.“When I unveiled this new production in London after the pandemic many of our brilliant original creative team, including Hal Prince, Gillian Lynne and Maria Björnson, were sadly no longer with us. Our exciting new team, inspired by their predecessors’ glorious work, updated certain aspects of the production that resulted in a dazzlingly fresh version of the much-loved original, which was rapturously received by audiences and critics alike. So, in just a year’s time, when we raise our even more sensational chandelier, you can once again thrill to Andrew’s soaring music of the night and be swept away by a revitalize ‘Phantom’ in all its glory!”“The Phantom made it very clear that it would not be long before his legend would, once again, be told in America,” said Webber, in a statement. “While Hal, Gillie and Maria are, sadly, no longer with us, they live on in the show we all created together. Love, passion and live theatre are what ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ is all about. I still get goosebumps every time that chandelier comes alive and infuses the theatre with something that only happens when design, direction and music are completely at one. I am absolutely delighted that we are bringing this very special production back to audiences across North America.”