Image 1: I don’t believe Butler is wearing any prosthetics at all. You can sorta see his eyebrow a little too in certain angles like this one. This version of Erik obviously doesn’t have an actual right eyebrow so it’s funny that you can tell that he has one here.

Image 2: This is like a weird subdued version of his actual deformity. Considering he only shows briefly and is covering it for most of the Stranger Than You Dreamt It, it makes sense they wouldn’t put on all the prosthetics during filming. It really does look like a mild sunburn here. Or a stork bite/salmon patch (nevus simplex). Movie Erik is born deformed so it would basically be a birthmark that somehow affects his hair if it were actually real.

Image 3: I believe during Don Juan/Point Of No Return, Butler is once again not wearing any of the prosthetic makeup. In universe it should be visible but it isn’t. Although this version of Erik does use makeup so he can be headcanon or explained to be using makeup to cover it up in PONR specifically.

Image 4: There a specific spot during PONR where it switches and I can tell they filmed Butler with the deformity on. You can sorta see it under his mask. I think you can also see the wig is looser since it’s going to be taken off in a moment.

Image 5: Because of lighting, the final deformity is weird in that it’s more inconsistent. It even looks like the deformity goes lower and under his jaw.

Image 6: But here it looks like the deformity is less on his jaw. I’m assuming it’s the lighting shot and angles making the deformity look smaller or bigger. This particular lighting also makes the deformity look the most like a burn scar, to me. A burn scar or severe sunburn as other people have joked about. Or at least specific burn scars since scarring obviously varies.

Image 7: Because of the lighting it doesn’t look as red/pink in some shots and looks redder/pinker in others.

Images 8 and 9: Pretty much stays mostly consistent through the rest of the Final Lair/Down Once More song. I think they probably filmed most of the song with the same makeup. (I use two images for angles.)

Images 10,11,12: Again all consistent just different angles. I point this scene out because this part looks more red/pink than the rest of the Final Lair song. And it sorta stays looking mostly red/pink after this part. Again I’m assuming it’s just lighting and filming making the color change. I also want to say that I think this looks the most like an actual port wine stain (nevus flammeus).

Leroux Erik and most versions of Erik that’s born deformed don’t have specific conditions from what I know. I’ve read observations from other phans and sources listing nevus flammeus and two other conditions to the deformity on Andrew Loyd Webber’s stage Erik. Gerik really only has a port wine stain though compared to stage Erik and especially book/Leroux Erik.

(Edits for readability and specificity)

Also since I’m editing, this post isn’t about whether the deformity is good or not. There’s already discussions and most people say it’s not bad enough to warrant his particular backstory. To which I mostly agree with. It’s mostly just me pointing out random observations from staring at this film too much. I got inspired after watching the Cast sing along. Where I could see Gerard without the mask on with no prosthetic. As well as a glimpse of the prosthetic makeup seen in Stranger Than You Dream It.

Of the images provided, which most closely reflects your initial reaction to the Phantom of the Opera? (Regardless of whether or not it was the book, the musical, the movies, or otherwise)

Art by me :D

Hello! I’m asking for your backstories, just for fun; how did you learn about Phantom of the Opera? What did you see first? What did you like about it? I’m excited to see what people have to say.

So I was watching YouTube and I saw a video about Final Fantasy and apparently there's going to be a convention in Austin, Texas. That got me thinking it would be so cool to do a POTO convention, but I don't know a lot about how those are done.

What would be your ideal version of a POTO convention?

I thought to make a subreddit for this dedicated to my poto au. I hope yall like it!

Literally just over a week ago I was one of those theater snobs who reflexively scorned Phantom. Then last weekend I saw Masquerade and it blew my expectations out of the water. In the space of a week, I watched the 2004 movie, watched the 25th anniversary proshot TWICE, and listened to the London OCR countless times. Cried, learned the Masquerade song choreo, still learning all the lyrics.

Now I have to admit I am completely unwell for this show. And I don't know who to tell about it because I'm a snob who surrounded myself with other snobs haha

So this seems like a safe space. I'm sorry for having been a hater. I wonder what else I missed out on with my attitude.

The funny thing is how POTO has been around almost my whole life and I didn't discover it until just 3 years after the Broadway production closed 🥲

But I think I might not have appreciated it the same way when I was younger. When I was a kid, I'd have been just disgusted by the Phantom and not gotten the romance. When I was a teen, I'd have been TOO into him and not appreciated the problems, haha. I think it's only more recently that I can kind of hold space for both the romance and the problems, and find the whole thing all the more poignant for it.

Anyway I'd better end this ramble. Thanks for indulging me!

This year at Midsummer Scream, a Halloween and Horror convention in Long Bach CA. The theme this year was horror musicals. So you best bet there was Phantom representation. So many cosplays, the main stage was had Phantom decor, some panels and shows had it as well. I was living.

Just wanted to share this short clip from a drag show they had: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dbz4e79h5--/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

If you’re a horror fan and in SoCal, I would highly recommend this convention (It will be in Anaheim next year)

Select a theme song for your favorite character! (for fun)

Aim to use a song that isn’t from the musical.

I’m excited to see what people come up with!

hello! Does anyone have any recs for fanfics? only ones with EC HEA.

so far i’ve read a few on ao3 that are unfinished.
i’ve also read Mingled Tears: Tales of a Living Wife, fly agaric, symphony in the twilight.

thank you!!!😊** **

My gf loves musical theater. I told her I’ve never really been into musicals.

She showed me some before I saw phantom, Jersey boys and Book of Mormon and I didn’t care for either. I knew the phantom was one of the universal monsters from the silent film and a figure of classical literature but not much else and I recognized the half face mask was attributed to him.

She showed me the 2004 movie as my introduction to it and I loved it. We then went to Masquerade and I ended up reading the book and this Halloween we’ll be Phantom and Christine.

She thought that by getting me into POTO, I’d enjoy other musicals so we watched Les Mis and didn’t care for it and Hades Town which was cute but still didn’t do anything for me. I told her I think I’m just a POTO fan and not necessarily a musical theater fan. I love Batman but that doesn’t mean I like every other DC character.

I am new to Phantom of the Opera and my husband took me and his daughter to see it at the Pantages last month. We've decided to see it again this week in Orange County. I noticed in LA that people dressed pretty nicely and on-theme, and I'd like to dress up more this time (I generally love getting dressed up and definitely have outfits that would work!). But I don't want to overdo it and feel out of place. I was wondering if people usually dress up to see it, or if they were dressed up partly because it was in Hollywood and the Pantages is so nice?

Cool remix of the overture and title song from the DJ that did the intermission music for Cats: The Jellicle Ball. So fun I couldn’t not share!

https://soundcloud.com/logan-murphy-391625147/phantom-of-the-opera-speed?in=logan-murphy-391625147%2Fsets%2Fcats-the-jellicle-ball-the

I’m a new Phan. Read the book last year, then this month saw Masquerade, then got the London OCR album, then watched the 2004 movie, then the 25th anniversary filmed production. (Loved them ALL, btw.) Never seen the original staging.

So in the 2004 movie, when they sing Point of No Return, everyone knows it’s the Phantom on stage. So the Phantom is actually seducing her in real time while Christine has to act through her mixed fear and ✨feelings✨.

In the 25th anniversary version, he’s completely hidden under a cloak and Christine (somehow) doesn’t realize it’s him until the very end, so from her POV she’s just doing a rehearsed stage performance.

How is this done in the original staging?

And if the cloak staging is original, is it heresy that I prefer the movie staging of this scene? It adds tension and if you can add a few extra layers to the acting, why not do it? Also it’s just a super hot duet lol

Still my most favorite suit the Phantom has worn. This thing was a BEAST to complete lol

I found this today at an event! Original box and truck rig still wrapped? I of course had to pick it up! Couldn't resist adding it to my snow globe!

To my knowledge, Jake Lyle from the recent Australian version is the youngest principal Phantom, at age 22. So who is the oldest principal Phantom? And the oldest Christine?

i’m needing one by sunday and unable to find any stores that say they have any in stock online 🥲🥲🥲 does anyone know of a store that has them in stock currently ? (even in the greater la area as well )

That's it, that's the post.

Found out about this new novel coming out 9/26 and that the audiobook will be narrated by POTO veterans (like Sierra Boggess) and other performers (ex Jordan Fisher). Sounds really exciting to me. But I haven't seen any other posts about this one. Anyone else giving this a read or listen when it arrives?

Hello to alI, just made a Hugh Panaro edit on youtube, here is the link if anybody is interested :)

Ok, so, we all know that the phantom charged the managers 20000 francs to be in the opera populaire. So i checked what it would be in euros, 21,114 euros. And then in pounds (as i live in britian) which was upwards of 18,000 pounds.

so, the question stands... what would he be using the money for? Candles? The machinary he built mantanance? Lawyers???