Phantom of the Opera at ASU Gammage Auditorium in Tempe, Arizona

Chased By: phxcher

Just recently, I was given the opportunity to check out a Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera with tickets from RazorGator and EventChaser. I quickly called my mom and asked her to join me. With our great tickets in hand, we headed to Gammage Auditorium in Tempe for a real treat.

ASU Gammage Auditorium
Gammage Auditorium
1200 South 4th Avenue
Tempe, Arizona 85287
(480) 965-5062

Gammage Auditorium was designed by the widely respected architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Construction of the structure began in 1964 and can seat over 3,000 patrons. It is a stunning building that really stands out amongst the ASU campus structures.

I am a huge fan of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work, so it was a pleasure to be able to check out Gammage Auditorium. My mom and both agreed that the theater looked like a gigantic cake, due to its circular and pastry-like shape. It looks good enough to eat! Although, I would not recommend doing so!

Google Maps – Gammage Auditorium

Parking at Gammage Auditorium
We arrived at the theater about an hour before the show was scheduled to start. We found plenty of reserved and secure parking at the venue, even though a football game going on at the same time. We parked close to the north entrance of the auditorium. We did experience a bit of traffic on our way in, but it clearing up quickly. It is very important to park in the designated areas in Tempe.

I speak from experience, because on one of my previous visits to Tempe my car was towed! I ended up having to pay a hefty fee to get my car back. This is something you will want to avoid, so make sure to park in the designated areas. During our trip to Gammage Auditorium we parked in the designated parking lot and had no issues at all. It all went very smooth and a parking lot attendant assured us that we were parking in the correct spot.

Tempe Restaurants and Dining
Before the showing of Phantom of the Opera, we decided to stop at Chili’s. Our number one reason was because it smelled delicious! I am not a big fan of chain restaurants, but this specific Chili’s was absolutely delicious. We both ordered a small entrée for lunch and split a delectable appetizer of egg rolls, chicken wings and mini cheese burgers. Delicious and cheap!

Gammage Auditorium is located about a block from some of the best restaurants in Tempe, so make your choice wisely. Mill Avenue is a hot spot for shopping, food, entertainment and so much more. You could spend an entire afternoon enjoying all of the sights and this is definitely something I recommend. Here are a few of my favorite eateries near Gammage Auditorium.

Chilli’s Grill and Bar
801 South Mill Avenue
Tempe, Arizona 85281
(480) 731-9482

Rock N Roll Chicken Fingers
937 East Broadway, Suite #2
Tempe, Arizona 85282
(480)377-9241

Four Peaks Brewery
1340 East 8th Street
Tempe, Arizona 85281
(480) 303-9967

Hotels and Tempe Attractions
If you are looking to spend some extended time in Tempe, here are my suggestions for the best hotels and attractions. Tempe has recently seen a surge in community development and you will find fun for the entire family. Keep in mind, Tempe is a college town. It is built around the Arizona State University campus and it is a very lively neighborhood.

Tempe Sheraton
1600 South 52nd Street
Tempe, Arizona 85281
(480) 967-6600

The Buttes
200 Westcourt Way
Tempe, Arizona
(602) 225-9000

Tempe Town Lake
620 North Mill Avenue
Tempe, Arizona 85281
(480) 350-8625

Phantom of the Opera
Again, I want to fully express the importance of arriving to the venue at least an hour before the show. After lunch we drove about a block and ended up arriving at Gammage Auditorium about 1:00pm. This was perfect timing for us, because the show was scheduled to start at 2:00pm. The auditorium filled up quickly and we had just enough time to find the bathrooms and grab something to drink. Large bottled water was $3 and well worth every penny. Drinks and snacks are allowed in the auditorium; however you must purchase them from the Gammage vendors.

We had a pair of fantastic seats in the Orchestra B section, row 23 with a crystal clear view of the stage and conveniently located near the exits. Once we were seated, I noticed how comfortable the chairs were. The seats were cushioned perfectly, with plenty of room to stretch out and relax! No one was sitting to our left, and the guests sitting directly to our right were very friendly and courteous.

I wasn’t expecting many people for this specific afternoon showing, but it was almost a packed house! I picked up a beautiful, glossy Phantom of the Opera booklet for $10. It includes some photos of the production and information about Phantom of the Opera and the actors. The book was an excellent souvenir and something to cherish for years to come.

Vendors were also selling roses, t-shirts, spiced candied pecans (which made the venue auditorium smell fantastic!), wine, snacks and other goodies.

The staff members at Gammage were very helpful and gave great information. They were readily available to assist us to our seats and answer all of our questions. The staff’s eagerness was much appreciated, because this was my first time at the venue and the first time experiencing a Broadway production. I could really tell they all enjoyed working for Gammage and were passionate about helping us out!

The show was absolutely stunning! It was an amazing experience, one which I will never forget. The attention to detail on the entire production was fantastic! The costumes sparkled under the lighting and Phantom of the Opera and the special effects were jaw-dropping. It was a visual and audio delight of epic proportions. I can now understand why this is Broadway’s longest running show.

The music resonated with the entire audience and there was plenty of applause and cheers between acts. The love story was very emotional and moving. It really pulled on my heart strings. I know the stage at Gammage is rather small, but every element was in place. There was a brief intermission, with just enough time for us to head outside for some fresh air. The conclusion of the show exceeded my expectations and the crowd gave the entire production a bright standing ovation. It was inspiring to hear fans in the crowd singing along to their favorite songs.

The original story of Phantom of the Opera, also known as Le Fantôme de l’Opéra was written by Gastron Leroux, a French poet and writer in the early 1900’s. It was adapted into a Broadway musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1986.

It is a story love of a tortured ghost who is constantly causing chaos. The Phantom of the Opera lives in the Opera House and soon falls in love with one of the opera performers, however she does not favor The Phantom. The plot follows the two through the pitfalls of unrequited love.

Once the show came to an end, I was ready to watch it all over again!

Being able to spend this time with my mom and taking in every moment of the show was awesome! I want to give RazorGator and EventChaser a huge thank you for the wonderful Phantom of the Opera Tickets!

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