Box Five (Original 1985 Sydmonton Workshop) – Phantom of the Opera

Box Five – the original 1985 Sydmonton Festival workshop version of the managers’ scene from The Phantom of the Opera. This is the early draft performed at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s private Sydmonton Festival on 5 July 1985, starring Colm Wilkinson as the Phantom and Sarah Brightman as Kristin (later Christine). The scene was later rejected by director Hal Prince and rewritten into the version of “Notes / Prima Donna” heard in the finished show. In this original version the managers repeatedly ask “Why do we never sell Box Five?” The melody was later reworked into the central section of the managers’ scene. Recorded from the circulating Sydmonton workshop performance (Act I only). Lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. This recording has circulated among fans for years. The official studio version of “Box Five” was released for the first time in October 2026 as part of The Phantom of the Opera (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix). #PhantomOfTheOpera #BoxFive #Sydmonton #AndrewLloydWebber #ColmWilkinson #SarahBrightman