This past Friday, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott officially proclaimed November 7, 2025, as “Phantom of the Opera Day”—a historic moment marking the start of the show’s national tour right here in Baltimore, Maryland, at the legendary Hippodrome Theatre.

We had the absolute honor of being invited to capture this milestone performance—photographing the curtain call and documenting an unforgettable backstage moment where the cast met the iconic duo themselves: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh, the original creator and producer of The Phantom of the Opera (as well as beloved classics like Cats and Les Misérables).

As photographers and videographers who live to preserve the emotion behind every story, this evening was magic. Garrett took the lead on videography while I focused on photography, both of us capturing the energy, emotion, and elegance of the night.

The Magic of Curtain Call

While the performance itself was breathtaking, there’s something uniquely special about the curtain call.
It’s that exact moment when the lights shift, the applause swells, and the performers take in the energy of a grateful audience.
To capture the cast’s faces—lit with joy, gratitude, and disbelief as they bowed before Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh—was a privilege beyond words. You could feel the weight of their accomplishment, the reverence of history, and the love of the art form all in one heartbeat.

Backstage Reflections

After the performance, backstage was alive with emotion. The cast gathered close as Webber and Mackintosh delivered heartfelt words of wisdom—seasoned advice from legends to a new generation of dreamers. There were tears, applause, and pure awe.

Standing there with my camera in hand, I couldn’t help but feel the past and present collide.
The last time I was on stage at the Hippodrome, I was a much younger girl—a theater kid with big dreams, performing dance routines in front of an audience. That same girl who used to play the Cats VHS on repeat (also composed by Webber) was now standing on that same stage—doing exactly what she was meant to do, documenting artists living out their most passionate dreams… right beside my husband, my favorite creative partner in the world.

It was more than a full-circle moment—it was a divine reminder of how purpose unfolds with time.

Gratitude

We are deeply grateful to have been trusted to document this historic evening for Baltimore’s performing arts community.
To be present for Phantom of the Opera Day—a moment where legacy, art, and storytelling converged—reminded me why I fell in love with photography in the first place.