I Splurged on Tickets to ‘Masquerade,’ NYC’s Immersive ‘Phantom of the Opera’ Experience—Here’s My Review

Two things constitute my ideal night out: an immersive experience and a themed dress code. Having already hit Medieval Times, a Nightmare Before Christmas light show and one of the final performances of Sleep No More this past year, Masquerade was at the top of my list.

Over the last few months, I’d seen a number of friends and influencers posting about the mysterious NYC experience on Instagram—mostly through masked selfies basked in red light. When it came time to buy my boyfriend—who was obsessed with Sleep No More, a long-running, immersive take on Macbeth—a Christmas present, I finally dug a little deeper into the event everyone had been buzzing about.

As soon as I learned that it was an experiential version of The Phantom of the Opera (a musical both my BF and I love), I jumped at the chance to score two tickets over the holiday break. At $245 each, they were a splurge—but now I can say that they were totally worth it. Curious about experiencing Masquerade for yourself? Here’s my full recap and review.

The reason for the shoe rule? This is no sit-down-in-your-seat affair. The experience involves following the characters from room to room as the story progresses—up stairs and down escalators, backstage and through the Phantom’s underground lair. There’s quite a bit of walking involved (albeit with some chair breaks). This makes the show far more thrilling than your typical off-Broadway production, but you should know that you’ll be getting your steps in.

Since it is an official offshoot of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production, Masquerade features all of the famous songs from the beloved musical (and 2004 film). There’s the show’s namesake tune, of course, “The Music of the Night,” and the Phantom’s theme. Just trust me when I say that you’ve never seen them performed like this before.

While there are no photos allowed during the entirety of the show, the experience ends in a cavernous cocktail lounge dubbed the Lake Bar, which is drenched in red light and full of candelabras. This is where you can get all your photos in while enjoying themed sips (and wine and beer). There is a complimentary coat and bag check when you first arrive and I made the mistake of checking my phone, so I would suggest keeping it on hand if you want to snap pics in the space. (Thankfully, my boyfriend had his in his pocket so we were able to selfie to my heart’s content.)

Masquerade lived up to the hype and then some. While it’s perfect for fans of the OG musical, even The Phantom of the Opera newbies will appreciate the immersive sets, interactions with the cast and glorious performances. Plus, there were a few new plot points and surprises throughout, so everyone has something to look forward to.

Tickets are pricey, starting at $195 for weeknight shows and going up to $395 for a VIP weekend experience (which includes front-of-line access and a reserved table with a demi-bottle of Champagne at the lounge after the performance), but so worth the splurge for such a special and memorable experience.

FYI: There are matinee performances that allow guests as young as 13, but the evening ones are 21+ (during each, adults get a complimentary glass of bubbly with their ticket—and I won’t spoil anything, but I did do a shot of tequila with one of the performers at a point during the show).

Masquerade is only set to run through March 29, 2026, so grab your mask and snag your spot, ASAP.