HILLSDALE—The holiday spirit is already stirring in Hillsdale, where anticipation is building for the return of A Very Broadway Christmas Concert. From joyful phone calls to eager inquiries, many have been reaching out to Saint John the Baptist Church with one hopeful question: Will the concert be back this year?” Now that the date is set and the performers announced, the buzz has turned to anticipation—and urgency: “How can we purchase our tickets before they sell out, as this past year?”
Set for Sunday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m., all has been planned with desire of making it easier for all to travel, gather, celebrate and enjoy an amazing artistic and spiritual experience. And excitement is already spreading across Northern New Jersey and New York’s southern counties.
“It’s beautiful to witness how God-given gifts and talents can stir joy, beauty, and a deep sense of community. Our Broadway artists and friends will not only entertain and enrich us through their spectacular artistic talents, but in Laird Mackintosh we will welcome into our community a tenor who will forever hold the unique title of ‘the very last Phantom of the original Broadway production,’” said Msgr. Peter Smutelovic, pastor of Saint John the Baptist when asked about the ongoing preparations for the Concert.
From the day it opened on New York City’s Broadway in January of 1988, The Phantom of the Opera played in the Majestic Theatre 13,981 performances to audiences of over 20 million. The very last of these spectacular Broadway productions took place on Sunday, April 16, 2023, and the very last artist who played the role of Phantom during that 13,981st performance was Laird Mackintosh.
Returning to lead the cast is acclaimed tenor Ciarán Sheehan, whose Broadway credits include over 1,000 performances as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, as well as roles in Les Misérables, Camelot, and Finian’s Rainbow. A Dublin native, Sheehan brings both vocal brilliance and heartfelt warmth to the stage.
Ciarán and Laird will be joined by talented soprano Rachel Gold, acclaimed pianist and music director Michael Kaish, and celebrated violinist and Irish fiddler Heather Bixler. Their collective artistry promises an unforgettable afternoon of music, memories, and Christmas cheer.
“We’re just as excited as the audience,” said Sheehan. “There is something truly special about this concert — it lifts us as artists and as people. The joy we feel in giving is matched only by the joy we see in the audience.”
Tickets are available online at christmasconcert.stjohnhillsdale.org, through a secure and user-friendly platform that confirms purchases instantly. For those who prefer to pay by check or cash, tickets can be purchased in person at the Rectory Office of St. John the Baptist Church, 69 Valley St., Hillsdale, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For artist bios, concert updates, and more, visit St. John’s.