‘Phantom’ sings a happy tune

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” celebrated its 7,000th performance on the London stage Tuesday and filming is soon to start on the musical.

The story of the disfigured genius has grossed more than $2.6 billion worldwide and played to more than 70 million people. But “Phantom” has a long way to go to topple the record of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap,” the classic whodunit that has now been running in London for more than 50 years.

Production begins shortly on a film version of “Phantom” starring Scottish actor Gerard Butler as the man behind the mask.

Lon Chaney starred in the 1925 silent movie of a disfigured character skulking through the Paris Opera House and masterminding the career of his beautiful protegee, Christine. It was remade in 1943 with Claude Rains.