Based on the classic novel by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents, employing all of the devious methods at his command. The longest-running show currently playing on Broadway, The Phantom of the Opera became the second longest-running show in Broadway history on February 4, 2003 when it played performance number 6,681, surpassing the 6,680 performance record-run of Les Miserables.