As the longest running show in Broadway history, "The Phantom of the Opera" has run continuously at the Majestic Theatre since 1988 and was the first and only musical in Broadway's history to surpass 10,000 performances. The musical has been seen by over 140 million people around the world and continues to be one of Broadway's most popular productions.

On Thursday, June 22, CCIP J-1 interns took the night to see the phenomenon for themselves. Each year, witnessing Andrew Lloyd Webber's beloved musical is always one of the most talked-about activities among the group.

"I was really excited to see this show," Ling from Nanyang Technology University said. "I've heard the music before, but seeing a live performance was an amazing experience. It's obvious why it's still popular even after so many years."

In fact, tickets for "The Phantom of the Opera" can still be hard to come by, which is why the group leaders arranged to purchase discounted group tickets ahead of time. Twenty exchange visitors attended this show, and in July, another group will see the brand new "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" musical. Cultural outings like these are a big part of what makes CCIP a unique internship opportunity.

"It's great that I can gain career experience at my internship and still have these kinds of opportunities to enjoy New York City," Brian from the City University of Hong Kong said. "I feel like I'm getting a full experience of the city even though I'm only here for a couple months."