👭 Sometimes, yes—but it varies by production. In the original Hal Prince staging, the iconic mirror-to-staircase transition during “Music of the Night” often involved body doubles. While the real Phantom and Christine descended—or ascended—the travelator, doubles provided a seamless switch, allowing the leads time to reposition for the next scene. This clever illusion helps maintain the magic on stage.

👣 In more recent West End revivals, some elements of this sequence have been restaged. Proscenium and travelator mechanics were simplified—staffing doubles for live transitions may be reduced accordingly.

However, the exact use of doubles varies, and it's still common for productions to employ them to preserve pace and staging fluidity.
🎭 Beyond that mirror scene, doubles appear in other creative contexts—such as creating the Phantom’s shadow in the "Il Muto" ballet or his fleeting appearances as Red Death. Fans delight in spotting these substitutions and tracking how stagecraft balances illusion with logistics.