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The Phantom Of The Opera Arrives Amid Much Hoopla
At The PAC
by Bob
Lowe
May 5, 2004
Andrew
Lloyd Webber’s internationally acclaimed musical, "Phantom
of the Opera," makes its dramatic debut tonight at the
Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in downtown Appleton. The
31-show run from May 5-May 30 will be more than double the
length of the longest production staged at the PAC since it
opened nearly two years ago.
"Mamma
Mia!," the Abba- inspired musical, played at the PAC
from Jan. 21-Feb. 2, 2003 and Mel Brooks comedic musical was
there from Sept. 16-28 that same year. It is being presented
by The Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc.
The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Really Useful
Group, which is actively involved throughout the world in
theater and concert production, recording, merchandising,
games, music publishing, television, film and videos. It is
part of the 2003-04 M&I Bank "Broadway in the Fox
Cities" series, which is presented in partnership with
Clear Channel Entertainment, a leading producer and marketer
of live entertainment events.
The
blockbuster musical is directed by Harold Prince, a 1994 Kennedy
Center Honoree. Prince won a National Medal Arts for the year
2000 from President William Clinton for a career spanning
more than 40 year in which "he changed the nature of
the American musical," the president said. He has received
24 Tony Awards and has directed or has been involved in the
production of such shows as"Damn Yankees," "West
Side Story," "Fiddler on the Roof," "A
Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum," "She
Loves Me," "Cabaret," " and "Follies."
The
original play opened on Oct. 9, 1986 at Her Majesty’s
Theatre in London and won every British theater award, including
the Olivier and Evening Standard awards. "Phantom"
premiered in the United States on Jan. 26, 1988 at the Majestic
Theater on Broadway. It won seven Tony Awards, including Best
Musical, seven Dram Desk Awards and three Outer Critics Circle
Awards.
Based
on the classic novel of the same name by Gaston LeRoux, the
musical tells the story of the hideously disfigured Phantom
who lurks beneath the stage of the Paris Opera House, exercising
a reign of terror over all its occupants. He falls instantly
in love with the young soprano, Christine Daaé, devoting
himself to creating a new star for the opera by nurturing
her extraordinary talents and employing all the skills at
his disposal.
Gary
Mauer plays the role of the Phantom. His Broadway and national
tour credits include "Les Misérables," "The
Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber," "Jesus Christ Superstar"
and "Show Boat," where he was cast opposite his
wife, Elizabeth Southard.
Rebecca Pitcher appears as Christine Daaé. As a lyric
coloratura, she has been praised for performances in roles
such as Monica in "The Medium," Gretel in "Hansel
and Gretel," Madame Goldentrill in "The Impressario"
and Adina in "The Elixir of Love." She has also
appeared as a soloist in works such as "Carmina Burana,"
"The Mozart Requiem" and Haydn’s "The
Lord Nelson Mass."
Tim
Martin Gleason, who is on his first national tour, plays the
role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. He has appeared in such
productions as "Romeo and Juliet: The Musical,"
"A Little Night Music," "Sweeney Todd"
and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
David Cryer, who is cast as Monsieur Firmin, is a veteran
of a dozen Broadway shows, including that of Juan Peron in
"Evita." He was Philip Lombard on "As the World
Turns" and was a guest soloist with the Mormon Tabernacle
Choir. In addition, he has been on such films as "American
Gigolo" and "Escape From Alcatraz" and appeared
in the TV shows, "Law and Order" and "Spencer:
For Hire."
Also
featured are Kim Stengel as Carlotta Giudicelli, D.C. Anderson
as Monsieur Andre, Patti Davidson-Gorbea as Madame Giry, Jimmy
Smagula as Ubaldo Piangi and Kate Wray as Meg. Southard appears
as Christine Daaé in certain performances of the "Phantom."
This
is the "Phantom’s" third appearance in northeast
Wisconsin. It played at the Weidner Center in Green Bay in
1997 and 1999. The 40-show run in 1997 played to 101 percent
capacity – some patrons paid to stand and see it –
and grossed $4.6 million. The 1999 return trip to the Weidner
for a four-week run grossed another $3.7 million. More than
76,000 attended the production in Green Bay, which broke a
record for the Weidner that still stands.
"Phantom"
is currently the second-longest running show in Broadway history
and is likely to overtake its No. 1 competitior, "Cats,"
another Lloyd Webber production, in 2005. It has been adapted
as a movie seven times, beginning with the 1925 version starring
Lon Chaney as the Phantom.
In
all, "Phantom" has been performed more than 65,000
times for more than 100 million people in 113 cities in 22
countries. "Phantom" consistently plays to larger
audiences and in longer engagements than any other musical
in history. It is the highest-grossing theatrical production
ever, amassing more than $3.5 billion in sales. It costs $10
million to mount the tour and costs $610,000 a week tp produce.
The show requires a cast, orchestra members and crew of 150.
It takes twenty 48-foot semi trucks to transport all the equipment
for the show.
"Phantom
of the Opera" show times are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through
Friday and 2 and 7:30 Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
The first two performances on Wednesday and Thursday are special
"preview" shows that cost $2.50 cents less that
the other performances. Prices for the regular seats range
from $33 to $73.50, plus fees.
For
reservations, call 920-730-3760 or call Ticketmaster at 920-731-5000.
Tickets can also be purchased online at www.foxcitiespac.com
or in person at the PAC’s box office, 400 W. College
Ave., Appleton.
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