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Canadian Opera Company’s Impact on Canadian Culture and Arts Scene

The Canadian Opera Company (COC) is one of the most prominent cultural institutions in Canada, with a rich history and a profound impact on the country’s culture and arts scene. Established in 1950, the COC has become a symbol of excellence in opera production, attracting both national and international recognition. In this article, we will explore the significant contributions of the Canadian Opera Company to Canadian culture and the arts scene.

Promoting Cultural Diversity

The COC plays a vital role in promoting cultural diversity through its diverse repertoire and casting choices. The company showcases operas from various periods, styles, and languages, ensuring that audiences have access to a wide range of artistic expressions. By presenting works from different cultures around the world, the COC fosters an appreciation for global perspectives in Canadian audiences.

Moreover, the COC actively seeks out and supports emerging Canadian talent. It provides a platform for local artists to showcase their skills alongside renowned international performers. This commitment to nurturing homegrown talent helps promote diversity within Canada’s opera industry while also contributing to its growth.

Educational Outreach Programs

In addition to its mainstage productions, the COC is deeply committed to educational outreach programs that engage communities across Canada. These programs aim to make opera accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds by breaking down barriers to entry.

One such initiative is the COC Ensemble Studio, which provides training opportunities for young professional artists while also offering interactive performances at schools and community centers. Through these activities, children and youth are introduced to opera as an art form, fostering an early appreciation for music and storytelling.

Furthermore, the COC hosts workshops, lectures, pre-performance talks, and backstage tours that give audiences a deeper understanding of opera production processes and techniques. By demystifying opera through education initiatives like these, the COC helps build new audiences who can fully appreciate this art form.

Collaborations and Partnerships

The Canadian Opera Company actively collaborates with other arts organizations, both nationally and internationally. These partnerships allow for the creation of innovative productions that push the boundaries of traditional opera.

Locally, the COC collaborates with other Canadian performing arts companies, such as the National Ballet of Canada and various theater companies. These collaborations often result in groundbreaking interdisciplinary works that combine opera, dance, and theater to create truly unique experiences for audiences.

Internationally, the COC engages in co-productions with renowned opera houses around the world. By sharing resources and expertise, these collaborations elevate Canadian opera onto a global stage while also fostering cultural exchange between artists from different countries.

Accessibility Initiatives

Recognizing the importance of making opera accessible to all Canadians, regardless of their economic or physical circumstances, the COC has implemented various accessibility initiatives.

One such initiative is its commitment to offering affordable ticket prices through programs like Opera Under 30 and Standing Room tickets. These initiatives aim to attract younger audiences who may not have had previous exposure to opera due to financial constraints.

The COC also strives to create inclusive spaces by providing accessibility services for people with disabilities. This includes captioning services for individuals with hearing impairments and audio description services for those who are visually impaired.

In conclusion, the Canadian Opera Company’s impact on Canadian culture and the arts scene cannot be overstated. Through its commitment to cultural diversity, educational outreach programs, collaborations and partnerships, as well as accessibility initiatives, the COC has successfully made opera more accessible and relevant to a wide range of audiences in Canada and beyond. Its contributions have not only enriched Canada’s cultural landscape but also nurtured a new generation of artists and arts enthusiasts.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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Cast & Creatives

Composer, Book, Co-orchestrator: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER

Lyrics: charles hart, book & additional lyrics: richard stilgoe, original london production by cameron mackintosh and the really useful theatre company limited, director: stephen barlow, choreographer: ewan jones, music supervisor: rich morris, designer: andrew riley, lighting designer: howard hudson, sound designer: adam fisher, hair & makeup: lars carlsson, the phantom of the opera – athens (8-26 february 2023), the phantom of the opera – thessaloniki (8-26 march 2023), more countries to be announced soon.

Phantom of the Opera Greece cast 2023

This production was canceled due to COVID 19 on the 10th March.

Ben Forster

Chris McGuigan

alternate in Athens performing Tuesday

Harriet Jones

Athens dates:

Thessaloniki dates:

Georgia Wilkinson

Nadim Naaman

Lara Martins

Arvid Larsen

Nicholas Garrett

Madame Giry

Valerie Cutko

Kelsi Boyden

Dougie Carter

Monsieur Reyer

Connor Ewing

Joseph Buquet

Unknown if in the cast

Marcela Tsantloyianni

George Mantas

Stelios Kelleris

panos patagiannis

Veronica iliopoulou

Aspasia Laimou

Giannis Zaragalis

Dimitrios karalis

Bradley delarosbel

Anastasia Evdaimon

Ballet Chorus

Georgia Xirou 

Kalia Avgoustaki

Emmi Alexandrinaki

Eleanna Petropoulou

Katerina Andreou

Iwanna Loupeti

  (some of these names may not be completely correct, some of these names were copied from the performers instagrams )

Phantom principal

Phantom alternate/Raoul understudy

Celinde Schoenmaker

Amy Manford

Paris Paraskevadis Planets

Raoul understudy 

Carlotta understudy/ Confidante

Daisy Hulbert

The Phantom

Lily kerhoas, christine daaé, joe griffiths-brown, raoul, vicomte de chagny, paige blankson, christine daaé at certain performances, kelly glyptis, carlotta giudicelli.

  Kelly Glyptis, a lyric soprano currently based in London, England on a Tier 1 Global Talent Visa, performs both opera and musical theater regularly. She was most recently seen as Countess Almaviva in Shreveport Opera’s The Marriage of Figaro and had the opportunity to create the role of Madeleine in Surrey Opera’s world premiere Madeleine and Meesha in Her Day Opera’s Her Day in London and Coventry, England. Miss Glyptis has been seen as Aldonza in Opera Saratoga’s Man of La Mancha where she also previously had the honor to perform in the World Premier of Vinkensport, or the Finch Opera as Sir Elton John’s Trainer as well as The Foreign Woman/Magda Sorel Cover ( The Consul ). Miss Glyptis has covered the title role in Alcina with Fargo-Moorhead Opera, performed Fiordiligi ( Cosi fan tutte ) with the Shreveport Opera, Cupid ( Orpheus in the Underworld ) and Mimi cover ( La boheme ) at Virginia Opera, Berta ( Il barbiere di Siviglia )with The Atlanta Opera, and Suor Angelica ( Suor Angelica) with the Virginia ARTfactory. She has also been seen in concert with OperaDelaware, Baltimore Concert Opera, Brooklyn Metro Chamber Orchestra, George Mason University, and the Manassas Chorale.  

Her Musical Theater credits include the First North American National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof as Fruma Sarah and Golde/Yente Cover, The Mother Abbess Cover ( The Sound of Music ) with the North American National Tour, Mary Poppins ( Mary Poppins ), The Witch ( Into the Woods ), Morticia ( The Addams Family ), Anita ( West Side Story ) with The Prizery Theatre, and has performed with Cardinal Stage, Gray Ghost Theater, Pied Piper Theatre, and Dominion Stage.  

Miss Glyptis has had the privilege to sing events and honors for Renée Fleming, Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg, and Pope Benedict XVI. She is a 2022 Gerda Lissner Foundation Semi Finalist and during the 20-21 season she was the Grand Prix Winner of the Music International Grand Prix, 1 st place winner of the Odin International Music Competition, 1 st place winner of the Canadian International Music Competition, Tri-Cities Opera Audience Prize, The Voice of New UK Musicals Audience Prize, and the John Alexander 3 rd Place Winner. She was also a 2020/2021 Semi-Finalist for the Paris Opera, Partners for the Arts, and the UK Sing Out competitions and has been a previous winner of the Lorena Bessey Mangin Memorial Award at Shreveport Opera, Hellenic American Women’s Council Award, and Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Indiana District.  

Adam Linstead

Monsieur andre, matt harrop, monsieur firmin, david kristopher-brown, ubaldo piangi, francesca ellis, madame giry, maiya hikasa, hollie aires.

Hollie trained at the Guildford School of Acting

Theatre Credits Include: Pearl in Starlight Express (Bochum, Germany)

Workshop Credits Include: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Unmasked (The Other Palace)

Phantom of the Opera marks Hollie’s West End Debut

Federica Basile

Corina clark, the ballet chorus of the opéra populaire, michael colbourne, hairdresser, leonard cook, colleen rose curran, lily de-la-haye, hywel dowsell, don attilio, connor ewing, serina faull.

Serina was born in London, where she trained at The Royal Ballet School Associates and Central School of Ballet Associates; before attending Elmhurst Ballet School in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet (2013-2018). During her training she performed in Beatrix Potter (Royal Ballet, 2009), Paquita (Bolshoi Ballet, 2010), The Secret Garden (‘Mrs Craven’, London Children’s Ballet, 2013) and The Sleeping Beauty (Birmingham Royal Ballet, 2018). Upon graduation, Serina joined the Vienna Festival Ballet company for four UK tours. She performed soloist roles such as Canary Fairy and Red Riding Hood (The Sleeping Beauty, 2020), Cygnet (Swan Lake, 2020), Chinese and Spanish Dancer (The Nutcracker, 2018, 2019) amongst various corps de ballet roles

Awards include: Commendation prize at the Cecchetti Classical Vocational Awards (2017) and semi-finalist at the RAD Genée International Ballet Competition (Lisbon, 2017).

Serina is delighted to be making her West End debut in Phantom of the Opera

Florence Fowler

Melanie gowie, wardrobe mistress, eilish harmon-beglan, yukina hasebe, samuel haughton, monsieur reyer, thomas holdsworth, slavemaster / il muto.

Training:  English National Ballet School and Identity School of Acting

Theatre Credits include:  The Nutcracker (Birmingham Royal Ballet), Romeo and Juliet (Birmingham Royal Ballet), The Nutcracker (English National Ballet), Cinderella (Orlando Ballet), The Nutcracker (Orlando Ballet), Vampires Ball (Orlando Ballet), Johan Kobburg’s Romeo and Juliet (Polunin Ink), Cinderella in-the-round (English National Ballet), ‘Kenneth MacMillan’s’ Concerto and Gloria (Northern Ballet) and The Little Mermaid (Northern Ballet).

Short Films include:  Oh It’s You, All Physco’s Eve, Glass House, Silenced

Jacob Hughes

Training: Elmhurst Ballet School

Theatre includes: The Phantom of the Opera (UK Tour), The Phantom of the Opera (Det Ny Teater Copenhagen), Fiddler on the Roof (Det Ny Teater Copenhagen).

Repertoire includes:  Fredrick Ashton, George Balanchine, Peter Wright, Christopher Wheeldon, John Cranko, Kenneth MacMillan, Paul Taylor, Rudolph Nureyev Michel Fokine, Ninette de Valois, Agnes de Mille and Anthony Tudor.

Notable performances include:  Joyce (New York), Fall for Dance at City Centre (New York), Jacobs Pillow (Massachusetts).

Previous companies include:  Sarasota Ballet (USA), English National Ballet, National Dance Company Wales.

Monsieur Lefevre

Eve shanu-wilson.

Training: Guildford School of Acting.

Credits whilst training include: Rita in Sweet Smell of Success, Sheryl Stoat in Wind In the Willows

Workshops include: Sarah Bennet in 1666 (ATG Workshop)

Other work: Featured Storyteller in Children of Eden (West End Does), Soloist in Roles We’ll Never Play Emerging Talent, Hanna Season 2 (Amazon Prime)

Eve is thrilled to be making her professional and West End debut. She’d like to thank her family and friends for their love and support.

Tim Southgate

Zoë soleil vallée, jasmine wallis.

Jasmine was born in Essex and trained locally before gaining a place at Central School of Ballet In London at 16. She trained here for three years and performed in the Ballet Central touring company and graduated with a BA Hons Degree.

After graduating she joined the Vienna Festival Ballet company, touring the UK for four seasons performing in classics such as Swan lake and The Nutcracker . In 2020 she joined the UK tour production of The Phantom of the Opera & is delighted to join the London company which marks her West End debut.

Victoria Ward

Ralph watts.

Training: Arts Educational Schools London

Theatre credits include : Doctor & Escapologist in  Matilda  (West End) ;  Munkustrap in  Cats  (South Korea and Taiwan Tour); Doctor/Escapologist/Understudy Mr Wormwood in  Matilda  (International Tour); Swing in  School of Rock  (International Tour); Ensemble/Understudy Tony Elliot in  Billy Elliot  (UK & Ireland tour); Parker in  Lovebirds  (Edinburgh Fringe Festival); Ensemble/Understudy Skip in  Copacabana  (UK Tour); Adam in  The Apple Tree , directed by Brendan Matthew (Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre).

Other credits include:  Dancer in  Sanditon, Series 1 & 3  (ITV); Dancer in  Gentleman Jack  (BBC); Duane Allman in Autopsy:  The Last Hours of Gregg Allman  (ITV); Degsy in  Floatin’ the Blue  (Workshop, ATG/Playhouse Theatre, directed by Robert Lindsay)/

Simon Whitaker

Porter / passarino, andrew york.

Andrew trained at the Royal Academy of Music, where he achieved his MA in Musical Theatre.

Theatre credits include: The Phantom of the Opera (UK & Ireland Tour), Les Miserables: The Staged Concert (Gielgud Theatre) & Les Miserables (Queens Theatre).

Recordings include: Soundtrack for Buñuel (Abbey Road Studios), voiceover for Jacopo in Out of My League (Netflix), voiceover for Riccardo in Invincible Thread (Netflix), ADR for Rocketman (2019)

Radio includes: Michael Ball Live at The Savoy (2019)

Film includes: Les Miserables: The Staged Concert.

Concerts include: This Is The Hour

Credits whilst training include: Arpad in She Loves Me and Tom in Hard Times.

Other work includes: Joe Public (Moscow Seasons Festival 2019), winners of the Audience Choice Award.

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LW Theatres

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New cast announced for The Phantom of the Opera

Posted 7th July 2023

New casting for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre has been announced.

From Monday 31 July 2023 Lily Kerhoas joins the company as Christine Daaé, with Joe Griffiths-Brown as Raoul, David Kristopher-Brown as Ubaldo Piangi and Maiya Hikasa as Meg Giry. Continuing in the show will be Jon Robyns as The Phantom, Kelly Glyptis as Carlotta Giudicelli, Adam Linstead as Monsieur André, Matt Harrop as Monsieur Firmin and Francesca Ellis as Madame Giry.  At certain performances the role of Christine Daaé will be played by Paige Blankson .

The cast is completed by Hollie Aires, Federica Basile, Corina Clark, Michael Colbourne, Leonard Cook, Colleen Rose Curran, Lily De-La-Haye, Hywel Dowsell, Connor Ewing, Serina Faull, Florence Fowler, James Gant, Melanie Gowie, Eilish Harmon-Beglan, Yukina Hasebe, Samuel Haughton, Thomas Holdsworth, Jacob Hughes, Grace Hume, Tim Morgan, Eve Shanu-Wilson, Tim Southgate, Zoë Soleil Vallée , Jasmine Wallis, Victoria Ward, Ralph Watts, Simon Whitaker , and Andrew York.

The Phantom of the Opera is currently booking until March 2024.

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The Phantom of the Opera

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"The Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew LIoyd Webber in Athens

Venue Details

Indoor Olympic Sport Center of Galatsi Christmas Theater Veikou Avenue

Ticket Details

Xenakis & greece, τhe origins of sculpture: archaeological finds from the old world and lesvos, athens marathon: the authentic, urbanography. the life of the city in the 1950s–1970s, béjart ballet lausanne: “ballet for life”.

2023 High School Project

The Phantom of the Opera

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics by Charles Hart Additional Lyrics by Richard Stilgoe Book by Richard Stilgoe & Andrew Lloyd Webber Based on the novel “Le Fantôme de I’Opéra” by Gaston Leroux

Originally directed by Harold Prince Orchestrations by David Cullen & Andrew Lloyd Webber Original Production by Cameron Mackintosh Ltd. and The Really Useful Group Ltd.

Directed by Andrew Tribe

Running time: 140 minutes with a 20-minute intermission.

Age Recommendation: 10+

Content Advisory: This production contains scenes of supernatural encounters, threats of violence and murder, visual representation of death by hanging, loud and sudden noises, lighting and dry ice fog.

Title Sponsor

25th Anniversary Sponsor

Youth Program Sponsors

Upcoming Shows & Tickets

The Grand Theatre’s renowned youth mentorship program, the High School Project (HSP) will celebrate its 25th anniversary with the longest running show in Broadway history: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera .

Lurking in the catacombs, far beneath the majestic Paris Opera House is a notorious masked figure, known as the Phantom. A disfigured musical genius, the Phantom exercises a reign of terror and control over all who enter “his” opera house – including an innocent, young soprano. Mesmerized by her beauty and talent, the Phantom desires nothing more than to see her become a star of the operatic stage and to remain with him at the Opera for all time. And the consequences for anyone who stands in his way? Deadly.   

The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera has thrilled audiences across the globe since its debut in 1986. Based on Gaston Leroux’s 1910 gothic novel, audiences are in for a thrilling night of theatre with this timeless tale of romance and despair paired with an unforgettable musical score.

For more information about the Grand Theatre High School Project, click here .

The Student Company of The Phantom of the Opera

Members of the opera company, corps de ballet, student musicians.

Creative Team

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The Phantom of the Opera

About this production.

• Production Staff
• Opening Night Cast
• Replacements

Majestic Theatre (Jan 26, 1988 - Apr 16, 2023)

• Songs music by Andrew Lloyd Webber ; lyrics by Charles Hart Act 1 Sung By Think of Me Carlotta Guidicelli, Christine Daaé and Raoul Angel of Music Christine Daaé and Meg Giry Little Lotte/The Mirror (Angel of Music) Raoul, Christine Daaé and Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera Phantom of the Opera and Christine Daaé The Music of the Night Phantom of the Opera I Remember/Stranger Than You Dreamt It Christine Daaé and Phantom of the Opera Magical Lasso Joseph Buquet, Meg Giry, Madame Giry and Ballet Chorus of the Opéra Populaire Notes/Prima Donna Monsieur Firmin, Monsieur André, Raoul, Carlotta Guidicelli, Madame Giry, Meg Giry, Ubaldo Piangi and Phantom of the Opera Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh Carlotta Guidicelli and Company Why Have You Brought Me Here/Raoul I've Been There Raoul and Christine Daaé All I Ask of You Raoul and Christine Daaé All I Ask of You (Reprise) Phantom of the Opera Act 2 Sung By Masquerade/Why So Silent Full Company Notes/Twisted Every Way Monsieur André, Monsieur Firmin, Carlotta Guidicelli, Ubaldo Piangi, Raoul, Christine Daaé, Madame Giry and Phantom of the Opera Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again Christine Daaé Wandering Child/Bravo, Bravo Phantom of the Opera, Christine Daaé and Raoul The Point of No Return Phantom of the Opera and Christine Daaé Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer Full Company

Tony Award®

Best Musical

Best book of a musical, best original score, best actor in a musical, best featured actress in a musical, best scenic design, best costume design, best lighting design, best choreography, best direction of a musical, drama desk award, outstanding musical, outstanding actor in a musical, outstanding actress in a musical, outstanding featured actress in a musical, outstanding choreography, outstanding director of a musical, outstanding orchestration, outstanding music, outstanding costume design, outstanding lighting design, outstanding set design, the phantom of the opera statistics, more productions by opening date.

The Phantom of the Opera

• Edit source
• View history
• 1.1 Prologue
• 2.1 Original casts
• 2.2 Notable West End replacements
• 2.3 Notable Broadway replacements
• 3 Musical Numbers
• 6 References

Sypnosis [ ]

Prologue [ ].

In 1911 Paris, the Paris Opéra hosts an auction of old theatrical props. [1] Among the attendees is the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny, who purchases a papier-mâché music box and eyes it sadly, remarking how the details are "exactly as she said." [2] [3] The auctioneer presents the next item for bid, "lot 666", "a chandelier in pieces", alluding to a connection with "the Phantom of the Opera". As the porters remove the drop cloth covering the fixture, it flickers to life and ascends to the ceiling as the auditorium's former grandeur is restored ("Overture").

It is now 1881 [4] and the cast of a new production, Hannibal , are rehearsing onstage when they learn that new owners, Firmin and André, are taking over the Paris Opéra House ("Hannibal Rehearsal"). Carlotta, the Opéra's resident soprano prima donna , begins to perform an aria for the new managers when a backdrop inexplicably falls from the flies, barely missing her and prompting anxious chorus girls to whisper, "He's here! The Phantom of the Opera!". The managers try to downplay the incident, but Carlotta angrily insists that such things have been happening for "three years" and she storms out, quitting the show. Madame Giry, the Opéra's ballet mistress , informs Firmin and André that Christine Daaé , a chorus girl and orphaned daughter of a prominent violinist, has been "well taught" and can sing Carlotta's role. With cancellation of the sold-out show being their only other alternative, the managers reluctantly audition her and are surprised to discover that she is indeed talented. As Christine sings the aria during the evening performance, the Opéra's new patron, Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny, recognises her as his childhood friend and playmate ("Think of Me").

Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman performing the title song

Backstage after her triumphant début, Christine confesses to her friend Meg, Madame Giry's daughter, that she knows her mysterious teacher only as an invisible "Angel of Music" ("Angel of Music") who sings to her in her dreams. Raoul pays a visit to Christine's dressing room and the two reminisce about the "Angel of Music" stories that her late father used to tell them. Christine confides that the Angel has visited her and taught her to sing ("Little Lotte"). Raoul indulges what he assumes are fantasies and insists on taking Christine to dinner. When Raoul leaves to fetch his hat, Christine hears the jealous Phantom's voice and entreats him to reveal himself. The Phantom obliges by appearing as a ghostly, partially masked face in her mirror ("The Mirror/Angel of Music (Reprise)"). Believing him to be the Angel of Music sent by her deceased father, Christine is irresistibly drawn through the mirror to the Phantom, who leads her down into the cellars of the Opéra house. The two then board a small boat and cross a subterranean lake to his secret lair (" The Phantom of the Opera "). The Phantom explains that he has chosen Christine to sing his music and serenades her. When he reveals a mirror that reflects an image of her in a wedding dress , the figure in the mirror gestures to Christine and she faints from shock. The Phantom then covers her tenderly with his cloak and puts her on a bed (" The Music of the Night ").

As the Phantom is composing music at his organ, Christine awakens to the sound of the monkey music box ("I Remember"). Overcome with curiosity, she slips behind the Phantom, lifts his mask, and beholds his grotesquely disfigured face. The Phantom rails at her prying gesture and Christine runs in fear. He then ruefully expresses his longing to be loved ("Stranger Than You Dreamt It"). Moved by pity, Christine returns the mask to the Phantom and he escorts her back above ground.

Meanwhile, Joseph Buquet , the Opéra's chief stagehand, regales the chorus girls with tales of the "Opéra Ghost" and his terrible Punjab lasso. Madame Giry arrives and warns Buquet to exercise restraint or face the Phantom's wrath ("Magical Lasso"). In the managers' office, André and Firman read notes from the Phantom and are interrupted by Raoul, who accuses them of sending him a note saying that he should make no attempt to see Christine again. Carlotta and Piangi then burst in, demanding to know who sent Carlotta a note warning that her "days at the Opéra Populaire are numbered." As André and Firmin try to calm Carlotta, Madame Giry delivers another note from the Phantom: he demands that Christine replace Carlotta as the Countess in the new opera, Il Muto, and that Box 5 be kept empty for him. The managers are warned they will face a "disaster beyond imagination" if these demands are not met ("Notes"). Firmin and André assure the furious Carlotta that she will remain their star and Christine will play the Pageboy, a silent role ("Prima Donna").

The première of Il Muto initially goes well, until the voice of the Phantom suddenly cuts through the performance, enraged that Box 5 was not kept empty for him as he had directed. As Christine whispers that she knows the Phantom is near, Carlotta reminds her that her role is silent, calling her a "little toad ". The Phantom states that it is Carlotta who is the toad and reduces the diva's voice to a frog -like croak. Firmin rushes to defuse the situation by announcing to the audience that Christine will take over the starring role, and he instructs the conductor to bring the ballet forward to keep the audience entertained. Suddenly, the corpse of Joseph Buquet drops from the rafters, hanging from the Punjab lasso. Firmin and André plead for calm as mayhem erupts and the Phantom's sinister laugh is heard throughout the auditorium ("Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh").

In the ensuing chaos after Il Muto, Christine escapes with Raoul to the roof and tells him about her subterranean encounter with the Phantom ("Why Have You Brought Me Here?/Raoul, I've Been There"). Raoul is skeptical but promises to love Christine cries in tears and protect her, and Christine reciprocates his vow (" All I Ask of You "). Christine and Raoul go back inside, unaware that the Phantom has overheard their entire conversation. The heartbroken Phantom angrily vows revenge before returning to the auditorium. After the curtain call, the chandelier crashes on the stage ("I Gave You My Music").

Steve Barton and Sarah Brightman in the final scene

Six months later, during a masquerade ball , the Phantom appears in costume as the Red Death . He announces that he has written an opera entitled Don Juan Triumphant and demands that it be produced with Christine (who is now secretly engaged to Raoul) in the lead role, and he warns of dire consequences if his demands are not met. Noticing an engagement ring on a chain around Christine's neck, the Phantom angrily pulls it from her and vanishes in a blinding flash of light ("Masquerade/Why So Silent").

As the masquerade attendees scatter in fear, Raoul accosts Madame Giry and demands that she reveal what she knows about the Phantom. Madame Giry reluctantly explains that the Phantom is actually a brilliant scholar, magician, architect, inventor, and composer who was born with a terrifyingly deformed face and was ostracized for it. Feared and reviled by society, he was cruelly exhibited in a cage as part of a traveling fair until he eventually escaped and disappeared. He subsequently took refuge beneath the opera house, which has now become his home.

Before rehearsals, Raoul plots to use the première of Don Juan Triumphant as a trap to capture the Phantom and put an end to his reign of terror. Carlotta falsely accuses Christine of being the mastermind, suggesting that it is all a ploy to make her the star. Christine angrily defends herself, explaining that she is his victim just like everyone else. Raoul, knowing of the Phantom's obsession with his fiancée, asserts that the Phantom will attend the opera's première and begs a reluctant Christine to help lure the Phantom into the trap, but she refuses ("Notes/Twisted Every Way"). During rehearsal, Piangi is unable to sing his part in the new opera, causing frustration and chaos for everyone. The piano suddenly begins to play the piece by itself (having been possessed by the Phantom) and the entire company immediately sings the proper notes in unison.

Torn between her love for Raoul and her awe of the Phantom, Christine visits her father's grave, longing for his guidance ("Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"). The Phantom appears atop the mausoleum, again under the guise of the Angel of Music ("Wandering Child"). The weary Christine begins to succumb to the Phantom's influence, but Raoul arrives to rescue her. The Phantom taunts Raoul, hurling fire balls at him until Christine begs Raoul to leave with her. Furious, the Phantom declares war upon them both and causes flames to spring up around the mausoleum ("Bravo Monsieur").

With armed policemen having secured the auditorium and watching for the Phantom, Don Juan Triumphant premieres with Christine and Piangi singing the lead roles. During Don Juan's and Aminta's duet, Christine comes to the sudden realization that the Phantom has somehow replaced Piangi ("Don Juan Triumphant/The Point of No Return"). Mimicking Raoul's vow of devotion on the rooftop, the Phantom once again expresses his love for Christine and forces his ring onto her finger. Christine rips off his mask, showing his horrifically deformed face to the shocked audience. Exposed, the Phantom hurriedly drags Christine off the stage and back to his lair. Piangi's garroted body is revealed backstage and the opera house plunges into chaos. An angry mob, vowing vengeance for the murders of Buquet and Piangi, search for the Phantom. Madame Giry tells Raoul how to find the Phantom's subterranean lair and warns him to beware the magical lasso. ("Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer").

Down in the lair, the Phantom has compelled Christine to don a wedding dress. In a moment of epiphany, she explains that she is not fearful of his physical appearance, but rather his inner nature. Raoul reaches the lair and attempts to persuade the Phantom to spare Christine and begs him for compassion. The Phantom retorts that the world had never shown him any and ensnares Raoul in the Punjab lasso. The Phantom offers Christine an ultimatum: if she will stay with him, he will spare Raoul, but if she refuses, Raoul will die ("The Point of No Return Reprise"). As the Phantom and Raoul both vie for Christine, she sadly asks the Phantom what life he has been forced to live. Finally, she tells the Phantom that he is not alone and kisses him, showing him compassion for the first time in his life.

Having experienced kindness at last, the Phantom realizes that he cannot win Christine by force and sets them both free. Raoul hurries Christine out of the lair, but she returns alone to give the Phantom back his ring. The Phantom once again pledges his love to her as she tearfully exits the lair to rejoin Raoul. As the angry search mob closes in, the devastated Phantom huddles on his throne beneath his cloak. Meg is first to reach the lair and finds no one there. She approaches the throne with curiosity and quickly pulls away the Phantom's cloak, but finds only his mask. She lifts the mask up into the light and gazes at it in wonder as the curtain falls ("Finale"). [5]

Original casts [ ]

The original casts of the major productions of The Phantom of the Opera : [6] [7]

† The role of Christine Daaé is double-cast in most professional productions. The secondary actress performs the role twice a week (on Broadway, Thursday evening and Saturday matinée). [10]

‡ Three roles (The Phantom, Christine, and Carlotta) were double-cast in the original Las Vegas production, with the two actors in each pair singing alternate performances. [11] Later, Las Vegas casting became identical to that in the Broadway production, with single casting for all characters except Christine. [12]

Notable West End replacements [ ]

• The Phantom: Martin Smith , Peter Karrie , Dave Willetts , John Owen-Jones , Ramin Karimloo , Peter Jöback , Simon Bowman , Earl Carpenter , Marcus Lovett , Peter Cousens , Peter Polycarpou , Ben Forster , Ben Lewis , Tim Howar , David Thaxton
• Christine Daaé: Claire Moore , Rebecca Caine , Celia Graham , Myrra Malmberg , Gina Beck , Rachel Barrell , Sofia Escobar , Leila Benn Harris , Robyn North , Katie Hall , Anna O'Byrne , Meredith Braun , Celinde Schoenmaker
• Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny: Michael Ball , John Barrowman , Simon Bowman , Simon Burke , Clive Carter , Killian Donnelly , Ramin Karimloo , Robert Meadmore , Oliver Thornton , Sean Palmer , Garðar Thór Cortes
• Carlotta Giuducelli: Morag McLaren , Julia Goss , Margaret Preece , Shan Cothi
• Monsieur Richard Firmin: Andy Hockley
• Monsieur Gilles Andre: Martin Ball

Notable Broadway replacements [ ]

• The Phantom: Timothy Nolen , Steve Barton , Mark Jacoby , Marcus Lovett , Davis Gaines , Thomas James O'Leary , Hugh Panaro , Howard McGillin , Gary Mauer , Brad Little , John Cudia , Peter Jöback , Norm Lewis , James Barbour , Amick Byram , Laird Mackintosh , Ben Crawford
• Christine Daaé: Patti Cohenour , Rebecca Luker , Lisa Vroman , Rebecca Pitcher , Jennifer Hope Wills , Kimilee Bryant , Sierra Boggess , Samantha Hill , Mary Michael Patterson , Julia Udine , Ali Ewoldt , Meghan Picerno
• Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny: Davis Gaines , Ciarán Sheehan , Gary Mauer , Hugh Panaro , Brad Little , John Cudia , Tim Martin Gleason , Jay Armstrong Johnson
• Monsieur Gilles Andre: George Lee Andrews , Laird Mackintosh
• Meg Giry: Tener Brown

Musical Numbers [ ]

• "Prologue" - Auctioneer, Vicomte Raoul de Chagny
• Overture – Orchestra

A film version of the musical was released in 2004 which was directed by the late Joel Schumacher.

• Not only is this the longest running musical, it is the first play that comes to mind when people think about Broadway.
• The show broke the record for the number of Tony Awards won.

References [ ]

• ↑ Template:Cite news
• ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
• ↑ POTO Onstage Template:Webarchive , phantom-media.info – accessed 10 May 2009
• ↑ The Phantom of the Opera : opening night production credits. IBDB.com. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
• ↑ Westley, Christine: "Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular. TheatreMania.com. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
• ↑ Casting: PhantomLasVegas.com Retrieved 8 September 2011
• 1 Hadestown
• 3 Heathers the Musical