Broadway World.com reports: According the UK magazine "The Stage", actor Lee Mead will play Raoul to Josh Groban's Phantom in an upcoming special concert performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" at Royal Albert Hall.
Andrew Lloyd Webber turned 60 years old on March 22nd. The concert is being broadcast by BBC Radio 2 as one of several events to celebrate the composer's birthday. This concert would be a rarity, as Mr. Webber normally does not give out the performance rights to productions that do not stay within the theatrical guidelines of the show.
Lee Mead recently played the role as an understudy in the West End production before winning the BBC show "Any Dream Will Do."
The concert is scheduled for June.
http://buzzsugar.com/1503719
According to Wikipedia, The Phantom of the Opera's 20-year run on Broadway has been "the most lucrative entertainment enterprise of all time." Capitalizing on the beloved musical's major success, creators of the award-winning show now say a sequel is on the way.
Andrew Lloyd Webber confirmed that he has written a new score for a follow-up musical which will pick up where the first story leaves off, starting with "how the Phantom got away in the big fire and was taken to a thriving Coney Island in old New York."
Will it be called The Phantom of Coney Island? And will fans embrace this second installment from Webber? What do you think about this development? Are you keeping an open mind?
Go to the link cited, and vote. There are four options:
Love it — The first one is so great, and I can't wait to see a new Webber project.
Hate this — The story ends where it should end, this is extraneous.
If it's good as a stand-alone, I'll be fine with it.
I don't care about musicals.
By Rodney Chester 16/03/08
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23213597-5003423,00.html
IT'S the divide that separates the popular from the worthy. There's the good, then there's the successful. There are the ones the critics love and the ones that fans worship.
It's the way in books. There is literature, which is worthy, important and valuable. Then there is Harry Potter.
It's the way in movies. The most commercially successful film of 2007 in the US was Spider-Man 3, a film that was widely panned by critics as being the worst of the series. Of the films nominated to win the Best Picture Oscar this month, Juno is the most successful on the box office list and even that comes a long way down, below such forgettable flicks as Alvin and the Chipmunks and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
And it's the way on the stage. Love him or hate him (and there are large numbers who do both), Andrew Lloyd Webber is phenomenally successful as is his Phantom of the Opera. Those who loathe him call his music banal and derivative and his stories uninspiring. Those who love him don't care what anyone says.
There are many fans who have seen the show several times, and can even compare Phantoms. Some are keen, some even keener.
Sarah Brightman's New CD, "Symphony," features a duet with Paul Stanley on the song "I Will Be With You." Rock musician Paul Stanley of KISS starred as the Phantom in the 1999 Toronto production of "POTO."
Paul Stanley was interviewed by Jim Kerr of New York's classic rock radio station Q104.3 on February 8, 2008. He discussed KISS and his artwork, and briefly mentioned performing in "POTO." Listen to the interview here: http://www.paulstanley.com/index.php?module=home
Attention PHANTOM fans!
The Broadway production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is looking for fans in the New York/tri-state area for a news feature in honor of the upcoming 20th Anniversary of the Broadway production.
The morning show "Good Day New York" on the local FOX affiliate FOX-5 will be airing a sneak peek behind the show that will air this Friday morning, January 25. As part of the feature, FOX is looking to include a live, outdoor segment with PHANTOM fans in front of the Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street) at 7:30 AM. The bigger fan you are, the better, and the more the merrier. PHANTOM wear and costumes encouraged. It's possible that some fans may be interviewed live on camera. For more information, and to confirm participation, please email us at
goodday@thephantomoftheopera.com
Hope to see you there!
http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/poto/news_news_story.php?id=532
Quote:
Devilina07 wrote:
If you have any questions regarding the following rules, please PM me, Devilina07/Devilina or email me, Devilina07@hotmail.com with your questions. To widen the scope of this contest no one board will be the main information site. Instead all information and entries will be posted at www.mortrouge.com.
SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES:
1. Submissions must be one-scene, one-shot Phantom of the Opera drabbles. A drabble, as defined by Wikipedia: "is an extremely short work of fiction with exactly one hundred words (although some have extended this to mean 'short story of less than 500 words'). The purpose of the drabble is brevity and to test author's ability to express interesting and meaningful ideas in an extremely confined space."
2. DEADLINE for entries is February 19th at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
3. Because this is a drabble contest, the contest will have a theme. The stories do not have to be dark/morbid/twisted/horrific. Instead, writers MUST include the theme of “DEVOTION” in their entries. It is up to the writers to decide how to include this theme, however for the stories to be approved by the Administrators, we must see some evidence of the key word. And, as always, no R-rated sexual content allowed. This last portion will be strictly adhered to.
4. This particular contest will allow for both serious and humorous stories.
5. Word LIMIT is 1,500 words. Word MINIMUM is 500 words. We are giving everyone a leeway of 50 words over the limit.
6. Maximum number of entries allowed per author is TWO. Collaborations are allowed.
...
Article taken from Playbill Online:
Quote:
O'Brien to Direct and Crowley to Design Lloyd Webber's 'Phantom' Sequel
London's Daily Mail reports that O'Brien will direct the sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. According to previous reports, the sequel is titled Phantom in Manhattan and is based on Frederick Forsyth's novel "The Phantom of Manhattan."
The London paper says much of the music for the sequel has been written, although the book and the lyrics are proving more difficult. Ben Elton, who collaborated with Lloyd Webber on The Beautiful Game, had worked on the show, but the results were less than satisfying. Now, novelist Forsyth is back working on the book.
The creative team will also include Tony-winning designer Bob Crowley, who worked with O'Brien on Coast of Utopia. The show will most likely be mounted in 2009.
'Phantom' Tour Celebrates 15th Anniversary Dec.13
(Article taken from Broadway World)
The National Touring Company of the Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince, celebrates its 15th anniversary on December 13, 2007 when it reaches performance number 6,139 during its 5th Chicago engagement at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. This National Tour opened at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle on December 13, 1992 and has been on tour continuously ever since.
Jason Mills currently heads the 36-member touring company as The Phantom, with Sara Jean Ford as the young soprano, Christine, and Greg Mills as Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. Also featured is Kim Stengel as Carlotta Giudicelli, Bruce Winant as Monsieur Firmin, D.C. Anderson as Monsieur André, Rebecca Judd as Madame Giry, John Whitney as Ubaldo Piangi and Polly Baird as Meg. At certain performances, Sarah Lawrence plays the role of Christine.
With worldwide box office sales of over $3 billion, The Phantom of the Opera is the most successful entertainment venture of the twentieth century. The winner of seven 1988 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, The Phantom of the Opera is currently in its nineteenth year on Broadway. Worldwide, The Phantom of the Opera consistently plays to larger audiences and in longer engagements than any other musical in history. On January 9, 2006, The Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running show in Broadway history surpassing Cats' record-holding run of 7,485 performances.
Buy Orchestra/Front Mezzanine seats for only $60 when you order by midnight, New Year's Eve for performances January 7 - March 14, 2008. More info at www.telecharge.com or www.thephantomoftheopera.com/poto/wintersale.htm
"Phantom of the Opera" at Carroll High School
Images can be seen here.
-> http://www.star-telegram.com/news/photos/gallery/330897.html
"The Phantom Of The Opera" is playing at Carroll Senior High School. R&H Theatricals, a division of The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, has selected Carroll Senior High School as one of six pilot productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber's acclaimed musical in anticipation of its eventual release into the community, regional and school theatrical market.
The production will open Friday at the Carroll Senior High School Auditorium, located at 1501 W. Southlake Blvd. in Southlake, near the intersections of HWY 114 West and 1709. Performances will continue on the following dates and times:
Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased online at DragonDrama.net.