plans today for a spectacular all-new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
worldwide musical phenomenon THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA to open
Spring 2006 as a permanent theatrical installation on the Las Vegas strip at
The Venetian Resort • Hotel • Casino (Sheldon G. Adelson, Chairman).
“THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the jewel in the crown of the world's
musical productions,” said Sheldon G. Adelson, Chairman of Las Vegas
Sands, Inc. “The Venetian is extremely proud to add this masterpiece to the
world's finest offerings for dining, shopping, art, luxury accommodations,
and now entertainment.”
The newly conceived Las Vegas production of THE PHANTOM OF THE
OPERA will boast a cast of 46 and a groundbreaking series of state-of-the-
art special effects, including an onstage lake and an exploding replica of the
Paris Opera House chandelier.
“Bringing PHANTOM to Las Vegas in a dynamic setting like The Venetian
is more than just an extraordinary event; it is a dramatic representation of
how Clear Channel Entertainment is expanding the way we bring live
entertainment to audiences beyond our traditional boundaries,” said Brian
Becker, Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Entertainment. “By teaming
with creators like Andrew Lloyd Webber and resort owners like Sheldon
Adelson, we can take outstanding content, develop it and deliver it in a new
and exciting way.”
The new 90-minute Las Vegas staging directed by Harold Prince and
utilizing the vision of the show's original London and Broadway production
designer Maria Björnson will have its first preview June 4 at The Venetian.
A gala opening performance is planned for June 24.
The interior will look like a 19th-century opera house. The musical is set in
and around the Paris Opera House in the late 19th-century and will feature a
full orchestra of live musicians.
The production will be produced by the Really Useful Group Ltd. (Andrew
Lloyd Webber's company) and Live Nation (formerly Clear Channel
Entertainment). Really Useful refers to the Vegas production as "a
permanent theatrical installation."
"We're looking forward to a high old time adapting Phantom to a brand new
theatre, with the capability for some additional surprises," director Prince
said in 2004, when the project was first announced. "…We hope [the
production] will keep us at The Venetian for decades!"
A cast of 46 will be employed. The roles of the Phantom and Christine will
be double cast along with a couple parts. There will be 10 shows a week
(typical of Vegas, but not of Broadway).
Group sales reservations are currently being accepted at (866) 633-0195 or via
email groups@livenation.com.
Single tickets (ranging $75-$150 each) will go on sale to the general public in
the coming months. Casting and an on-sale date will be announced in
February.
Actress Rebecca Spencer announced that she will play Madame Giry in the
production. Spencer previously played Carlotta 15 years ago in the
Hamburg, Germany production of the international hit musical.
Vegas General Manager and Producer. Widely considered to be the leading
expert at this crossroads of Broadway and Vegas, Gill reveals what makes a
Broadway show desireable for transfer. He also talks about his current and
upcoming productions, such as Hairspray and The Phantom of the Opera.
Here is an insider's take on the Vegas theatre business and much more.
You can read everything here.
RD: How much or how little can you tell us about the new Phantom?
MG: I can just say that it's going to be bigger than any version of Phantom
you've ever seen. It is, and I think this has been well publicized, a $35
million dollar production. Also, it's been a while since we launched a new
production of Phantom, but I think that the last most expensive tour of
Phantom in the U.S. was $12 million dollars. I can tell you that the extra
money is being spent on the physical production to beef up some of the
moments, make them bigger and more spectacular. The show is definitely
not going to be untrue to the original, nor untrue to the spirit of how Hal
Prince and his collaborators originally created the show. But our tag line is
that it's going to be Phantom...as you've never seen it before and we think
that we're going to deliver on that.
RD: And how involved is the creative team at the moment?
MG: Extremely. Absolutely every single person is completely hands-on -
Hal Prince, Gillian Lynne, Andrew Lloyd Webber. The original creators are
very involved in the day to day goings on.
RD: Are there any specifics that you can give about changes or the cuts at
the moment?
MG: That's "under wraps" at the moment. People will just have come and
see the show. I can tell you that we haven't cut out any one song. You won't
come to see it and say, "oh that song's missing." We have managed to get
every song that was in the original show into the production. Some of them
are naturally shorter now though.
RD: Well that's a good start. Is there anything you can tell us about the
casting?
MG: I cannot disclose anything at this time, other than that we are fully cast
and I'd say that within 30 days we'll be announcing the cast....
CAST CONFIRMED:
The roles of The Phantom, Christine and Carlotta will be double-cast due to
the challenging vocal score and performance schedule of Phantom.
Donning the infamous mask for the role of The Phantom are veteran stage
and opera performer Brent Barrett, seen in the smash Broadway musicals
Chicago and Annie Get Your Gun and Tony Award-winner Anthony
Crivello, known for his roles on Broadway in Kiss of the Spider Woman and
Les Miserables.
Cast as the delicate ingenue Christine are Sierra Boggess, who was
recently seen regionally in Les Miserables and West Side Story and
Elizabeth Loyacano whose Broadway credits include Oklahoma! and The
Woman in White.
Musical Diva Carlotta will be played by Elena Jeanne Batman, who comes
direct from the same role on Broadway, and Geena Jeffries, seen in the same
role in the San Francisco company of Phantom.
Also joining Phantom at The Venetian directly from the Broadway cast is
Tim Martin Gleason playing the role of Raoul as well as Larry Wayne
Morbitt, who brings 11 years of Phantom experience to The Venetian stage
as Opera Great Piangi.
PHANTOM LAS VEGAS CAST (2006)
Barrett, Brent - "Phantom"
Batman, Elena Jeanne - "Carlotta"
Kristi Holden - "Christine"
Braun, Eric - Stunt Men
Carfrae, Doug - Ensemble / "Lefevre" / "Firmin" U/S
Combs, Courtney - Dancer Swing / Dance Captain
Crivello, Anthony - "Phantom"
Dietrich, Steven - Stunt Men
Dodson, Maureen - Female Swing / "Madame Giry" U/S
Edge, Amanda - Dancer
Ewing, Bruce - Ensemble / "Piangi" U/S / "Reyer" U/S
Gleason, Tim Martin - "Raoul"
Hale, Benjamin - Male Swing / "Raoul" U/S
Hart, Marcia Cope - Ensemble / "Madame Giry" U/S
Hertzenberg, Kristen - Ensemble / "Mirror Bride" / "Christine" U/S
Hood, Steven - Male Swing
Huddleston, Amanda - Ensemble / "Christine" U/S
Jeffries, Geena - "Carlotta"
Keegan, Ted - Ensemble / "Reyer" / "Phantom" U/S
Lackey, Michael - Ensemble / "Auctioneer" / "Phantom" U/S / "Andre" U/S
Lazzaro, Luke - Dancer
Leveque, Patrick - Ensemble / "Porter" / "Marksman"
Loyacano, Elizabeth - "Christine"
Miller, Justin Lee - Ensemble / "Don Attilio" / "Passarino" / "Buquet"
Modrono, Mabel - Dancer
Morbitt, Larry Wayne - "Piangi"
Morgan, Brianne Kelly - "Meg Giry"
Noda, Erina - Dancer
Patriquin, Kevan - Stunt Man
Price, Stephen - Ensemble / "Piangi" U/S
Pryor, Nicole - Ensemble / "Confidante" / "Wardrobe Mistress"
Raun, Rebekah - Dancer / "Meg" U/S
Skala, Lawson - "Firmin"
Smith, Marc Cedric - Ensemble / Cover "Don Attilio", "Passarino" &
"Buquet"
Sobel, Joan - Ensemble / "Madame Firmin" / "Carlotta" U/S
Spencer, Rebecca - "Madame Giry"
Villei, Deana - Dancer
Walker, Jessica - Dancer
White, Danielle - Ensemble / "Carlotta" U/S
Williams, Donald - Dancer
Wolfe, John Leslie - "Andre"
Crivello as the Phantoms and Sierra Boggess as Christine:
