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"Phantom" arrives in Kalamazoo

April 13, 2006

KALAMAZOO--The U.S. National Tour of "The Phantom of the Opera" comes to Miller Auditorium at Western Michigan University for 32 performances Wednesday, April 19, through Sunday, May 14.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" opened on Broadway in January 1988 and became the longest-running show in Broadway history earlier this year. "Phantom" surpassed the previous record of 7,485 performances set by Webber's "Cats."

The world premiere of "Phantom" was in 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, and the show won every major British theatre award, including the Olivier. Following its Broadway debut, the musical swept the 1988 Tony Awards, winning seven, including Best Musical. It also won seven Drama Desk Awards.

Since it opened in New York, "Phantom" has grossed $600 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history. Its equally staggering international success is represented by a total worldwide box office gross of $3.2 billion, making "Phantom" the most successful entertainment venture of all time. It surpasses not only any other stage production, but also far surpasses the $1.2 billion of the world's highest-grossing motion picture, "Titanic."

Broadway attendance stands at 11 million, and worldwide, more than 80 million people have seen "The Phantom."

Based on the classic novel by Gaston Leroux, "The Phantom of the Opera" tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command.

"The Phantom of the Opera" has music by Webber and lyrics are by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe.

Performances at Miller Auditorium April 19 through May 14 begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. There is an additional 2 p.m. matinee Thursday, April 20.

Tickets for "The Phantom of the Opera" range from $20 to $64 for non-student adults and are available by calling (269) 387-2300 or toll free (800) 228-9858, online at www.millerauditorium.com, or by visiting the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office or the Epic Center Box Office in downtown Kalamazoo. Groups of 20 or more should call (269) 387-2312 for group rates.

Media contact: Thomas Cooper, (269) 387-2245, thomas.cooper@wmich.edu

WMU News
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