The Joel Schumacher-directed film, which stars Gerard Butler in the title role, Emmy Rossum as Christine and Patrick Wilson as Raoul, is expected to hit movie theatres Christmas Day 2004. The soundtrack is also scheduled for a 2004 holiday release. The score to the film will include one new song by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Charles Hart. Based on the classic Gaston Leroux novel, The Phantom of the Opera musical features music by Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart and additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Harold Prince directed both the London and New York premieres. The New York production ? originally starring Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman ? won seven 1988 Tony Awards including one for Best Musical. The score includes such tunes as "Think of Me," "The Music of the Night," "All I Ask of You," "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again," "The Point of No Return" and the title tune.

The movie musical genre recently received a tremendous boost from "Chicago"'s triumph at the box office and at the Academy Awards, where it won the prize for Best Picture. Previous Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals to reach the screen include "Evita" and "Jesus Christ Superstar."

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