PHOTO CALL: "The Music of the Night" Begins Playing in Movie Theatres With "Phantom" Movie in December

By Morgan Allen
October 22, 2004

Dec. 22 will mark a day that many musical theatre fans have long anticipated: the film version of The Phantom of the Opera finally makes its debut in an American movie theatre.

Joel Schumacher ("Phone Booth", "Flawless", "A Time to Kill") directs the film which brings Andrew Lloyed Webber's seminal musical to the silver screen after years of jostling and changes in studio development.

Relative unknowns in the United States, Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum star as the Phantom and his diva Christine. "Angels in America" and Oklahoma star Patrick Wilson portrays Raoul, Miranda Richardson ("The Crying Game", "Sleepy Hollow") is Madame Giry and Minnie Driver is Carlotta.

"The Phantom of the Opera" is directed by Schumacher, with production design by Anthony Pratt, art direction by John Fenner, costumes by Alexandra Byrne, film editing by Terry Rawlings, and cinematography by John Mathieson. The film is executive produced by Jeff Abberley, Julia Blackman, Keith Cousins, Louise Goodsill, Paul Hitchcock, Ralph Kamp, and Austin Shaw. Andrew Lloyd Webber serves as producer and Eli Richbourg is co-producer.