Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc. announced the Oct. 31 close date on Aug. 26. This third national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's megahit, directed by Harold Prince, is known as the Music Box Company. The troupe will enjoy a gala party after the evening performance (it's a two-show day). Alumni have been invited to attend the performance and party.
The Phantom of the Opera's third national tour stars Tim Martin Gleason in the title role of the masked musical genius who lives in the bowels of the Paris Opers House, and falls in love with an impressionable soprano named Christine (played by Trista Moldovan). Sean MacLaughlin plays Raoul.
The tour also co-stars D.C. Anderson (Monsieur Andre), Michael McCoy (Monsieur Firmin), Kim Stengel (Carlotta), Nancy Hess (Madame Giry), Luke Grooms (Piangi) and Paloma Garcia-Lee (Meg Giry). At certain performances, Kelly Jeanne Grant plays the role of Christine.
The Music Box Company began performances in Los Angeles on Sept. 23. The third national tour (Music Box Company) is the only production still currently touring the U.S. and will have played 7,284 performances at the time of its closing, spanning almost 18 years on the road.
For more information, visit www.thephantomoftheopera.com. *
The Phantom of the Opera has been represented on the road since the first national tour began performances in Los Angeles in May 1989. Since that time, there have been three U.S. national touring productions. The first national tour (Christine Company) played Los Angeles and San Francisco for a combined total run of almost ten years, grossing $305,192,485 with 3,902 performances and 6.6 million patrons. The second national tour (Raoul Company) played major markets during an eight-and-a-half-year run, grossing $393,608,819 with 3,364 performances and 7.5 million patrons.
The three U.S. national tours have grossed over $1.5 billion in combined box office sales. When the Music Box Company concludes its run on Oct. 31, the three touring companies will have played 216 engagements in 77 cities for an unprecedented combined total of 36 years and over 14,500 performances.
