‘Phantom’ haunts Moonlight Amphitheatre

Kopit and Yeston’s thrilling musical Phantom, a new and character-based telling of the famous Paris Opera House legend, opens Aug. 12 on the newly rebuilt Moonlight Amphitheatre stage for Moonlight Stage Productions’ 2009 Summer Season.

Based on the novel The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, Phantom is written by Tony Award-winning team of Arthur Kopit (book) and Maury Yeston (music and lyrics). The musical takes a fresh look at the mysterious young Phantom, Erik, who lives in the catacombs of the Paris Opera House and shares glorious music with the enchanting vocal prodigy, Christine. First performed at Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars in 1991, the show has received over a 1000 productions worldwide since, and as Yeston says, “It’s the greatest hit never to be produced on Broadway.”

Phantom director Todd Nielsen makes his debut at the Moonlight. He served as resident director for the national tours of Disney’s The Lion King, and 42nd Street, as well as directing Welk Resort Theatre’s Thoroughly Modern Millie. He is joined by choreographer DJ Gray, who was the associate choreographer for the Broadway productions of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Xanadu. Elan McMahan returns as musical director and conductor for the production.

Phantom
Presented by the Moonlight Stage Productions
Aug. 12-29
Tickets: $22-$44

At the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive (In Vista)
Box office: (760) 724-2110
Online: vistixonline.com or moonlightstage.com