PHANTOM Cast Announced!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CASTING ANNOUNCED!


ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S INTERNATIONAL AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL


DIRECTED BY HAROLD PRINCE
THE LONGEST-RUNNING SHOW IN BROADWAY HISTORY!
RETURNS TO DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS, PRESENTED BY COMERICA BANK
AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK FEBRUARY 17-MARCH 14, 2010

Dallas, TX… Final Dallas engagement! With some of the most lavish sets, costumes and special effects ever to have been created for the stage, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by Harold Prince, traces the tragic love story of a beautiful opera singer and a young composer shamed by his physical appearance into a shadowy existence beneath the majestic Paris Opera House. Adapted from Gaston Leroux’s classic novel of mystery and suspense, this award-winning musical has woven its magical spell over standing room audiences in more than 100 cities worldwide and is now the longest running show in Broadway history. For his final overture in Dallas, PHANTOM returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park to take your breath away.

The Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by Harold Prince, returning to Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank at the Music Hall at Fair Park February 17-March 14, 2010, has announced casting for the production. Single tickets for all performances, ranging from $21-$86, are currently on sale at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center; all Ticketmaster outlets and www.ticketmaster.com; or by phone at 214-631-ARTS (2787). For groups of 20 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP.

Tim Martin Gleason heads the 36-member company as The Phantom, with Trista Moldovan as the young soprano, Christine, and Sean MacLaughlin as Raoul. Also featured will be Kim Stengel as Carlotta Giudicelli, D.C. Anderson as Monsieur André, Michael McCoy as Monsieur Firmin, Nancy Hess as Madame Giry, David Gaschen as Ubaldo Piangi and Jessica Bishop as Meg. At certain performances, Kelly Jeanne Grant plays the role of Christine.

TIM MARTIN GLEASON (The Phantom of the Opera). After completing a record-setting tenure as Raoul with 3 different American companies of Phantom, Tim returns to the national tour, this time as the masked man. He began his Phantom journey with this very company in 2001 as member of the ensemble. He quickly took over the role of Raoul, which he played for over three years. He then had the honor of playing Raoul for the record-breaking Broadway Company when Phantom became the longest-running show in Broadway history. Mr. Gleason next originated the role of Raoul for Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular. In September of 2007 he rejoined the Broadway cast for an additional year and a half. With his time in all three companies, Mr. Gleason is the longest-running Raoul in American history, playing the role more than 2,600 times. Mr. Gleason received a BS in psychology from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia and actually pursued a business career for 4 years before deciding to become an actor. Prior to Phantom, he has originated several roles, including Romeo in Terrence Mann's musical Romeo & Juliet at Goodspeed and Adam Gernstein in The Rhythm Club at Signature Theatre, a role for which he received a prestigious Helen Hayes Award nomination

TRISTA MOLDOVAN* (Christine Daaé) is delighted to join the U. S. National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera. Most recently, she had the honor of working with Julie Andrews in the John Bucchino musical Simeon’s Gift. She also appeared as ‘Cosette’ in the regional premiere of Les Misérables at the Pioneer Theater Company. Off-Broadway/NYC: Sally in Me and My Girl (Musicals Tonight), Rachel in Paul Revere (Theatreworks) and Seffa in Faces of War (Makor Center). Regional credits: Gypsy (Louise), Nine (Carla), Born Yesterday (Billie Dawn), Carousel (Julie) and Cabaret (Sally). Television: “The Guiding Light,” “All My Children” and “As the World Turns.” Trista is a proud graduate of the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music.

MARNI RAAB* (Christine Daaé [02/17 - 02/21]) is delighted to return to the Music Box Company. Broadway: The Phantom of the Opera (Christine). International: The Phantom of the Opera World Tour (original cast, Christine) playing Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei and Hong Kong, Cats in Hamburg, Germany (Jellylorum), recital work at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Off-Broadway/New York: Roberta (Musicals Tonight), Have a Heart (Musicals Tonight) and lots of readings. Regional: My Fair Lady (Eliza), Carousel (Julie), A Little Night Music (Anne), The Fantasticks (Luisa) Concerts: “Another Op’nin’, Another Show: A Tribute to Paul Gemignani” Wayne, NJ, Schuster Gala with the Dayton Philharmonic, San Francisco’s “Red Hot Broadway” with Elaine Stritch, “Night of Stars” at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre
“An Evening of Andrew Lloyd Webber” at Philadelphia’s Media Theatre. Opera:
appearances with The Connecticut Grand Opera, The Metropolitan Opera Guild, New England Lyric Operetta, Ohio Light Opera, and Boheme Opera. Marni holds a Bachelor’s degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music. For more information, please visit www.marniraab.com.

SEAN MacLAUGHLIN (Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny) is proud to perform the role of Raoul. Broadway: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Woman in White. Performed the roles of Vikram in Bombay Dreams” and Armand in Elton John’s Lestat; Off-Broadway: The Audience and Requiem for William. Some favorite regional credits include: The Kennedy Center productions of The Sondheim Celebration: Merrily We Roll Along and Ken Ludwig’s re-tooling of Tom Sawyer; Signature Theatre: the workshop of Michael John LaChiusa’s The Highest Yellow, Forum (Hero), Into The Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince), The Rink (Dino), Grand Hotel (Erik); Flat Rock Theatre: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy), The Rainmaker (Starbuck), Children of Eden (Cain /Japheth), I Love You, You’re Perfect…( Man 2); Hangar Theater: My Fair Lady (Freddy). TV/Film: HBO’s “Something the Lord Made” (Dr Swedlin) and appeared in PBS’ Great Performances “South Pacific : In Concert from Carnegie Hall”. Sean thanks his family for their constant love and support. Member of Actors’ Equity since 1999.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed by Harold Prince. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Production design is by Maria Bjornson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra 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.

With total worldwide grosses estimated at over $5 billion, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the most successful entertainment venture of the twentieth century, surpassing such blockbuster films as Titanic, Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars. The show had its world premiere on October 9, 1986 at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London, winning every major British theatre award including the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards. The New York production opened on January 26, 1988 where it won seven 1988 Tony® Awards, including Best Musical.

Over 80 million people in 124 cities in 25 countries have seen THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Worldwide, the show consistently plays to larger audiences and in longer engagements than any other musical in history. On January 9, 2006, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the longest-running show in Broadway history surpassing Cats’ record-holding run of 7,485 performances. The show celebrated an unprecedented milestone on January 26, 2008 when it reached its twentieth anniversary on Broadway.

The Dallas engagement of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is presented by arrangement with Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, and is part of the DSM 70th anniversary season. Visit the official THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA website at www.thephantomoftheopera.com.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will preview Wednesday, February 17 and Thursday, February 18 at 8 p.m., with official press opening night Friday, February 19 at 8 p.m. All performances are at the Music Hall at Fair Park, with the following performance schedule:

Wednesday February 17 8 p.m. Preview performance
Thursday February 18 2 and 8 p.m. Preview performance
Friday February 19 8 p.m. Official Opening Night
Saturday February 20 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday February 21 2 and 8 p.m.
Monday February 22 DARK
Tuesday February 23 8 p.m.
Wednesday February 24 8 p.m.
Thursday February 25 8 p.m.
Friday February 26 8 p.m.
Saturday February 27 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday February 28 2 and 8 p.m.
Monday March 1 DARK
Tuesday March 2 8 p.m.
Wednesday March 3 8 p.m.
Thursday March 4 8 p.m.
Friday March 5 8 p.m.
Saturday March 6 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday March 7 2 and 8 p.m.
Monday March 8 DARK
Tuesday March 9 8 p.m.
Wednesday March 10 8 p.m.
Thursday March 11 2 and 8 p.m.
Friday March 12 8 p.m.
Saturday March 13 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday March 14 2 p.m. Final Performance


The Dallas engagement of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is presented by arrangement with Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, and is part of the DSM 70th anniversary season. Visit the official THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA website at www.thephantomoftheopera.com.

Next up for Dallas Summer Musicals will be RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES, March 16-21; XANADU, April 6-18; THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, April 20-25; LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE THE MUSICAL, with Melissa Gilbert as “Ma,” May 11-23; WICKED, May 26-June 27; DREAMGIRLS, June 30-July 18; and the State Fair of Texas musical, SHREK THE MUSICAL, September 28-October 17, 2010.

Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are WFAA TV Channel 8 and American Airlines. Now celebrating its 68th season, Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theater organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theater company. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local productions, and is involved in developing new works. Dallas Summer Musicals’ affiliates include DSM Management Group, Inc. (DSMMGI), which manages the Music Hall at Fair Park and the historic Majestic Theatre.

As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatres, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM and the Dallas Police Department partner together to provide positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the DSM Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678.
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For media information about this show or the Dallas Summer Musicals, and for videotape, photos, interviews or reviewer’s passes, please call Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or send inquiries to joannholt@gmail.com.