The Phantom of the Opera opens at Schuster

"The Phantom of the Opera" opened on Broadway in 1988 and it's still running. For more than 22 years, the show has been staged on Broadway more than 9,3000 times.
Likewise, the popular national touring shows have had great success. The top-drawer musical played at the Schuster Center in 2003 and it has returned for a three-week run through June 27.
The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about the mysterious Phantom and his beloved Christine has enthralled audiences. Set in 1870 in the Paris Opera House, it has all the classic romantic elements combined with an award-winning musical score.
The disfigured Phantom is fascinated with newcomer Christine, whom adores after she replaces the very testy Carlotta in the opera's leading role. Christine, who has a boyfriend, is abducted by the Phantom, who takes her beneath the opera house into the catacombs he calls home.
From that point, "The Phantom of the Opera" revolves on the classic love triangle.
Of course, there is the climatic chandelier crashing down at the end of the first act.
Tim Martin Gleason portrays the Phantom, the one with the half mask that covers his ugly scars suffered years ago. Trista Moldovan plays Christine and Kim Stengel plays Carlotta. D.C. Anderson, who plays Monsieur Andre, said the show is "hypnotic."
"The story, the music, the setting -- it all just pulls you in. Everything just flows, very cinematically," Anderson said in a phone interview.
Based on the novel by Gaston Leroux, "The Phantom of the Opera" has been filmed three times, with varying success, as a non-musical. Lon Chaney played the Phantom in the silent version. Claude Rains, in 1944, and Herbert Lom, in 1962, played the title character in other film versions.
Gerard Butler played the Phantom in the 2003 film based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical version.
This Schuster tour is the final Ohio tour for "The Phantom of the Opera." The touring show's final bows are scheduled for a fall in Los Angeles.
"We're honored to be among the last cities to host this phenomenal, record-breaking tour," said Ken Neufeld, president and CEO of the Victoria Theatre Association and the Arts Center Foundation.
The show runs through Sunday, June 27, at the Schuster Center locate at the corner of Main and Second streets in downtown Dayton.
Ticket prices range from $31 to $83. For ticket information, call 228-3630.