The Phantom of the Opera Comes to the KC Music Hall
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The Phantom of the Opera is coming to the Kansas City Music Hall and we have all the details! Find out when tickets go on sale and how you can get them.
Introduction
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical with book and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is based on the 1910 French novel, Le Fantôme de l’Opéra by Gaston Leroux. The musical tells the story of a disfigured musical genius known as “The Phantom” who haunts the Paris Opera House. He falls in love with a beautiful young soprano, Christine Daaé, and terrorizes the opera house owners and staff in an attempt to make her a star.
The Production
The Phantom of the Opera will be making its way to the KC Music Hall this fall. The production is based on Gaston Leroux’s novel of the same name and is set in 19th-century Paris. The story follows the Phantom, a masked man who falls in love with Christine, a beautiful young singer. The production will be directed by Joel Schumacher and will star Gerard Butler as the Phantom and Emmy Rossum as Christine.
The Set
The set for the production is inspired by the original designs by Carl Davis from the London Palladium production. It includes a proscenium arch and large chandelier, and is enhanced by modernDay technology including projections, special effects, and atmospheric fog.
The Costumes
The costumes for “The Phantom of the Opera” are some of the most iconic and recognizable in all of musical theatre. From the Phantom’s iconic half-mask to Christine’s glittering gowns, the costumes in this production are sure to dazzle.
What many people don’t know is that there are over 250 costume pieces in this production, and each one is specifically designed and created for this show. In total, it takes over 60 people to create all of the costumes for “The Phantom of the Opera.”
That includes not just the dressmakers and seamstresses who create the actual garments, but also the milliners who create the hats, the wigmakers who style the hair, and even the shoemakers who make sure everyone has the perfect pair of shoes.
Every single detail is accounted for in order to create a truly stunning production. So when you see “The Phantom of the Opera” next time, take a closer look at the costumes and marvel at all of the hard work that went into creating them!
The Music
The Phantom of the Opera comes to the KC Music Hall for a limited run from November 5th-17th, and we could not be more excited! The score, by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is one of the most beloved in all of musical theater, and the music will no doubt be a highlight of the show.
The Cast
The Phantom of the Opera comes to the KC Music Hall from October 13-28. The classic tale of love, mystery, and tragedy comes to life on stage with a new cast.
The Phantom
The Phantom is the titular character from Gaston Leroux’s novel The Phantom of the Opera, its various adaptations and subsequent works. He is also sometimes known as Erik, due to his appearance in the 1925 silent film adaptation and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical adaptation. In all of his incarnations, the Phantom is a disfigured musical genius who wears a half-mask to hide his deformities from the outside world. Due to his knowledge of the Paris Opera House’s secrets and synchronization with its inner workings, he is able to control almost everything that happens within it at will.
In Lloyd Webber’s musical, which premiered in 1986, the Phantom’s back story is more fleshed out. In this version, the Phantom is born with a severe facial deformity that repulses those who look upon him. He is abandoned by his father at an early age and raised by gypsies in the Paris catacombs. As he grows older, he becomes a skilled musician and is taken in by the managers of the Paris Opera House, where he falls in love with Christine Daaé, a young opera singer. When Christine returns his affections, he reveals his true identity to her, but she flees in terror. The Phantom then unleashes his wrath upon the opera house and those who endeavor to keep Christine from him.
Christine
Christine Daaé was a beautiful, naïve young woman from the Swedish countryside who came to the Paris Opera House to become a singer. She quickly caught the attention of the Phantom, who became obsessed with her. He took her under his wing and taught her how to sing, but she grew terrified of him when she saw his deformed face. Torn between her fear and gratitude, she eventually fell in love with Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny. The Phantom, jealous and enraged, kidnaps Christine and takes her to his lair beneath the opera house, where he plans to make her his bride.
Raoul
Raoul is the love interest of Christine, and works to win her over despite the interference of the Phantom. He is a brave and noble character, and ultimately helps Christine to escape the Phantom’s control.
The Reception
The performance of “The Phantom of the Opera” was very well received by the audience. The music and the story were both very entertaining. The actors did a great job of portraying the characters.
The Critics
Clocking in at close to three hours, with a 20-minute intermission, “The Phantom of the Opera” is a demanding show. Critics were largely impressed by the production, noting its lavish set design and well-executed special effects. They also praised the performances of the cast, particularly that of Derrick Davis as the Phantom.
Many critics also had high praise for Davis’ performance as the Phantom. In his review for Variety, Patrick Doyle wrote that Davis “brings an impressive physicality and power to the title role.” He went on to say that Davis “has a fine voice” and that his performance is “passionate and Piercing.” Similarly, Scott Baumgartner of Broadway World wrote that Davis “delivers a magnetic performance” and called him “a powerful Phantom.”
The Audience
The audience was silent as the performance began. Many were captivated by the music, others by the story. But all were enthralled by the production. The sets were beautiful, the costumes extravagant, and the acting and singing were exceptional. The Phantom of the Opera had come to Kansas City, and it was a night to remember.
Conclusion
The Phantom of the Opera was a great success and a huge hit with the audience. The acting, singing, and music were all top notch and truly brought the story to life. If you have never seen the musical, I highly recommend checking it out. It is a classic for a reason.
