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THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
COMES TO CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL!
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Capital High School Selected as One of Six Pre-Release Pilot Productions
of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Legendary Musical
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THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will come to Capital High School in April 30, May 1-4, 2008. R&H Theatricals, a division of The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, has selected Capital High School as one of six pilot productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s acclaimed musical in anticipation of its eventual release into the community, regional and school theatrical market.
“While there are no plans at this time to release PHANTOM to the stock and amateur market,” says Charlie Scatamacchia, Vice President for R&H Theatricals, “we want to be fully prepared for when that great day arrives. What we learn from the production at Capital High School and five other sites we’ve chosen will help us with the process of bringing the longest running musical in Broadway history to theaters across the country.”
Working from the very same script and score that is currently being enacted every night on Broadway, in London’s West End, and on US National Tour, the production here at Capital High School along with the five other pilot productions will provide R&H Theatricals with the roadmap for future local stagings of PHANTOM across America.
Based on the novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe. Its world premiere occurred at Her Majesty's Theatre, London, in October of 1986, where it is still playing. It subsequently opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theater in January 1988, where it is also still playing, making it the longest‑running show in Broadway history. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has been produced in hundreds of cities in more than 20 countries around the world, and seen by an estimated worldwide audience of 80 million people to date. It has received more than 50 major theatre awards, among them seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. In 2004 it was made into a major feature film directed by Joel Schumacher. (For more information on the history of the musical, visit the official website of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at www.thephantomoftheopera.com.)
Mrs. Kathleen Corbett will direct Capital High School's production with assistant direction by Ms. Michelle Legg and Ms. Hannah Toney. Mr. Bob Scott will provide musical direction. Ms. Michelle Legg will serve as choreographer. Mr. Robert Haddy will serve as production designer. Ms. Toney will act as stage manager and lighting designer. The Illusive Skull, from Fairmont, West Virginia will construct costumes.
"This is a marvelous endorsement of our arts program and the quality of our school as a whole," said Dr. Ron Duerring, Superintendent of Kanawha County Schools. "We are both thrilled and humbled to be recognized in this way and we're looking forward to the challenge.
The production will open April 30, 2008 at Capital High School’s Performing Arts Centre. Production details will be announced soon.