Kopit and Yeston's PHANTOM Appears At Moonlight Ampitheatre 8/12-29

Kopit and Yeston's thrilling musical "Phantom," a new and character-based telling of the famous Paris Opera House legend, opens August 12 on the newly rebuilt Moonlight Amphitheatre stage for Moonlight Stage Productions' 2009 Summer Season. Performances of the show run August 12 through 29, Wednesdays through Sundays at 8:00 p.m.; with no performance on August 26, at the Moonlight Amphitheatre, located in Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista. Tickets are $22 to $44 and are on sale at the VisTix Ticket Office, located at 600 Eucalyptus Avenue in Vista. Tickets can also be purchased by phone at (760) 724-2110 or online at www.vistixonline.com.

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.

Starring in the role of Erik, the Phantom, is Chris Warren Gilbert of Valley Village, who was in the national touring production of "Camelot," starring Lou Diamond Phillips. Playing the role of young opera singer Christine is Sarah Bermudez of Morena Valley, who played Cosette in Moonlight's award-winning production of "Les Misérables." Norman Large of Van Nuys is in the role of Carriere. On Broadway, he played the lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Woman In White," as well as leading roles in the original Broadway productions of "Les Misérables" and "A Doll's Life." Cast as La Carlotta, the opera diva, is Debbie Prutsman of Redlands, who appeared as Madame Thernardier in Moonlight's "Les Misérables." Also featured in the cast are Cris O'Bryon of San Diego as The Count, Danny Blaylock of Orange as Cholet, and Seth Belliston of Los Angeles as Young Carriere.

The design team for the show includes Christina Munich as lighting designer; Roslyn Lehman, Renetta Loyd and Carlotta Malone, the costume coordinators; Peter Hashagen as sound designer; and Tim Jones, properties coordinator. Dana S. Begg is the production coordinator and Stanley D. Cohen is the stage manager, assisted by Marjorie Wood, the assistant stage manager.

The last show of the 2009 Summer Season is Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats," September 9 through 26. The 2009 Summer Season is produced by Moonlight Stage Productions, a program of the City of Vista. Additional funding is made possible by the Moonlight Cultural Foundation, a non-profit organization that benefits the performing arts in North County. For more information about the Foundation, call (760) 630-7650.