Las Vegas Phantom Previews Moved to June 12

Due to construction delays on the new theatre housing its lavish underground lair, the highly anticipated Las Vegas production of Phantom--The Las Vegas Spectacular will now begin previews at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas on June 12th.

The show was previously scheduled to begin previews on June 4th. The other dates are the same: it will have its media night on June 23rd and its opening night the next day.

The 95-minute production, which will include every song from the original, reunites Lloyd Webber, Prince and others from the original creative team.

The roles of The Phantom, Christine and Carlotta have been double-cast due to the challenging vocal score and performance schedule of Phantom. Donning the infamous mask for the role of The Phantom are veteran stage and opera performer Brent Barrett, seen in the smash Broadway musicals Chicago and Annie Get Your Gun, and Tony Award-winner Anthony Crivello, known for his roles on Broadway in Kiss of the Spider Woman and Les Misérables.

The show will also feature Sierra Boggess and Elizabeth Loyacano as Christine, Elena Jeanne Batman and Geena Jeffries as Carlotta,Tim Martin Gleason as Raoul and Larry Wayne Morbitt as Piangi (both from the Broadway cast), Rebecca Spencer as Madame Giry, John Leslie Wolfe asAndre, Lawson Skala as Firmin, Justin Lee Miller as Don Attilio and Buquet, and Brianne Kelly Morgan as Meg Giry.

The state-of-the-art theatre is designed by David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group, and "will harmonize with the show's original set design and serve to transport theatergoers to the famed Paris Opera House," state press notes.

Phantom at The Venetian is produced by The Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc., Live Nation and BASE Entertainment.

The Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006, when it played performance #7486, surpassing the record run of Cats (also created by Phantom composer Lloyd Webber, producer Cameron Mackintosh and choreographer Gillian Lynne). It has since become the first production in Broadway history to surpass 7,500 performances (which it did on January 21) and reach 18 years (which it did on January 26). The show is directed by Harold Prince.

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," according to press notes.

The Phantom of the Opera 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, starring London stars Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, opened on January 26, 1988. The musical won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Tickets are available at the Venetian box office at (866) 641-7469 or (702) 414-7469, or online at www.Venetian.com. Visit www.phantomlasvegas.com for more information.