THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Returns to PlayhouseSquare, 7/28-8/22

The Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince, returns to PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland beginning Wednesday, July 28 through Sunday, August 22. Opening night for the media is Friday, July 30. Tickets go on sale Monday, March 22 at The PlayhouseSquare ticket office (1519 Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland), online at playhousesquare.org or by calling (216) 241-6000. Group orders of 15 or more may be placed by calling (216) 664-6050.

With worldwide grosses estimated at more than $5 billion, The Phantom of the Opera is the most successful entertainment venture of the 20th century, surpassing such blockbuster films as Avatar, Titanic, Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars. The winner of seven Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, The Phantom of the Opera has been seen by more than 100 million people in 144 cities in 27 countries. Worldwide, the show consistently plays to larger audiences and in longer engagements than any other musical in history. On January 9, 2006, The Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running show in Broadway history surpassing Cats' record-holding run of 7,485 performances. The show celebrated an unprecedented milestone on January 26, 2008 when it reached its 20th anniversary on Broadway.

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.

The Phantom of the Opera had its world premiere on October 9, 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, winning every major British theater award including the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards. The New York production opened on January 26, 1988 with a then-record advance of $18 million. The musical went on to sweep the 1988 Tony Awards, winning seven, including Best Musical. The Phantom of the Opera also won seven Drama Desk Awards and three Outer Critics Circle Awards. The original London cast recording was the first in British musical history to enter the charts at number one. It has since gone both gold and platinum in Britain and the United States, selling more than 25 million copies.

The Phantom of the Opera will play Wednesday, July 28 through Sunday, August 22 at PlayhouseSquare. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 8:00 p.m. with matinees on Saturdays, Sundays and Thursday, July 29 at 2:00 p.m. Ticket prices range from $10.00 to $80.00 and are available at The PlayhouseSquare ticket office (1519 Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland), online at playhousesquare.org or by calling (216) 241-6000. Group orders (15 or more) may be placed by calling (216) 664-6050.

The Cleveland engagement of The Phantom of the Opera is presented by arrangement with PlayhouseSquare and is part of the U.S. Bank Star Performance Series. Visit the official The Phantom of the Opera website at www.thephantomoftheopera.com.

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