Kerrytown Concert House Presents A PHANTOM RETURNS with Peter Karrie Tonight

"A Phantom Returns" is set for tonight July 11th, at 8pm at the Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor Michigan. Tickets: $5 - $25. To order, call 734-769-2999 or order online. A second show is set for Saturday July 13th, at 7:30pm at the Village Theater at Cherry Hill in Canton, Michigan. Tickets: $20. To order, call: 734-394-5300 or order online.

Following his second sold out summer concert tour in British Columbia Canada last month, Peter Karrie will continue his "Phantom Returns" concert tour in Michigan this July! Joining Karrie on his tour in Michigan will be Michigan natives soprano, Rebecca Timmons, pianist Jacqueline Csurgai-Schmitt, and other performers from the local community.

Timmons is no stranger to the theatre stage and has performed with Karrie on two other separate occasions, including at the Historic Egyptian Theatre in Park City, Utah, and at the St. Francis Centre in Toronto, Canada. Growing up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she attended Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, where she participated in several choirs and joined local community theatres. She went on to graduate with a Bachelors degree in theatre, with a concentration in dance, from Michigan State University. After graduating, she worked in a variety of capacities in the United States, Canada, and the UK, including time spent with Mirvish Productions in Toronto, Canada and Nimax Theatres in London's West End. Her theatre work encompasses experiences as a performer, choreographer, teacher, coordinator, and administrator.

"I would travel to Toronto on a regular basis to see Peter perform as 'The Phantom' when I was a theatre student, never thinking I'd get the chance to sing with him on stage. Who would have thought, 20 years later, the girl who had a poster of Peter as the Phantom on her dorm room wall would have the opportunity to sing with her teenage idol? I'm delighted to be able to sing with him in my hometown."

Karrie is best known for his award-winning portrayal of Phantom in Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera in London, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bradford, and Manchester. With over 2,750 performances as the masked man, Karrie has played the role more often than any other singer-actor.The Vancouver Sun described his performance in the role as "definitive". He has also been cast as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Che in Evita, Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, and Daddy Warbucks in Annie. While his concerts around the globe have been sell-out successes, local news agencies report the concerts have been "Spectacular!" (Cambrian News) and full of "splendid entertainment" (Western Mail).

"Everyone who enjoys musical theater will enjoy this concert as it is a comprehensive selection of some of the greatest musical compositions ever written plus some amusing anecdotal tales to accompany the actual performances, " he says.

The Kerrytown Concert House performance will feature guest star pianist Jacqueline Csurgai-Schmitt. She is a cum laude graduate of the Honors College at Michigan State University receiving a B.M. in piano performance, a M.M. in piano performance from Indiana University and postgraduate study in New York City. Ms Csurgai-Schmitt has performed extensively in the Detroit area with orchestra and in solo and chamber music performances. She is the pianist with the Dearborn Symphony and last collaborated as soloist with the orchestra when she played the Liszt Hungarian Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra in April of 2010, substituting at the last moment for the injured soloist. Ms. Csurgai-Schmitt is on the music faculty of Marygrove College and Madonna University as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach.

Peter Karrie will be touring the US and Canada providing high schools, colleges, universities, and community youth theatre programs customizable masterclasses and concerts. For those interested, contact: studentprogramme@peterkarrie.com.