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Patricia Phillips Steps Into Phantom as Carlotta, 5/15

Patricia Phillips will once again play temperamental opera star Carlotta in Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera. She will step into the role on May 15th, replacing Anne Runolfsson, who departs the musical on May 13th.

Phillips is no stranger to the Broadway company of Phantom, having played the Italian diva for almost a year in 2003 and 2004. In addition, she has played Carlotta in the resident Toronto company and in the Canadian national tour.

The Phantom of the Opera also currently stars Howard McGillin in the title role, Rebecca Pitcher as Christine, Michael Shawn Lewis as Raoul, as well as George Lee Andrews as Monsieur Andre, David Cryer as Monsieur Firmin, Marily Caskey as Madame Giry, Heather McFadden as Meg and Roland Rusinek as Piangi.

Phillips has also been seen on Broadway in Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme, The Sound of Music and The Secret Garden, as well as in the national tour of Carousel, among other credits.

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 Fant�me de L'Op�ra 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.

The Las Vegas production--with Brent Barrett and Anthony Crivello to alternate in the title role--will open at The Venetian Resort � Hotel � Casino in a 95-minute version in June.

The performance schedule for The Phantom of the Opera is Monday and Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. For tickets, call Tele-charge at (212) 239-6200, visit www.telecharge.com or visit The Majestic Theatre box office (247 West 44th Street). Visit www.thephantomoftheopera.com for more information.

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