Vegas Phantom Combats Lagging 10pm Sales with Earlier Shows

Today's New York Times reports that to combat lagging ticket sales, the Vegas production of The Phantom of the Opera has moved up some of its late night show times. The Times reports that out of it's 10-show a week schedule, the 10pm shows have been more than 25% empty so they've moved up the timing on the weekend shows to 6pm and 9pm instead of 7pm and 10pm on Saturday, and are experimenting with earlier show times on Sunday as well. Visit http://www.phantomlasvegas.com for full schedule information.

Talking to the Las Vegas Sun, producer Zeiger tells the paper that the show is in fine shape however, with gross sales being nearly double what the show's NY production is bringing in, and that the move is purely to make the times more in line with today's Vegas audiences.

A new, $40 million theater was designed by David Rockwell to replicate a Parisian Opera House, complete with a 1-ton chandelier of hand-cut crystals. The 95-minute production combines the classic story and music with technological advances of the last two decades, including pyrotechnics.

The roles of "The Phantom" and "Christine" have been double-cast. Donning the infamous mask 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 Miserables. Cast as the delicate inginue "Christine" are Sierra Boggess, who was recently seen regionally in Les Miserables and West Side Story and Elizabeth Loyacano whose Broadway credits include Oklahoma! and The Woman in White.

The Phantom of the Opera has grossed more than $3 billion worldwide since its 1986 premiere, having played more than 65,000 performances in 20 countries and 110 cities. For more information, visit http://www.phantomlasvegas.com