'One That I Want' Rockwell Stars in 'Phantom' at WBT 10/4

Kate Rockwell, who appeared on the recent hit television reality show, "Grease: You're The One That I Want," will star as Christine at Westchester Broadway Theatre in Maury Yeston & Arthur Kopit's Phantom, performances begin October 4.

Rockwell, the finalist nicknamed "Serious Sandy" on the CBS show, hails from Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from Baldwin Wallace College. Recently, Kate appeared in the musical drama, Tully (In No Particular Order) at the New York Musical Theater Festival, and in the new Tammy Faye Bakker Musical, Big Tent, at New World Stages. She was seen at North Shore Music Theater playing Sharpay, in one of the first professional productions of High School Musical.

Arthur Kopit/ Maury Yeston's Phantom which made its New York Premiere here at Westchester Broadway Theatre in 1992, makes a long-awaited return to the stage on October 4, and runs through February 9, 2008.  The original production was directed by William Pullinsi and starred Robert Cuccioli as the Phantom and Glory Crampton as Christine Daee. Phantom returned to WBT in 1996 directed and choreographed by Tom Polum, who had been in the original production.

Aaron Ramey will star as Erik (the Phantom). A native Clevelander who toured as the Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, he has appeared on Broadway in Thoroughly Modern Millie, at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Miss Saigon, Los Angeles'  Annie Get Your Gun, and as Billy in Carousel in Ohio.

Sandy Rosenberg will play the Opera diva, Carlotta. She has appeared on Broadway in The Scarlet Pimpernel, and has toured nationally in Jekyll & Hyde, and Les Misérables.

Phantom was written by Arthur Kopit, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston who were the Tony Award winning collaborators for the Broadway Musical Nine.  "Phantom is not to be confused with Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, which is currently running on Broadway. Both shows are based on the same Gaston LeRoux novel, with the Webber extravaganza being more like an opera, completely sung. The Yeston/Kopit Phantom is more of a traditional Broadway musical with dialogue and songs throughout," explain press notes, "The story revolves around the central character of a man named Erik, (also known as the Phantom) who was born and raised in the cata­combs under the Paris Opera House. Through a series of circumstances, he takes on as a pupil a young woman named Christine, who has been a street singer. She has a natural talent and a beautiful voice, but she lacks the special training to perform in an Opera company. He agrees to take her on as a student with certain condit­ions, the main one being that she will never see his face. After a lot of hard work she eventually auditions for the company and is not only accepted but is given the opportunity to play a principal part in an Opera. Without realizing it, they fall in love with each other. The relationship becomes obsessive and impossible, leading to a stunning conclusion."

For tickets call 914-592-2222. Dinner & Show range between $55 and $73 plus tax. Performances are Wednesdays through Sundays.  Wednesday & Thursday matinees are Lunch at 11:30AM and Show 1PM.  Thursday through Saturday evenings are Dinner 6PM and Show at 8Pm.  Sunday matinees are Lunch at 12noon and Show at 1:30PM.  Sunday evenings are Dinner 5PM and Show at 7PM.  Wednesday evenings some select dates.