PHANTOM 3rd National Tour to Close at Pantages, 10/31

Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc. announced today that the third national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, known as the Music Box Company, will play its final performance on Halloween, October 31, 2010, at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. Tickets for the final two weeks of the tour, which was recently extended by popular demand, go on sale to the general public this Sunday, August 29. The Music Box Company is currently playing a four-week run at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh through September 19 and will begin performances in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 23.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the most successful and longest continuously-running tour in U.S. history. The New York production, now in its record-breaking 23rd year, continues on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre with no end in sight. The musical has been represented on the road since the First National Tour began performances in Los Angeles in May 1989. Since that time, there have been three U.S. national touring productions. The First National Tour (Christine Company) played Los Angeles and San Francisco for a combined total run of almost 10 years, grossing $305,192,485 with 3,902 performances and 6.6 million patrons. The Second National Tour (Raoul Company) played major markets during an 8 and a half year run, grossing $393,608,819 with 3,364 performances and 7.5 million patrons. The Third National Tour (Music Box Company) is the only production still currently touring the U.S. and will have played 7,284 performances at the time of its closing, spanning almost 18 years on the road.

The three U.S. national tours have grossed over $1.5 billion in combined box office sales. When the Music Box Company concludes its run on October 31, the three touring companies will have played 216 engagements in 77 cities for an unprecedented combined total of 36 years and over 14,500 performances.

The longest-running show in Broadway history, the New York production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA celebrated its 22nd Anniversary earlier this year - the musical's latest in a long line of record-breaking milestones. Since its debut on January 26, 1988, PHANTOM has grossed over $780 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history, and has amassed an unprecedented 9,000 performances and counting.

Worldwide, over 65,000 performances of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA have been seen by 100 million people in 27 countries and 144 cities. Its international success - equally staggering - is represented by total worldwide grosses estimated at over $5 billion. This colossal figure makes PHANTOM the most successful entertainment venture of all time, surpassing not only any other stage production, but also far surpassing the world's highest-grossing film Avatar (at $2.7 billion) and such other blockbusters as Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars. There are currently seven productions around the world: London, New York, Budapest (Hungary), Nagoya (Japan), Seoul (Korea), the U.S. National Tour and a revised production in Las Vegas at The Venetian. The Broadway production is the winner of 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Based on the classic novel 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 third national tour currently stars Tim Martin Gleason in the title role with Trista Moldovan as Christine and Sean MacLaughlin as Raoul. The musical also co-stars D.C. Anderson (Monsieur Andre), Michael McCoy (Monsieur Firmin), Kim Stengel (Carlotta), Nancy Hess (Madame Giry), Luke Grooms (Piangi) and Paloma Garcia-Lee (Meg Giry). At certain performances, Kelly Jeanne Grant plays the role of "Christine."

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed by Harold Prince. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has production design by the late Maria Bjornson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound design by Mick Potter with original sound by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

For more information, visit www.thephantomoftheopera.com.