National Tour of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA to Take Final Bow in Los Angeles Nov. 2010

Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc. announced today that the national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, known as The Music Box Company, will play its final performance in November 2010 at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles. The Music Box Company will begin performances in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 23. Tickets will go on sale in late April. For more information, please visit www.thephantomoftheopera.com.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the most successful and longest continuously-running tour in U.S. history. The musical has been represented on the road since the First National 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 eight and a half year run, grossed $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 has played over 7,000 performances and recently celebrated its Seventeenth Anniversary in December 2009.

The three U.S. national tours have grossed over $1.5 billion in combined box office sales. As of The Music Box Company's final performance in November, the three touring companies will have played 205 engagements in 98 cities for an unprecedented combined total of 36 years and 14,605 performances.

Upcoming engagements of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA include:

Feb 17 - March 14: Music Hall at Fair Park - Dallas, TX

March 17 - April 4: UTPAC Bass Concert Hall - Austin, TX
April 8 - May 2: Hippodrome Theatre - Baltimore, MD
May 19 - June 6: The Wharton Center - East Lansing, MI
June 9 - 27: The Schuster Center - Dayton, OH
June 30 - July 25: The Fox Theatre - Atlanta, GA
July 28 - August 22: The Allen Theatre - Cleveland, OH
Aug 25 - Sept 19: The Benedum Center - Pittsburgh, PA

The longest-running show in Broadway history, the New York production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently celebrated its 22nd Anniversary - the musical's latest in a long line of record-breaking milestones. Since its debut on January 26, 1988, PHANTOM has grossed over $755 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history. The production's ongoing staying power is exemplified by its consistently strong houses, including last month breaking the house record to have its best weekly gross in its 22 year history. Having also recently surpassed an unprecedented 9,000 performances and counting, PHANTOM continues at The Majestic Theatre with no end in sight.

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 $2.077 billion) and such other blockbusters as Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars. There are currently nine productions around the world: London, New York, Budapest (Hungary), Nagoya (Japan), Warsaw (Poland), Seoul (Korea), Buenos Aires (Argentina), 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 (Marni Raab continues the role through February 21) and Sean MacLaughlin as Raoul. The musical also co-stars D.C. Anderson (Monsieur Andre), Bruce Winant (Monsieur Firmin), Kim Stengel (Carlotta), Nancy Hess (Madame Giry), David Gaschen (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

Pictured: current PHANTOM national tour stars Trista Moldovan and Tim Martin Gleason
Photo Credit: JOAN MARCUS