Silents you can hear! Blending the 1925 silent film with original songs and powerful live performances to create a show-stopping-spectacle, Vox Lumiere-The Phantom of the Opera brings the Lon Chaney classic to three-dimensional, high-decibel life. Eight electrifying performances take place at the Los Angeles Theatre Center on Sept. 19/20; Oct. 10/11; Nov. 14/15; and Dec. 12/13.
An explosive mash-up of music, dance, technology and silent film, Vox Lumiere-The Phantom of the Opera offers a fresh take on a timeless tale. Singers, dancers and musicians give voice to the silent film projected behind them, playing off each other, the audience and the onscreen story to create a magical exchange.
"The live performers add layers of detail, insight and emotion to the narrative, as well as a 21st century 'story-within-a-story' that complements and is in juxtaposition with the 1920s-era film," explains Vox Lumiere creator Kevin Saunders Hayes. "It's more than just a show, it's a unique entertainment experience - an immersive, multimedia extravaganza that smashes the walls between stage and screen. Our goal is to leave the audience breathless."
Latin and French for "Voices of Light," Vox Lumiere is equal parts rock concert, opera, musical theater and multimedia spectacle, all working together to tell a story with projected silent movies. Each evening begins with a red carpet entry for the patrons, photo ops with the cast, refreshments and pre-show entertainment in the lobby. Once inside, patrons experience a live band, surround projection screens, hi-definition sound and a light show. The singers and dancers are lavishly costumed in steampunk-inspired attire.
Heading the cast is
James Lynch (CarnEvil: a Gothic Horror Rock Musical at Sacred Fools, Tonya and Nancy: The Rock Opera in Cambridge, MA) as the Phantom, with soprano
Marisa Johnson (opener for
Enrique Iglesias at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Monica in The Medium with Sin City Opera) and alto Victoria Levy (singer/songwriter, soundtracks for films including Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Real Steel,
John Carter, Expecting Mary) sharing the role of Christine in an interpretation that reveals the duality of the character. D. Valentine (UNESCO world tour with blue13 dance company) plays Raoul, Julie Brody (
Kathleen Johnson's sci-fi opera, Brainchild, Part II at Human Resources-LA) portrays Carlotta, Danielle Skalsky (
Sophie DePalma in Master Class at International City Theatre) takes on the "Grand Dame" and Chris Marcos (West Coast premiere of In the Heights at Casa 0101) is Faust. Dancers Siân Dakin, Cameron Evans, Carolyn Pampalone, Jamie Pfaff, Dustin Ripkens and Jason Sensation round out the ensemble, with Christopher Allis on drums, Zac Matthews on bass and Jeff Miley on guitar.
The concept for Vox Lumiere was born when television and film composer Hayes stumbled across a crate of silent films in a bargain store. In 2000, Vox Lumiere-Metropolis premiered at the sixth annual New York/Avignon Film Festival in New York City. Since then, the company has toured throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe with a repertoire of five films: Metropolis, The Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Peter Pan and a "greatest hits" compilation entitled Silents you can hear. Vox Lumiere has performed for over 250,000 people worldwide in such prestigious venues as the Cinematique Francais and the Avignon Opera House. Honors include two 21st Century Filmmaker Awards for Excellence (Le Roger) from the New York /Avignon Film Festival and five first-round GRAMMY ballot entries for the music of Vox Lumiere-The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In 2008, a performance of Hunchback at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts was filmed for national broadcast by PBS, and CD and DVD recordings of the special were produced by Detroit Public TV and released by Koch/E1 Entertainment.
Vox Lumiere-The Phantom of the Opera features music and lyrics by Kevin Saunders Hayes set against the 1925 silent film directed by
Rupert Julian and starring
Lon Chaney. Lighting design is by
William Kirkham; video and projection design consultant is
Jason Thompson; costume design is by Sharell Martin; hair, wig and makeup design is by Kristy Staky; choreographer is
Natalie Willes; photography is by Jeff Fasano; and production stage manager is
Angelica Estevez. Rick Culbertson, Gregory Franklin and Victoria Levy produce in association with Franklin Theatrical Investors.
Vox Lumiere-The Phantom of the Opera runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20; Oct. 10 and Oct. 11; Nov. 14 and Nov. 15; and Dec. 12 and Dec. 13. Tickets range from $40-$75. The Los Angeles Theatre Center is located at 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (844) VOX-ROCK or
www.voxlumiere.com.
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