Chris Mann and Katie Travis Lead THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Tour, Coming to Wharton Center This Spring

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group are delighted to announce the casting for their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA currently on sale for the premiere East Lansing engagement at Wharton Center's Cobb Great Hall April 1-12, 2015.

With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, one of the most successful musicals of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.

To purchase tickets, visit www.whartoncenter.com, call 1-800-WHARTON or 517-432-2000 or visit the Auto-Owners Insurance Ticket Office at Wharton Center. Ticket prices start at $32.00 plus applicable fees.

Chris Mann will portray the man behind the mask, 'The Phantom.' Bay City, Michigan, native Katie Travis plays 'Christine Daae?,' Storm Lineberger as 'Raoul,' Jacquelynne Fontaine as 'Carlotta Giudicelli,' David Benoit as 'Monsieur Firmin,' Edward Staudenmayer as 'Monsieur Andre?,' Anne Kanengeiser as 'Madame Giry,' Frank Viveros as 'Ubaldo Piangi' and Morgan Cowling as 'Meg Giry.'

Recording artist Chris Mann had his breakout turn on NBC's "The Voice." In 2012, he released his debut solo album "Roads" and followed with his PBS Concert "Chris Mann In Concert: A Mann For All Seasons." Katie Travis has performed principal roles at The Fireside Theater, Liederkranz Opera Theater, The MUNY (Les Mise?rables, Cosette) and won the Lys Symonette Award (Lotte Lenya Competition). Storm Lineberger makes his touring debut in Phantom. He has performed at the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, New London Barn Playhouse and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. Jacquelynne Fontaine's stage and opera credits include The Student Prince (Kathie, Pittsburgh CLO), A Little Night Music (Charlotte, Indiana Rep), La Traviata (Violetta) and was Miss California 2006. David Benoit's Broadway and National Tour credits include Jekyll & Hyde, Avenue Q, Les Mise?rables, Dance of the Vampires, Young Frankenstein and All Shook Up. Edward Staudenmayer's Broadway credits include Wonderland, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me and Beauty and the Beast (1st National Tour). Anne Kanengeiser has been seen on Broadway in the original companies of Little Women, Ragtime as well as the 3rd National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera. Frank Viveros originated the roles of Bloat The Blowfish in Disney's Finding Nemo: The Musical and Iron Chef in Yellow Brick Road. Morgan Cowling appeared in Once We Lived Here (Off-Broadway), Disney's Wishes (Original Cast) and Australian productions of Guys and Dolls and Seussical.

The Ensemble includes Adam Bashian, Krista Buccellato, Nick Cartell, Dan Debenport, Amy Decker, Mark Emerson, David Foley, Jr., Celia Hottenstein, Christopher M. Howard, Merritt David Janes, Edward Juvier, Ted Keener, Luke Lazzaro, Jay Lusteck, Katie McCreary, Christy Morton, Lindsay O'Neil, Quinto Ott, Eric Ruiz, Allan Snyder and Marguerite Willbanks. The Corps de Ballet includes Christina Dooling, Sarah DeBiase, Anjelica Bette Fellini, Abigail Mentzer, Lily Rose Peck, Alexandra Pernice, Tara Sweeney and Micki Weiner.

This new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is directed by Laurence Connor (the 25th Anniversary production of LES MISERABLES now on Broadway) with choreography by Scott Ambler, set design by Paul Brown, Tony Award-winning original costume design by Maria Bjo?rnson, lighting design by Tony Award-winner Paule Constable, sound design by Mick Potter and musical supervision by John Rigby. The production is overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

There are currently eight productions of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA around the world: the flagship London production (approaching 28 Years and counting), New York (27 Years and counting), Sapporo (Japan, 25 Years and counting, in repertory), Budapest (Hungary), Hamburg (Germany), the Asian Pacific Tour (now in Taipei, Taiwan), Moscow (Russia, which had its official opening on October 4, 2014) and Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production now on tour in North America. The next international opening will be in Istanbul (Turkey) in April 2015.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the first stage production to reach worldwide grosses of $6 billion, which it did this past summer. Revenues far surpass the world's highest-grossing film Avatar (at $2.8 billion), as well as such other blockbusters as Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars.

Worldwide, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has played over 65,000 performances that have been seen by 140 million people in 30 countries and 151 cities in 14 languages. The show has won more than 70 major theater awards.

There have been three previous U.S. National Tours of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA that grossed over $1.5 billion in combined box office sales and played 216 engagements in 77 cities for an unprecedented total of 36 years and over 14,500 performances to 31 million people.

Based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de L'Opéra 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.

For more information on the production and a video sneak peek, visit www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com/USTour.

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