Gleason Heads THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA At Benedum Center, Closes 9/19

The Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince, returning to the Benedum Center, August 25-September 19, 2010, has announced casting for the production's farewell Pittsburgh engagement. The Phantom of the Opera is presented by arrangement with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America and is part of the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series. The producers of The Phantom of the Opera announced earlier this year that the Third National Tour will close this fall in Los Angeles after a highly successful run of over 17 years.

Tickets ($24 - $125) for all performances are currently on sale at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, by phone at (412) 456-6666 or online at www.pgharts.org. For group ticket sales (15 or more), please call 412-471-6930.

The performance schedule is as follows:
Week of August 25: Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday at 1:00 and 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.
Week of August 31: Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.
Week of September 7: Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.
Week of September 14: Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE CAST
Tim Martin Gleason heads the 36-member company as The Phantom, with Trista Moldovan as the young soprano, Christine, and Sean MacLaughlin as Raoul. Also featured will be Kim Stengel as Carlotta Giudicelli, D.C. Anderson as Monsieur André, Michael McCoy as Monsieur Firmin, Nancy Hess as Madame Giry, Luke Grooms as Ubaldo Piangi and Paloma Garcia-Lee as Meg. At certain performances, Kelly Jeanne Grant plays the role of Christine.

Tim Martin Gleason (The Phantom of the Opera). After completing a record-setting tenure as Raoul with 3 different American companies of Phantom, Tim returns to the national tour, this time as the masked man. He began his Phantom journey with this very company in 2001 as member of the ensemble. He quickly took over the role of Raoul, which he played for over three years. He then had the honor of playing Raoul for the record-breaking Broadway Company when Phantom became the longest-running show in Broadway history. Mr. Gleason next originated the role of Raoul for Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular. In September of 2007 he rejoined the Broadway cast for an additional year and a half. With his time in all three companies, Mr. Gleason is the longest-running Raoul in American history, playing the role more than 2,600 times. Mr. Gleason received a BS in psychology from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia and actually pursued a business career for 4 years before deciding to become an actor. Prior to Phantom, he has originated several roles, including Romeo in Terrence Mann's musical Romeo & Juliet at Goodspeed and Adam Gernstein in The Rhythm Club at Signature Theatre, a role for which he received a prestigious Helen Hayes Award nomination. He has performed in theaters all across the country. Mr. Gleason is a proud member of AEA. For a full list of theatres and roles, visit him online at TimMartinGleason.com.

Trista Moldovan (Christine Daaé) is delighted to join the National tour of The Phantom of the Opera. Trista most recently appeared as Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. She had the honor of working with Julie Andrews in the John Bucchino musical Simeon's Gift. She played Cosette in the highly successful regional premiere of Les Misérables at the Pioneer Theater Company. Off-Broadway/NYC: Sally in Me and My Girl (Musicals Tonight), Rachel in Paul Revere (Theatreworks), Seffa in Faces of War (Makor Center) and readings with Stageplays Theater Co. Favorite regional credits include Gypsy (Louise), Nine (Carla), Born Yesterday (Billie Dawn), Carousel (Julie) and Cabaret (Sally). Television: "The Guiding Light," "All My Children" and "As the World Turns." Trista is a proud graduate of the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music. Many thanks to the Talent Mine and teachers at "Camp Christine." All the love in the world to Mom, Dad, Josh, Marisa, Steve and Vinnie. www.tristamoldovan.com

Sean MacLaughlin (Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny) is proud to perform the role of Raoul. Broadway: Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman in White. Performed the roles of Vikram in Bombay Dreams and Armand in Elton John's Lestat; Off-Broadway: The Audience and Requiem for William. Some favorite regional credits include: The Kennedy Center productions of The Sondheim Celebration: Merrily We Roll Along and Ken Ludwig's re-tooling of Tom Sawyer; Signature Theatre: the workshop of Michael John LaChiusa's The Highest Yellow, Forum (Hero), Into The Woods (Rapunzel's Prince), The Rink (Dino), Grand Hotel (Erik); Flat Rock Theatre: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy), The Rainmaker (Starbuck), Children of Eden (Cain /Japheth), I Love You, You're Perfect...(Man 2); Hangar Theater: My Fair Lady (Freddy). TV/Film: HBO's "Something the Lord Made" (Dr Swedlin) and appeared in PBS' Great Performances "South Pacific : In Concert from Carnegie Hall". Sean thanks his family for their constant love and support. Member of Actors' Equity since 1999.

About THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

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. Production design is by Maria Bjornson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

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.

With total worldwide grosses estimated at over $5 billion, The Phantom of the Opera is the most successful entertainment venture of the twentieth century, surpassing such blockbuster films as Avatar, Titanic, Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars. The show had its world premiere on October 9, 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, winning every major British theatre award including the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards. The New York production opened on January 26, 1988 where it won seven 1988 Tony® Awards, including Best Musical.

Over 100 million people in 144 cities in 27 countries have seen The Phantom of the Opera. Worldwide, the show consistently plays to larger audiences and in longer engagements than any other musical in history. On January 9, 2006, The Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running show in Broadway history surpassing Cats' record-holding run of 7,485 performances. The show celebrated an unprecedented milestone on January 26, 2008 when it reached its twentieth anniversary on Broadway.

Visit the official The Phantom of the Opera website at www.thephantomoftheopera.com.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is the cultural and economic development of Pittsburgh's 14-block Cultural District through public and private support. The Trust presents and encourages diverse performing and visual arts programs within the District, and is an impetus for additional development in downtown Pittsburgh. In addition to the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents Pittsburgh Dance Council, Trust Presents, Pittsburgh International Children's Theater and Children's Festival, CD Live, JazzLive, First Night Pittsburgh, Gallery Crawl, and Three Rivers Arts Festival, among other Cultural District and arts events. The Trust owns Theater Square and the Cabaret at Theater Square; James E. Rohr Building & Arts Education Center; the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts; Byham, O'Reilly, and Harris Theaters; visual arts galleries: Wood Street Galleries at 601 Wood Street; SPACE at 812 Liberty Avenue and 937 Liberty: a multipurpose performance and exhibit space, among other downtown Pittsburgh arts facilities.

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