Pittsburgh CLO to Present Kopit & Yeston's PHANTOM, 6/21-30

Audiences will be mesmerized by the classic score in Kopit & Yeston's Phantom June 21- 30 at the Benedum Center. Phantom is back by popular demand and will feature an incredible cast comprised of Broadway stars and Pittsburgh CLO veterans.

From the Tony Award-winning team of Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit comes the exquisite masterpiece, Phantom. Based on Gaston Leroux's timeless love story, Phantom delves into the star-crossed story of the disfigured musical genius known as the Phantom Erik, and his muse, Christine Daaé, the exciting and beautiful ingénue of the Paris Opera. Their musical affair unfolds deep in the catacombs of the Opera house, where Erik finds salvation in Christine's breathtaking voice. The incredible score features "Home," "You Are My Own," and "My True Love."

Ron Bohmer (Phantom/Erik) has numerous Broadway/Tour credits including: The Phantom in The Phantom Of The Opera, title role in The Scarlet Pimpernel (NBTA nom.), Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard (Jefferson Award nom.), Sir Percival Glyde in The Woman in White, Alex inAspects Of Love (Robby award), Enjolras in LES MISERABLES, Fyedka in Fiddler on the Roof, Father in the Tony-nominated revival ofRagtime, Fred in A Little Night Music, Coach Bolton in Disney's High School Musical. Recent Regional - Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days for the Pittsburgh Public Theatre, El Gallo in The Fantasticks for the Cincinnati Playhouse (Acclaim Award - Best Actor), and George in Sunday in the Park With George for the Rep of St. Louis (Theatre Critics Circle Award, Best Actor). Recordings - two solo CD's,Everyman and Another Life and numerous cast recordings. Ron is a frequent soloist with symphony orchestras across the country. www.ronbohmer.com

Donna Lynne Champlin (La Carlotta) is returning to Pittsburgh CLO. Her previous CLO credits include: Mame (Gooch), Full Monty (Georgie), Jolson (Ruby), A Christmas Carol (Belle), Fame (Serena), The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy), Evita (Mistress). Broadway: Billy Elliot, Sweeney Todd, Hollywood Arms, By Jeeves, James Joyce's The Dead. Off Broadway: Dark at the Top of the Stairs (OBIE Award), Working (Drama Desk Award),Master Class at the MET, See Rock City, Pride and Prejudice (NYMF award), City Center Encores! Bloomer Girl, Carnegie Hall's Very Warm For May. Various TV/Film/recordings. CMU Drama (BFA). www.donnalynnechamplin.com

Jeff Howell (Inspector LeDoux) was recently seen as the Captain in The Sound of Music (PMT): CLO shows include Sunset Boulevard (DeMille),Jesus Christ Superstar (Annas), Jekyll and Hyde (Poole), A Musical Christmas Carol (Bob Cratchit), Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth), Bells are Ringing (Dr. Kitchell), Pajama Game (Prez); other credits include Candide (Dr. Pangloss), Chicago (Billy Flynn), Tribute to Lerner and Loewe with Marvin Hamlisch and the PSO.

Ken Land (Alaine Cholet) has appeared in the Broadway/Off-Broadway/Tour casts of numerous shows including: Promises, Promises, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Victor/Victoria, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Legally Blonde, The Gig, Little Shop of Horrors, Sweet Charity, The SecretGarden and Evita. Regional: MUNY, Portland Center Stage, Old Globe, Goodspeed, Indiana Rep, Maine State, etc. Television: "Boston Legal," "Six Feet Under," "Law and Order(s)," "Malcolm in the Middle," "Judging Amy," "Crossing Jordan," "Star Trek Voyager" and "Strong Medicine."

Erin Mackey (Christine Daaé) was last seen on Broadway in Chaplin: The Musical as Oona O'Neill. She has also appeared on Broadway in Roundabout Theatre Company's Anything Goes as Hope Harcourt and in Sondheim on Sondheim. Her Broadway debut was as Glinda in Wicked after having performed the role in the Chicago and Los Angeles companies. Off Broadway, she appeared in I Remember Mama as Katrin at the York Theatre. Film and television credits include The Parent Trap, "Gossip Girl" and "Blue Bloods." She has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Pops, Long Beach Symphony and Florida Orchestra.

Bryant Martin (Count Phillipe de Chandon) is making his Pittsburgh CLO debut. His New York credits include: Tom in The Other Man at Theatre Row, Brad in Victor Victorious at The Flea. Regional: Curly in Oklahoma! at Lyric Stage in Irving and Musical Theatre West, Thomas Jefferson in1776 at Lyric Stage in Irving, John Paul Jones in Frank Loesser's Pleasures and Palaces, Tellig in Sedition and Young Scrooge in A Christmas Carol both at the Westport Country Playhouse. www.bryant-martin.com.

Paul Palmer (Minister of Culture) appears in his 58th Pittsburgh CLO musical, reprising the role he performed in the 1998 CLO Phantomproduction. A veteran of 34 CLO summer seasons, Mr. Palmer was the Preacher in last week's production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Abner Dillon in this season's first production, 42nd Street.

Jamie Ross (Gerard Carriére) joins Pittsburgh CLO for the first time. His Broadway credits include: Beauty and the Beast, The Tale of the Allergists' Wife, 1776, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Gypsy, La Cage aux Folles, Woman of the Year; 42nd Street; Oh, Coward in NY and London. National Tours: Beauty and the Beast; Jekyll and Hyde, Phantom of the Opera, Victor/Victoria, Damn Yankees in the US and London. He was in the Paris production of Hello, Dolly and recently appeared in the Pre-Broadway production of The Nutty Professor, directed by Jerry Lewis.

Peter Matthew Smith (Jean-Claude) just closed the first National Tour of Memphis the Musical and now returns home to Pittsburgh. Broadway:Rent, Mamma Mia, Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof (Motel), Cry Baby. Other Pittsburgh CLO credits include Joseph... (Pharaoh), The Student Prince(Tarnitz) and A Musical Christmas Carol (Fred).

Kopit & Yeston's Phantom is complete with a talented ensemble, including Keely Beirne, Sarah Blodgett, Erick Buckley, Margaret Carr, Jesse Carrey-Beaver, Max Clayton, Lucas Fedele, Michael Greer, Rodney Earl Jackson Jr., Zanny Laird, Isabelle McCalla, Trevor McQueen, Connor McRory, Laura Melchiorre, Casi Riegle, Jonalyn Saxer, Gavin Stewart and Paul Victor.

Kopit & Yeston's Phantom is based off of Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera. Actor/Director Geoffery Holder approached the duo about the project after their musical Nine won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1982.

Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston had just completed writing their musical when they read an article in Variety announcing a new musical production,The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. After The Phantom of the Opera became a huge hit in London, Andrew Lloyd Webber announced plans to take the show to Broadway. Webber's announcement caused Kopit and Yeston's Broadway investors to back out. In the early 1990's Arthur Kopit was hired to adapt Phantom as a miniseries for NBC, which was a success.

Phantom was finally produced by Theater Under the Stars in 1991. Although the musical has never been to Broadway, it has been produced over 1,000 times worldwide.

Tickets are available online at pittsburghCLO.org, by calling 412-456-6666 or at the Box Office at Theater Square. Groups of 10 or more enjoy exclusive discounts and specialty packages. Call our Group Sales Hotline at 412-325-1582 for more information. Visit pittsburghCLO.org for further information.

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