First PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Tour Preview Delayed Last Night in Providence

The start of the Friday, November 29th 2013 preview performance of The Phantom of the Opera at the Providence Performing Arts Center was delayed due to a technical malfunction affecting the automated machinery on stage. The mechanism was restored and the performance began one hour late.

Midway through Act 2, as a result of an odor generated by pyrotechnics, several patrons became nervous, left their seats and exited the theater. The emergency lights were then activated by the PPAC house staff to ensure patron safety, and, consequently, the performance had to be stopped.

The Fire Marshal confirmed that there was no fire and no danger to the patrons at any time. The performance then resumed.

Below, watch a video taken at the scene showing audience members evacuating the theatre:

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group present their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera launching a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.

Mark Campbell portrays the man behind the mask, 'The Phantom,' with Julia Udine as 'Christine Daaé,' Ben Jacobyas 'Raoul,' Jacquelynne Fontaineas 'Carlotta Giudicelli,' Craig Bennett as 'Monsieur Firmin,' Edward Staudenmayer as 'Monsieur André,' Linda Balgord as 'Madame Giry,' Frank Viveros as 'Ubaldo Piangi' and Hannah Florence as 'Meg Giry'.

The Ensemble includes Adam Bashian, Nick Cartell, Dan Debenport, Amy Decker, Mark Emerson,Cooper Grodin,Michael Thomas Holmes, Celia Hottenstein, Christopher Howard, Merritt David Janes,Amy Justman, Edward Juvier, Dustin Layton, Luke Lazzaro, Jay Lusteck, Katie McCreary, Grace Morgan, Christy Morton, Quinto Ott, Eric Ruiz andMarguerite Willbanks. The Corps de Ballet includes Morgan Cowling, Anjelica Bette Fellini, Ramona Kelley, Abigail Mentzer, Lily Rose Peck, Tara Sweeney and Micki Weiner.

For more information on the production, visit www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com.

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