SEATTLE - It's been almost 30 years since the familiar organ pipes of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom of the Opera first bellowed over Broadway. Now this classic production is back in Seattle. But like anything that was born of the 80's, sometimes a makeover is in order.
"It's big and it's bombastic and it's dark and gritty. It's everything you sorta want in a show you can find that things that were special to the original remain true, " said Storm Lineberger who plays Raoul.
"This spectacular new production really focuses on the decisions that Christine has to make and sort of being at a crossroads in her life trying to decide where she should go and what are the best choices," said Kate Travis who plays Christine.
For those not familiar, Phantom is about a disfigured musical genius obsessed with a lovely young soprano at the Paris Opera House more than a century ago.
In this updated production, all the staging, lighting and pyrotechnics have been redone. Even the infamous chandelier has been cast in a new light.
Heather Chockley, the Stage Manager for Phantom said, "It weighs just over a ton. It has 6000 beads on it. We haven't counted them but that's what they tell us."
The famous chandelier that falls near the end of Act One is securely fastened to the ceiling with a series of cables. How fast it falls depends on the height of the ceiling it's attached to.
"This is a particularly tall theater so we are getting maximum travel on the chandelier. I can't give away our actual numbers but if you're sitting in the seat anywhere near it or frankly anywhere in the theater it's a little bit scary," said Chockley.
It's even scary for those who know it's coming.
"They still scream. It's the best," said Chockley.
So even though The Phantom of the Opera may have risen from the 80's, the story and music behind it, are as timeless as ever.
Phantom of the Opera plays at the Paramount Theatre until May 10th.
