Take a trip to gothic 1800s, where curses, ghosts, and opera lead your heart down to the underbelly of Paris.

Eva Tavares and Quentin Oliver Lee - photo by Matthew Murphy
 
We all know The Phantom Of The Opera; it is impossible to have not heard the classic notes of the main song, masterfully created by the one and only Andrew Lloyd Webber, but hearing the booming of the notes on the organ resounding through the theater, as the famous chandelier sparks, is an unforgettable dream which we never wanted to wake from.

Quentin Oliver Lee and Eva Tavares - photo by Matthew Murphy

A refreshing cast of extremely talented, diverse actors took the stage as their own, stunning us throughout the entire show. To say the show took our breath away would be an understatement. They took our souls.

Quentin Oliver Lee - photo by Matthew Murphy

Trista Moldovan as Carlotta - photo Matthew Murphy

Eva Tavares and Jordan Craig - photo by Matthew Murphy

It was amazing, seriously. Quentin Oliver Lee, Eva Tavares, Michael Maliakel, Trista Moldovan, Susan Moniz, and SaraGrace Mariani truly were phenomenal in their roles, as were the rest of the cast. There is a cast of 52 actors and musicians. To imagine the centuries of training and hard work involved in presenting this is incredible. We cannot stop boasting about them...the voices, acting...I could go on forever about their performances, but have too many other things we just need to share.

The Company performs Masquerade - photo by Alastair Muir

With 20 semi trucks for the tour, this production is enormous. There’s an entire truck full of speakers, and one full of wardrobe. There are over 1,200 costume pieces in the show—each handmade in the shop. Christine’s Hannibal dress is 15 pounds; the heaviest costume for her is 40 pounds!

The lighting was masterful and elegant, truly framing the stage. The colors and shadows were cast members, themselves.

Set design: The stage of the Opera House, 1911

Set design: The Lake

Set design: Graveyard

The set was very well put together, beautifully elaborate. The changes from scene to scene never took us out of the moment; in fact, it was some of our favorite parts of the show, as the set pieces glided seamlessly around to change the theatre’s landscape, from underground lair to the rooftop. One of the many incredible pieces were the stairs that emerged from the wall, for the actors to descend. It is rare to see a performance that is nearly perfect in every single way…

Quentin Oliver Lee and Eva Tavares - photo Matthew Murphy

Learn more: https://ustour.thephantomoftheopera.com/
Currently playing in Kalamazoo at Western Michigan University’s Miller Auditorium until February 17, 2019! Get your tickets here: https://www.millerauditorium.com/phantom-opera

We had a chance to interview the Phantom: Behind the Scenes with the Phantom of the Opera, Quentin Oliver Lee!

Want to hear more fan reactions? Take a look at the Western Herald's excellent video:

All photos courtesy and copyright The Phantom of the Opera, used with permission (thank you!)