Video: Exclusive Chris Mann Interview

Chris Mann, star of the national touring production of The Phantom of the Opera, talks with DCPA Senior Arts Journalist John Moore about the appeal and longevity of the show; his time on TV’s The Voice, and his castmate (and wife) Laura Mann’s One Degree of Separation from Justin Timberlake and former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. (Watch that here.)  Filmed on Aug. 26, 2016. Video by David Lenk for the DCPA NewsCenter.

Photo gallery: The Phantom of the Opera in Denver

Opening night also included an up-close look at some of Maria Björnson’s award-winning costumes; a peek at crews installing the famous chandelier in the Buell Theatre; and a visit by cast member Kathryn McCreary (The Wild Woman) with members of the DCPA’s Best of Broadway Society. Also making an appearance was Popsicle the SCFD Bear, who is “popping” up all over town in support of Referendum 4B, which if passed in November will extend the metro area’s Scientific and Cultural Facilities District for another 12 years. The penny-per-$10 sales tax generates about $53 million a year that is shared between 300 arts and science organizations. Photos by John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter.

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The Phantom of the Opera: Fun facts

• Worldwide, more than 65,000 performances have been seen by 140 million people in 30 countries and 151 cities in 14 languages.
• This production travels in 20 trucks with a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest touring productions of a Broadway musical.

Costumes

• The design incorporates not only original Maria Björnson designs from the original but also designs by Maria that were never used for The Phantom of the Opera  before.
• There are a few pieces from the original production that are more than 25 years old used in this production.
• More than 1,200 costume pieces used during the show.
• Each ballet girl goes through a pair of ballet shoes every 2-3 weeks
• Madame Giry has only one costume

Wigs

• More than 120 wigs travel with The Phantom of the Opera
• About 50 wigs are used in the show every night
• All wigs are made from human hair except for five
• About 50 mustaches are kept in stock

Sound

• The Phantom of the Opera uses more than 200 speakers 
• Approximately 50 are used just for the surround sound package

Electrics

• More than 85 moving lights in the design that utilizes four different kinds of haze/smoke effects.

Chandelier

• More than 6,000 beads are on the chandelier
• Each strand has 632 beads
• The chandelier weighs 1 ton
• This new chandelier was designed by Howard Eaton (who designed the Olympic rings for the London ceremonies)

Scenery

• The main scenic wall weighs 10 tons and rotates around the stage
• The 2 opera boxes scenic elements together take up a full truck to travel from city to city

Orchestra

• 17 orchestra members plus a conductor perform Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score every performance

The Phantom of the Opera: Ticket information

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.
• Through Sept. 11
• Buell Theatre
• ASL interpreted, Audio-described and Open Captioned performance: 2 p.m. Sept. 11
• Tickets: 303-893-4100 or Tickets: 303-893-4100 or BUY ONLINE
• Groups: Call 303-446-4829

Previous NewsCenter coverage of The Phantom of the Opera
Phantom return marks Buell Theatre’s 25th anniversary
Download our Phantom of the Opera Crossword Puzzle
Video montage: The show at a glance 

Kathryn McCreary and Popsicle the SCFD Bear on opening night of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ in Denver. Photo by John Moore.