The longest running musical of all time, The Phantom of the Opera, may have closed on Broadway but it’s coming to Kensington Theatre in June, 2024 and we are STOKED!!!
We have had an overwhelming response to Phantom! So we have decided to increase the cast to 85 allowing 25 more teens to participate in this unique experience! In order to accommodate this number, our Chorus will be double cast; Leads will be single cast. We have added two more performances to give each Chorus four performances! Each double cast member will also receive two comps to Phantom so they can see it on their “off night”!
Remember how we have done Les Miserables every 4 years (3 times!)? Well, here is a new epic musical our teens get to be a part of!! And it gets better, 40 boys and 40 girls get to register to be in it and are GUARANTEED to be in the production: You register; you are in the cast!
The Story:
The Phantom of the Opera is a thrilling and romantic account of the legendary Phantom, a musical genius who dwells deep beneath a majestic opera house in Paris. Shunned by society for his horrible facial deformity, he takes a promising young soprano, Christine, under his wing and grooms her for operatic fame, all the while falling deeply in love with her.
As Christine grows ever more successful, and a handsome young man from her past begins to successfully court her, the Phantom descends into a jealous rage and terrorizes the opera company with increasingly dangerous threats.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score soars with such famous tunes as ‘Think of Me,’ ‘All I Ask of You,’ ‘The Music of the Night,’ and the title song, ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. Phantom has gone on to become a cultural tour de force, and one of the most successful musicals of all time.
We have moved up our Registration/Auditions!! We need more time to get all the technical aspects ready… and that requires a cast!
Information:
- Registration: Opens October 9, 2023 at 12:00 AM! Fun Fact: Phantom had its world premiere on October 9, 1986 at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London, winning every major British theatre award!
- Registration Fee: $200 (includes Cast T-shirt and one epic experience!) There are NO REFUNDS on registration so be sure you are committed to the production.
- Auditions: November 28, 7-10p. Only registered teens may audition. If you are registered you may choose to audition for a solo role or not audition and be placed in the chorus.
- Financial Scholarship: The deadline for financial aid has now passed (October 1). You will be notified by October 7 if you have been granted the scholarship and then guided how to finish your registration on October 9.
- Ballet Auditions: November 30, 7-9p. All registered teens should attend (Girls AND boys!)
- Call Backs: December 2, 8a-1p
- Ages: 16-19 (You must be born between June 15, 2004-June 14, 2008: This age limit is our contract with Andrew Lloyd Weber, no exceptions!)
- Prepare for First Audition on November 28: 16 bars from the musical (choices will be posted here by October 16), fill out the Audition Form (available November 1), and sign up for an audition time (beginning November 1). If you are registered and don’t want to audition, you will be placed in the chorus, but you must still fill out the Audition Form and email your headshot and resume to contact@KensingtonTheatre.org by November 28.
- What to bring to the First Audition on November 28: A headshot and resume. We will have your sheet music and an accompanist will be provided.
- First Cast Meeting: December 5, 7-10p. We will give you your scripts, get costumes going, schedule, etc… everything to get us started in April!
- Rehearsals: The first rehearsal will be on April 22. Generally rehearsals will be M-Th, 6-10p and Saturdays, 8a-5p. The amount of rehearsals you will have will depend on the role you are cast in. There will be no rehearsals May 24-27, May 30-31. You may not have conflicts in June to participate, you will be dropped without a refund.
- Ballet Ensemble, Christine, Meg: Will have additional ballet training before rehearsals begin once or twice a month on Thursdays, January-April (depending on the experience of those cast).
- Performances: June 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 22, 24, and 25 at 7:30p
Character Descriptions:
The Phantom of the Opera (Erik): Male. High Baritone or Tenor (Ab3 to Ab5) The Phantom is masked to hide a facial deformity. He lives hidden beneath the Paris Opera House. He is a musical genius who falls in love with the young ingénue Christine who he gives music lessons through a mirror in her dressing room. He torments the diva Carlotta and the whole opera company. His teaching helps Christine to be promoted to a lead in the Opera’s productions. The Phantom is dynamic but mesmerizing, sensual but ghostly.
Christine Daaé: Female. Soprano Lyric or Light Colouratura (G3 to E6). Christine is the young ingénue. She begins as dancer, but as she has been taught by the Phantom she is given the chance to sing and becomes the star of the Opera. As was a young child she met a young boy, Raoul, and when they meet again at the opera they fall in love. Christine is best friends with Meg. Christine is young and
vulnerable after the loss of her musician father.
Vicomte Raoul de Chagny: Male. High Baritone (Ab3 to Ab5). Raoul is the dashing, young lover. He knew Christine from her childhood and becomes smitten with her when they meet again. He is the rich patron of The Opera Company. He does his best to protect Christine, ending in a confrontation with The Phantom.
Meg Giry: (see also Ballet Chorus information) Female, Mezzo-Soprano (Bb3 to F5 ). Meg is the young lead dancer in the corps de ballet. She is Christine’s best friend and it is she who volunteers Christine to sing when Carlotta quits the production. Her mother is the ballet mistress.
Monsieur Gilles André: Male. Baritone (A3 to A5) Andre is one of two new managers of the Paris Opera. He is more sarcastic and worried about putting on a show. The Phantom to him is just a nuisance and he seems bothered by the drama that happens with Carlotta, Raoul, Christine, and everyone else.
Richard Firmin: Baritone (A3 to F5). Firmin is the other new manager. He is serious and more worried about money and the business of the opera. He sees the Phantom and all the drama that surrounds the opera house as publicity.
Carolotta Giudicelli: Soprano Colouratura (C4 to E6). Carlotta is the resident Opera Diva who plays all the leading roles. With Christine’s rising stardom her job is in jeopardy. Carlotta quits the production of Hannibal after the Phantom nearly hits her with a backdrop. She comes back to hear the managers beg for her to do the production of Il Muto. Carlotta is a true “drama queen” who feels threatened by Christine.
Madame Giry: Mezzo-Soprano (Bb3 to Bb5). Madame Giry is the ballet mistress for the opera house. She is mysterious and has knowledge of The Phantom, warning the managers to not upset him.
Ubaldo Piangi: Tenor (D4 to C6). Piangi is a classical opera singer with a really thick Italian accent. He is Carlotta’s counterpart and a diva in his own right. Think Pavarotti!
Joseph Buquet: Male. Bass (E5 to D4). Buquet is an old stage hand. People think he’s strange because he claims to have seen the Phantom. He sings a song to the ballet girls describing how the Phantom looks. He is eventually killed by The Phantom.
Don Attilio: in ‘Il Muto’. Tenor (C6 to F2). Don Attilio is the Countess’s husband during the Il Muto performance.
Passarino: (in Don Juan Triumphant) Baritone (F#5 to D4). Passarino is Don Juan’s sidekick. He lures Aminta to Don Juan.
Monsieur Reyer: Male. Baritone (C4 to F5). Monsieur Reyer is the répétiteur of the Opera Company. His main job is to run the rehearsals despite all divas. He is sarcastic and sort of a tyrant.
ENSEMBLE CHORUS:
Featured Singing Ensemble
Chorus Ensemble
Ballet Ensemble
ENSEMBLE (Speaking only roles):
Auctioneer: Male. Spoken role. The Auctioneer begins the show auctioning pieces from the opera house, including props, posters, and the infamous chandelier. This is set in 1911, then takes us back to when the rest of the story takes place. The Auctioneer is a speaking character with the longest monologue in the show.
Monsieur Lefevre: Male. Spoken role. Monsieur Lefevre is the retiring manager of the Opera House. Even though we know why he decides to retire he is very certain not to mention it to the new managers. He leaves for Frankfurt and has no intention on returning.
Firechief: Male. Spoken role. He is in charge of security during the Don Juan première.
Firemen: Male. Spoken role.
Marksman: Male. Spoken role.
BALLET CHORUS:
7 Females. Some ballet training very helpful. Pointe shoes a bonus but not essential. Singing not necessary but an advantage.
1-4 Males. Strong, athletic, masculine. Singing not necessary but an advantage.
MEG GIRY/CHRISTINE: Some Ballet training very helpful. Pointe not necessary but an advantage.