
Original Tour Cast performs “Masquerade.” Photo by Matthew Murphy.
Laurence Connor has been associated with some of the biggest hits in musical theatre. But the acclaimed director says there will always be a special place in his heart for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera – which returns to Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Jackson Hall on October 24.
“Phantom marked the very beginning of my work with Cameron Mackintosh, so of course, that’s very special,” Connor says. “Cameron had asked me to be the associate director for the original Phantom in London. This was before I was really a director in my own right, and although I was certainly familiar with the music and all the excitement surrounding the show, I’d never actually seen it.”
“Of course, it was an incredible, life-changing experience. But when I think of Phantom, I’m always reminded of that first meeting – that moment when we embarked on this extraordinary journey together.”
And what a journey it’s been.
Over the years, Connor has enjoyed a prolific partnership with Mackintosh, overseeing exciting new productions of iconic titles such as Les Misérables (which visited TPAC in 2017) and Miss Saigon (which arrives in June 2019).
Quentin Oliver Lee as ‘The Phantom’ and Eva Tavares as ‘Christine
Daaé’ Photo by Matthew Murphy.
In the case of Phantom – which remains the longest-running show in Broadway history, recently celebrating its 30-year anniversary at the Majestic Theatre – die-hard fans might not see the need for reinvention.
After all, how does one honor the original spirit of the piece, while offering an entirely fresh approach? But Connor (who also directed TPAC’s season-opener School of Rock) says he enjoys the challenge.
“What these three shows (Phantom, Les Mis and Miss Saigon) have in common is that they all have an excellent book,” he says. “And as a director, that’s such a gift. But you have to let go of everything you think you know about the show. You have to get to the heart of the story, and that really starts with the work on the page.”
“It’s like picking up a novel for the first time – you immediately start to see the story unfold in your imagination. Before long, you’re sharing ideas with your design team, and it just takes off. Suddenly, the process doesn’t seem so difficult after all.”
Still, there is one aspect of the new touring production (which last played TPAC in 2016) that Connor does find daunting – the logistical know-how required to transport the show.
It takes 20 semi-trucks to move the production from city to city, and roughly 75 local stagehands are hired in each market to load everything into the theater.
“It’s such a big show,” Connor says. “And the production team that moves it is so very good at what they do – my brain is really blown by the genius of it all. The way that it’s all organized and packed is amazing, and the attention to detail is incredible. There’s a fine art to that.”
“I went to visit the show not long ago, and I was utterly thrilled to see how well it’s being looked after. That’s important because you want everything to look just as beautiful in Nashville as it does in New York.”
Conner says Phantom suits his style as a director, with a “drama-driven, almost filmic approach.” And while fans certainly will recognize key elements – such as Maria Björnson’s sumptuous costumes and the famous chandelier – he insists that this production is quite different, visually.
“The set is completely different, but so is the way we’ve approached the storytelling. Where the original felt more abstract, this production is more literal. It feels a bit darker, grittier,” he says.
“We brought the technology up to date, and that enabled us to rethink everything – to make it feel fresh. Thanks to [set designer] Paul Brown and his huge bag of tricks, we’re really able to enter the world of the Phantom, to follow him through those dark corridors and experience the magic in a new way.”
Of course, much of that magic stems from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s haunting score, which Connor calls “miraculous.” But he also welcomed the opportunity to “explore these beloved characters as real human beings.”
“I’ve always loved these characters – they’re so fascinating. I think that’s one of the things that continues to resonate with audiences,” he says. “You have this incredible, really unexpected love story, which takes place in the most opulent setting imaginable. It’s all very dark, but beautiful and really complicated – rather reflective of life, I suppose. But that’s the beauty of this show. And it’s thrilling, as a director, to see the audience’s response as they experience this story with fresh eyes. It’s been quite remarkable.”
Get tickets to The Phantom of the Opera during its two-week run Oct. 24 to Nov. 4.
Amy Stumpfl has been covering Nashville’s arts scene since 2004 – first with The City Paper, and then for The Tennessean. A proud member of the American Theatre Critics Association, she was selected to participate as a Fellow in the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Critics Institute (2005) and the NEA Arts Journalism Institute in Theater & Musical Theater at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism (2008).
Ascend Amphitheater is located at 310 First Ave. S. Click here for directions and parking.
All performances are rain-or-shine. In the event of severe weather, click here for updates.
All bags will be searched upon entry.
Lawn chairs higher than 9″ off the ground will not be allowed into the amphitheater. Low-back lawn chairs, blankets and stadium seating cushions are allowed.
Click here for a complete list of items allowed into the amphitheater.
Click here to view seating and accessibility information.
Visit Ascend Amphitheater’s FAQ page for additional information, including concessions, camera policy, and box office info.
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Contains adult themes
Review: Big-Hair Rockers Return in a New Arena: Broadway
Rock of Ages on Broadway Review
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
BWW Review: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas National Tour
In ‘White Christmas,’ the lights of a holiday in are all alglow
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Review: ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ Retains Its Luster
Review: The Phantom of the Opera
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Contains explicit language
Review: ‘The Book of Mormon’ on Broadway Retains Its Charms
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Review: A ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ Revival With an Echo of Modernity
Fiddler On The Roof
Fiddler On The Roof on Broadway Reviews
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Contains adult themes
Review: Return of the Little Copter That Wowed in ‘Miss Saigon’
Miss Saigon
Miss Saigon: The popular musical about doomed love in the last days of South Vietnam returns to Broadway.
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Review: ‘Hello, Dolly!’ Is Bright, Brassy and All Bette
Should I bring my kids to see HELLO DOLLY on Broadway?
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Contains gunshot effects and strobe lights
Review: ‘Anastasia,’ a Russian Princess With an Identity Crisis
Broadway Review: ‘Anastasia,’ The Muscial
Anastasia on Broadway Reviews
Anastasia
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Contains strong language and gun violence
Review: ‘A Bronx Tale’ Explores the Struggle for a Boy’s Soul
A Bronx Tale: The Musical on Broadway Reviews
A Bronx Tale: The Musical
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Review: ‘On Your Feet!’ Rides the Rhythm of the Estefans
On Your Feet on Broadway Reviews
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Review: ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ Upends a Whodunit
Review: Is The Play That Goes Wrong Appropriate for Kids?
The Play That Goes Wrong
Stage review: Laughing at ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ is all that’s right with comedy
‘The Play That Goes Wrong’: A Brilliant, Bang-Up Comedy At The Bushnell
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Review: ‘School of Rock’ Teaches the ABCs of Power Chords
Trip Advisor Audience Reviews
School of Rock on Broadway Reviews
School of Rock – The Musical
It means you’ll be unable to see the entire stage from those seats.
We sell these seats because for many fans the limited view is not a problem, and the tickets are clearly labeled at time of purchase (see photo below). Limited view seating varies event to event and could be something as small as a tiny corner of the stage being blocked from view. Please call our box office at 615-782-4040 for additional information on limited view seating.
Seats marked with “Limited View” during purchase path
Many shows impose ticket limits to allow as many people as possible to have equal access to seats. This is done as a deterrent to third party vendors, i.e. scalpers, who may purchase large blocks of seats and then resell them online at an inflated cost. The term “household” refers to any shared information on one or more accounts. This includes, but may not be limited to matching names, mailing and billing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and credit card numbers. Any households that purchase more than the allowed number of tickets may have their order(s) refunded without notice.
Will The Price Is Right LIVE be a future episode of the TV Game Show?
No, this show will not be recorded for television.
Who will be the host?
There are a number of different hosts for The Price is Right Live! Tour. A host has not been confirmed at this time.
Is there a prize list available?
Prizes vary from show to show so no prize list is available, however the type of prizes are very similar to what you see on television.
How will the registration process work?
Registration takes place day of show, prior to each performance. Beginning 3 hours before showtime, each eligible person who would like the opportunity to be selected to play will provide their first and last name and day of birth (0-31) to producers via registration cards which are given to eligible patrons by Venue staff. There is no ticket purchase required to register to be a contestant, and will not be considered a factor in determining eligible contestants or in the contestant selection process. Registration closes precisely at the scheduled showtime.
Will I be able to register before the night of the show?
Unfortunately not. All registration will open 3 hours prior to each show. Guests are encouraged to get there early to avoid lineups. Registration will remain open until the posted showtime.
Will guests be able to register more than one person at a time?
All contestants must register themselves. Guests will not be permitted to register additional people.
What is the procedure for someone who shows up to register but does not have a ticket?
By law, everyone who shows up and wants to register must be allowed to do so and have equal opportunity to be called down to be a contestant. If an individual registers and DOES NOT have a ticket to watch the show, they will be directed to a pre-determined location. All of the contestants for the show are chosen at random as soon as registration closes. The names of all eligible registrants will be weighted equally, that is, no advantage shall be given to individuals who purchased a ticket over individuals that did not. If an individual who did not purchase a ticket is selected as a contestant, that person will be escorted to an open seat in the venue. Individuals who did not purchase a ticket and were not selected may leave the theater after the random drawing.
Do I need to be there 3 hours before the show in order to register?
It is ideal to arrive early, up to 3 hours, to avoid lineups, but registration will stay open until the posted showtime. People may leave the theater after they have registered, but they must be present at the time of the drawing in order to be eligible.
When does the drawing take place?
The random drawing to determine show contestants will take place backstage during a 20 minute time period beginning at the posted show time. All eligible contestants must be present at the time their name is called or they will be disqualified and another randomly selected name will be called. Eligible contestants who registered, but did not purchase a ticket will be informed in the waiting area in the first 20 minutes after the posted show time if they have been selected.
How do people collect their prizes if they win?
After someone wins a prize a producer will ask them to return to the front of the stage after the show where all the necessary paperwork will be done for the prizing. This takes place immediately following the show. The amount of time it takes depends entirely on the number of winners in a show.
How are contestants selected for each show?
All contestants are selected entirely at random from the pool of registered contestants.
How old do you have to be to register?
You must be 18 years of age or older to be eligible to register to become a contestant.
Can you still go to the show if you are under age?
Absolutely. Anyone can buy tickets and watch the show. It’s often a family affair, however only those 18 years of age or older can be eligible to be a contestant.