Keynote Address from Hal Prince

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On Saturday, September 19, 09 Phantom Phans were able to meet a legend in the world of theatre… Harold Prince aka Hal Prince.  Some of you may not be aware of who Hal is… allow me to give you a little insight.

Hal is a producer and director in American theatre.  Hal’s was worked on numerous Broadway productions, including  Damn Yankees, West Side Story, Fiddler on The Roof, Show Boat, Sweeney Todd, Evita, Phantom of the Opera, and Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular.  But, this just a small list from the over sixty Broadway productions Hal has worked with.

Hal is a very talented and honored man, who began directing his own productions in 1962.  Hal has been awarded twenty-one Tony Awards, eight for directing, eight for producing the year’s Best Musical, two for being the best producer of a Musical, and three special awards.  One of those special awards was in 2006 when Hal was awarded the Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.  In 2000 President Clinton award Hal the National Medal of Arts.

Hal has worked on two of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals… Evita and The Phantom of the Opera.  Hal was asked to direct Cats, also by Andrew Lloyd Webber, but Hal declined.

Hal captured the Phantom Phan audience as soon as he walked on stage.  Hal greeted the audience with a smile, and said “I knew the boxes would be filled anyways.”  Of course Hal was referring to the Eternal Audience.  Hal did not speak much of himself; rather he opened himself up for questions.  He allowed Phans to ask him what they really wanted to know, rather than telling them something they already knew or did not wish to know.

Hal spoke fondly of Andrew Lloyd Webber and told stories about his coming to be director Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular.  When Andrew Lloyd Webber asked Hal what he thought about making a musical of the “Phantom of the Opera.” “I said I’ll do it…and he hadn’t even asked me.”

At the end of the session, Hal sat just outside the theatre, and signed items for the Phans.  A manuscript, a mask, the event badge.  Hal patiently signed what ever was placed before him, and chatting with Phans.  Hal seemed to enjoy this very much and it was wonderful to watch the fans interaction with Hal.

Hal has probably forgotten more than most people will ever know about theatrical producing and directing.  It was an honor and a privilege to meet such a respected and distinguished person in the world of theatre.  Thank you Hal, for sharing some of your special moments and memories with us, it was truly and unforgettable afternoon.

Camera Wench
“Have Camera… Will Travel”

Phantom’s Custom Theatre

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On Saturday, September 19, 09 I attended the session Phantom’s Custom Theatre.  This was a session where we would learn how the Phantom’s theatre was born, what made it special, and what it originally was.

Paul Kelly who was the Production Designer would be our guide on a fabulous look into the Phantom’s theatre.  Paul had worked with Maria Bjornson’s original designs for the theatre, and the he spoke of some of the challenges encountered in bringing that design to life.  Phans were even able to see scale models of theatre, which were 2:1, which meant every two inches on the model was the equivalent of one foot on the stage.  The stage is very large, sixty feet by fifty feet.

The theatre for the Phantom was custom-built, taking eleven months to complete and forty million dollars.  The theatre can hold one thousand eight hundred and fifteen theatre patrons… excluding the Eternal Audience of course. 

The theatre was designed as a replica of the Opera Garnier in Paris during the nineteenth century.  The design includes plush red seats, plush red curtains, gold statues, gold carvings, and a ceiling that was hand-painted.  To complete the feel of the Opera House, side boxes seat the Eternal Audience.  The Eternal Audience are real-life “wax spectators,” who were made in Belgium.  Each member of the Eternal Audience is an individual, with no two being alike and they wear period costumes… minus the shoes.  The Eternal Audience is barefoot.

The theatre was originally home to the Guggenheim Museum.  For the Phantom’s theatre to become a reality, the entire space was excavated.  This allowed the theatre to be built from the ground up.  This also ensured the theatre was designed perfectly to accommodate the vision of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Hal Prince for the Phantom.

The theatre has amazing sound quality, as the theatre is filled with surround sound speakers, sound comes up from the stage, and there is a live orchestra (which is almost unheard of in Las Vegas.) 

Paul allowed us to see some the sets under house light conditions.  What a beautiful display of craftmanship.  Every set piece was beautiful and very detailed.  One set was the exterior of the Paris Opera house.  This beautiful set was so detailed; one could see the shadows of the chandeliers in the windows.  This set can only be seen in the Phantom theatre here in Las Vegas.  Another Vegas twist is when fireworks explode over the exterior the Paris Opera house.

Paul showed us the scale models and how detailed they were.  From the exterior to the Paris Opera house, to the interior… every detail had been planned out.  Each scale model was extremely detailed, there was even complete detail on the External Audience.  Of course the model theatre needed the Phantom, and so there was even a miniature Phantom in ‘Box 5.’  Which we all know was to be kept empty for the Phantom’s exclusive use.

You could see the love and care Paul took in his part with the Phantom.  It was almost magically to hear him speak of the theatre.  He know the members of the Eternal Audience, almost where they sat.  Paul thank you for using your creative talents with the sets, and thank you to modern technology, which  allows theatre patrons to enjoy the beautiful theatre that the Phantom calls home.

Camera Wench
“Have Camera… Will Travel”

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