The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, The Really Useful Theatre Company, and Clearwater Entertainment announced their plans to host a special production of The Phantom of the Opera at a new $25 million, state of the art theater built specifically for the show.
The theater will be designed and built by David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group whose recent projects include the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, the W New York and W Union Square Hotels in New York, and the Motown Center in Detroit. David Rockwell's theatrical designs can be seen on Broadway in The Rocky Horror Show, Hairspray and the upcoming productions of All Shook Up and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
"The Phantom of the Opera is the jewel in the crown of the world's musical productions," said Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman of Las Vegas Sands, Inc., parent company of The Venetian. "The Venetian is extremely proud to add this masterpiece to the world's finest offerings for dining, shopping, art, luxury accommodations and now entertainment."
Rob Goldstein, president of The Venetian said, "The Venetian raised the bar for splendor on the Las Vegas Strip and will now elevate entertainment to a new level. This new production of The Phantom of the Opera will offer audiences a theatre of majesty and grandeur unlike any experienced in the world, to showcase the most successful musical ever."
"Bringing Phantom to Las Vegas in a dynamic setting like The Venetian is more than just an extraordinary event; it is a dramatic representation of how Clear Channel Entertainment is expanding the way we bring live entertainment to audiences beyond our traditional boundaries," said Brian Becker, Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Entertainment. "By teaming with creators like Andrew Lloyd Webber and resort owners like Sheldon Adelson, we can take outstanding content, develop it and deliver it in a new and exciting way."
The all new 90 minute version will open as a permanent show in the Spring of 2006, and will be directed by 20 time Tony Winner Hal Prince, who had this to say, "We're looking forward to a high old time adapting Phantom to a brand new theater, with the capability for some additional surprises. We've just begun to tackle the specific demands of this engagement, which we hope will keep us at The Venetian for decades!"
Phantom's composer Andrew Lloyd Webber had this to say about the development, "This is such an exciting development in the Phantoms's long life. I am looking forward to working again with Hal Prince on this special production for Las Vegas."
Phantom of the Opera has made $3 billion since its London Premiere in 1986 and has played over 65,000 performances. It tells the story of a deformed man who haunts the crypts of the Paris Opera House. The musical has been made into a film due in theatres this Christmas.
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