I'm going to be directing (and doing costumes, makeup, etc.) a play for people in my area. The play is Phantom of the Opera. Not too sure what the chances are of finding a Phantom/Christine who look, act, and sing the part...so it might not be a musical. Any ideas at all? What about costs? Should I do a fund-raiser???
I think I'm going to do a modern-day.
By the way, Phantom of the Opera is public domain. The creator died over 50 years ago, so it's not copyrighted anymore.
Ideas for Phantom of the Opera play?
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Heart of Sword - Posts: 2201
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Hmm, I would say that on a small scale, it's going to be nearly impossible to produce a good PotO immitation. I would change it enough that it's somewhat original, and that people aren't comparing it to the movie. A modern day version would achieve that affect, and the costumes wouldn't have to be so extravagant (and thus, cost less 
.) I think you're probably right, unless you can find a lot of good singers, you'll probably have to drop the musical aspect all together, but you might be able to think about interesting ways to replace it.
What kind of budget are you doing this on? If you're thinking of doing a fund-raiser, you're definitely going to be really limited in what you can do.
.) I think you're probably right, unless you can find a lot of good singers, you'll probably have to drop the musical aspect all together, but you might be able to think about interesting ways to replace it.
What kind of budget are you doing this on? If you're thinking of doing a fund-raiser, you're definitely going to be really limited in what you can do.
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Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
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High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
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Yumie - Posts: 1939
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Are you sure Andrew Llyod Webber died 50 years ago?? He was born in 1948.... Phantom was created in 1986, according to Wikipedia.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
[indent]~~Gandalf, in Fellowship of the Ring[/indent]
[indent]~~Gandalf, in Fellowship of the Ring[/indent]
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EireWolf - Posts: 2496
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EireWolf wrote:Are you sure Andrew Llyod Webber died 50 years ago?? He was born in 1948.... Phantom was created in 1986, according to Wikipedia.
Better tell Lon Chaney... he starred in the 1925 film version of the Phantom...
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." -- C.S. Lewis
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ClosetOtaku - Posts: 927
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I don't think Andrew Lloyd Weber made the orignal version. I think he recreated it.
*insert poem, quote, or witty comment here*
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"If it doesn't fit, you must edIT! -- [color=#cc3322]MOES."[/color]
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meboeck - Posts: 1311
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Hmm, I would say that on a small scale, it's going to be nearly impossible to produce a good PotO immitation. I would change it enough that it's somewhat original, and that people aren't comparing it to the movie. A modern day version would achieve that affect, and the costumes wouldn't have to be so extravagant (and thus, cost less .)
Yeah, it's set in a neighborhood, with casual clothing.
What kind of budget are you doing this on? If you're thinking of doing a fund-raiser, you're definitely going to be really limited in what you can do.
I'll probably ask for donations from the people in the play, too. It'll also cost a little bit of money to see it; probably 5 dollars. I'll also ask the audience if they want to make a donation to help pay for the money we'll spend making it.
Are you sure Andrew Llyod Webber died 50 years ago?? He was born in 1948.... Phantom was created in 1986, according to Wikipedia.
ALW doesn't own the Phantom; he only owns the musical score. Phantom of the Opera was written a LONG time ago, and the author died. 50 years after his death, POTO became public domain. ^^
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Heart of Sword - Posts: 2201
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Back to the topic at hand:
First, I don't recommend a musical. Some people will see that and believe they are getting the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical, and when they don't, they will be disappointed. Of course, if you change the title to something slightly different, you might get away with it. But I wouldn't attempt anything on par with ALW's Phantom of the Opera.
Second, it doesn't even sound like you have a script yet. Suggest you invest some time in developing the script prior to estimating costs.
Third, if you want to do modern day, that would be great, but how do you improve on the story line? What is different between now and then? Would a modern-day "Phantom" be as believable? It's a Gothic novel, 19th-century type stuff. How would you bring it up to date, and how would the story line change?
I have a few ideas, but they might be better by PM...
First, I don't recommend a musical. Some people will see that and believe they are getting the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical, and when they don't, they will be disappointed. Of course, if you change the title to something slightly different, you might get away with it. But I wouldn't attempt anything on par with ALW's Phantom of the Opera.
Second, it doesn't even sound like you have a script yet. Suggest you invest some time in developing the script prior to estimating costs.
Third, if you want to do modern day, that would be great, but how do you improve on the story line? What is different between now and then? Would a modern-day "Phantom" be as believable? It's a Gothic novel, 19th-century type stuff. How would you bring it up to date, and how would the story line change?
I have a few ideas, but they might be better by PM...
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." -- C.S. Lewis
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ClosetOtaku - Posts: 927
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:12 am
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First, I don't recommend a musical. Some people will see that and believe they are getting the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical, and when they don't, they will be disappointed. Of course, if you change the title to something slightly different, you might get away with it. But I wouldn't attempt anything on par with ALW's Phantom of the Opera.
Thanks for the tip. It won't be all musical. There might be a couple of songs in there, though. The title will be different but I have no ideas...and I will make it clear that it's not the ALW musical.
Second, it doesn't even sound like you have a script yet. Suggest you invest some time in developing the script prior to estimating costs.
I have enough of an idea of what I want to do to know how much it'll cost. I don't have a script yet, though. I might ask one of my "phriends" for help.
Third, if you want to do modern day, that would be great, but how do you improve on the story line? What is different between now and then? Would a modern-day "Phantom" be as believable? It's a Gothic novel, 19th-century type stuff. How would you bring it up to date, and how would the story line change?
Most likely, the Phantom is going to be goth, and depressed. Raoul's probably going to be a jock. I don't know what Christine will be like. (Raoul will be somewhat parodied because I personally can't stand the guy. I'll probably end up favoring the Phantom/Erik.)
I've read a few modern-day fan-fics, so I might use a few of those ideas.
I have a few ideas, but they might be better by PM...
That'd be great. ^^
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Heart of Sword - Posts: 2201
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meboeck wrote:I don't think Andrew Lloyd Weber made the orignal version. I think he recreated it.
AH! I see. Gomen nasai.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
[indent]~~Gandalf, in Fellowship of the Ring[/indent]
[indent]~~Gandalf, in Fellowship of the Ring[/indent]
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EireWolf - Posts: 2496
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Heart of Sword - Posts: 2201
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I see that I should have read the Wikipedia article more thoroughly:
In 1986, he premiered his next musical, The Phantom of the Opera, inspired by the 1911 Gaston Leroux novel.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
[indent]~~Gandalf, in Fellowship of the Ring[/indent]
[indent]~~Gandalf, in Fellowship of the Ring[/indent]
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EireWolf - Posts: 2496
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The novel was weird...the Phantom was a lot crazier than he is in the play/movie...O___o;;
Any other ideas?
I'm definitely going to have an American Idol thing. I could ruin part of the surprise, since a lot of you won't be seeing it...actually...I guess I could post a video of it on the Internet. Hmm.
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Heart of Sword - Posts: 2201
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I would be very careful not to bite off more than you can chew. I have been involved in a bit of theater and it takes a HUGE ammount of work. Have you ever directed before? If not I would seriously suggest tackling somethings significantly smaller first. Dont get me wrong, I think it is great that you have the drive to try something like this, but Phantom of the Opera is a really complex story and I suspect it would be longer than one act, and the longer a play is the harder it is to pull off. Good luck if you try it, but perhaps you should reevaluate your plans.
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Scribs - Posts: 2722
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Here`s one:
Don`t submit it to Hollywood.
I don't plan on it.
I would be very careful not to bite off more than you can chew. I have been involved in a bit of theater and it takes a HUGE ammount of work. Have you ever directed before? If not I would seriously suggest tackling somethings significantly smaller first. Dont get me wrong, I think it is great that you have the drive to try something like this, but Phantom of the Opera is a really complex story and I suspect it would be longer than one act, and the longer a play is the harder it is to pull off. Good luck if you try it, but perhaps you should reevaluate your plans.
I haven't directed before. But the way I'm going to POTO isn't going to take much skill. It'll be fairly long, but not a 3-hour-one.
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Heart of Sword - Posts: 2201
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