Seeing one of my favorite musicals, Phantom of the Opera, in a Las Vegas environment, was a chance that I jumped at.

This Phantom is an all-new production, reuniting the original creative team of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Hal Prince.  It’s the same storyline, including all the songs, but has new staging and illusions that are perfectly Vegas-inspired.

Without giving away some of the twists and turns of the plot, the story basically is this:

Young Christine Daae, a member of the chorus at the Paris Opera House, becomes the protege of a mysterious man who lives in the underground world of the Opera House.  This mysterious phantom is a disfigured man who for years has extorted a monthly salary from the managers of the Opera House.  lives in the bowels of the opera house.  The phantom falls in love with young Christine, and mentors her career advancement in rather extreme ways.

To the phantom’s dismay, Christine falls in love with Raoul, setting up a love triangle played out in the opera house and in the phantom’s home in the opera house basement.  Unrequited love has never sounded so beautiful.

Even if you’ve seen Phantom of the Opera before, you’ll want to see this production, as it’s different in subtle ways.

From the minute you enter the Venetian’s Phantom Theater it’s like being in the Paris Opera House.  The attention to detail in the room, from the draped walls to the “people” in the boxes, all added to the feel of actually being in the opera house – a participant in the evening’s events rather than a mere observer.

You’ll find the plot line enhanced with special effects that are sure to impress.  The classic chandelier scene is spectacular, and the Phantom’s appearances and disappearances are entertaining and magical.  And that includes taking his final bow!

Shows are at 7 pm Monday – Saturday, with a second show at 9:30 pm on Monday and Saturday.  The theater is dark on Sunday.  Tickets can be purchased online, at the theater box office, or through your hotel concierge.  There are lots of special available, so it’s a good time to take in a show.

For me, much of the enduring feelings I have for this musical is wrapped up in the music.  After I saw the performance for the first time, I bought the CD.  For a few months I played it every day.  Eventually, the novelty wore off, but my enjoyment of the music did not.

To this day, despite seeing the performance a number of times, I often find myself quietly in tears as the final notes play.  I’m not a musician nor a singer, but I assume this is a slight approximation of what an artist must feel when they truly become one with their music.

Take a listen and enjoy the Music of the Night:

Image credits: Amazon