Phantom heads to Milton Keynes Theatre

HAILED as one of the greatest musicals of all time Cameron Mackintosh’s incredible new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s phenomenal The Phantom of the Opera is coming to Milton Keynes Theatre this autumn.

It’s the first time the spectacular has visited MKT and it’s taking up residence on October 24 for nearly five weeks - even so tickets, which went on sale on Wednesday, are expected to sell out quickly.

Phantom will star Earl Carpenter as The Phantom and Katie Hall as Christine.

Cameron Mackintosh said: “With an exciting new design and staging, retaining Maria Björnson’s amazing costumes, be the first to surrender to the music of the night and fall in love with the Phantom in his new guise all over again.”

On January 9, 2006 Phantom became the longest running show in Broadway history when it celebrated its 7,486th performance, surpassing the previous record holder Cats. In October 2010 the London production celebrated its 10,000th performance.

Phantom has won more than 60 major theatre awards, including seven Tonys on Broadway and three Olivier Awards in the West End. Worldwide the musical has grossed over £3.2 billion and the box office revenues are higher than any film or stage play in history, including Titanic, ET, Star Wars and Avatar. It has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries and played to over 130 million people.

The theatre has also announced its summer season this week and its full of dance, drama, comedy and musical theatre.

The award-winning West End sensation Legally Blonde which scored a huge success at Aylesbury’s Waterside recently leads the programme along with Sister Act, starring Corrie’s Denise Black and Brookside favourite Michael Starke and a return of Chicago.

There’s the return of the Agatha Christie Theatre Company with Murder on the Nile, the writer’s own stage adaptation of her book Death on the Nile, and don’t forget your hanky for the heart-warming and bittersweet comedy, Steel Magnolias.

Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, stars of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, are back with Midnight Tango while Danza Contemporanea de Cuba combine Afro-Caribbean and Spanish fusion to produce an electrifying, evocative and distinctly unique expression evoking the sensual, mystical and raw heart of Cuban spirit.

Shows for the autumn include The Mousetrap, Blood Brothers, English National Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty and Glyndebourne on Tour.

Tickets for all shows from the box office, 0844 8717652 or visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes.