From Universal Studios Home Entertainment: The Phantom of the Opera Live at Royal Albert Hall

From Universal Studios Home Entertainment: The Phantom of the Opera Live at Royal Albert Hall

THE LONGEST-RUNNING BROADWAY MUSICAL OF ALL TIME CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF ROMANCE WITH A SPECTACULAR LIVE PRODUCTION ON ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST LEGENDARY STAGES

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience Available on Blu-ray(TM), DVD and On Demand from Universal Studios Home Entertainment on February 7, 2012

<font size="2" face="Arial"></font><font size="2" face="Arial"> </font>

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadway's longest-running production of all time celebrates a triumphant quarter century on stage with The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, coming to Blu-ray(TM)( )- with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound- DVD, On Demand and Digital Download on February 7, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. On October 2, 2011, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh marked the 25th anniversary of their beloved musical extravaganza, "The Phantom of the Opera," with a lavishly staged production at London's legendary Royal Albert Hall that was beamed live via satellite to cinemas across the globe. The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall marks the first time a live performance of the blockbuster musical has been made available for home viewing, making it a must-have anniversary release for fans everywhere.

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall stars Ramin Karimloo (2011 Olivier Award nominee for Best Actor in a Musical for "Love Never Dies") as the lovestruck Phantom and Sierra Boggess (2011 Olivier Award nominee for Best Actress in a Musical for "Love Never Dies") as the beautiful and gifted soprano Christine. The show also features Barry James, Gareth Snook, Liz Robertson and Wynne Evans, as well as special guest appearances from the actors who originated the roles of The Phantom and Christine, Tony® Award winner Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, in a memorable final curtain call.

"Phantom" aficionados will also be thrilled to know that "Love Never Dies," Andrew Lloyd Webber's spectacular follow-up musical will also arrive on Blu-ray(TM)( )and DVD for the first time on February 7. With lush visuals and a mesmerizing score that rivals the original in power and beauty, this live production of "Love Never Dies" finds Christine and the Phantom reunited in turn-of-the-century New York City after a decade apart.

"The Phantom of the Opera" premiered at Her Majesty's Theatre in London on October 9, 1986. It has won more than 60 major theatre awards, including seven Tony® Awards and three Olivier Awards, and became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance. "The Phantom of the Opera" has grossed over $5.6 billion worldwide and been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries. Live productions of "The Phantom of the Opera"are currently playing in London, New York, Budapest, Las Vegas and Kyoto.

BLU-RAY(TM) AND DVD BONUS FEATURES:

-- The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall
-- "Getting Past the Point of No Return:" A behind-the-scenes "Making
Of" feature starring the cast and crew.
-- Love Never Dies
-- "Making Of" Featurette: Take a look behind the scenes at Andrew
Lloyd Webber's breathtaking sequel.

SYNOPSIS: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL

Lurking beneath the glamor and spectacle of the Paris Opera House, the horribly disfigured Phantom, once a promising musician, now terrorizes the opera company. Shamed by his physical appearance and feared by all, the Phantom is drawn to the beautiful ingénue Christine Daae and begins coaching her secretly, as a tragic romance unfolds between the unlikely pair. This dazzling live restaging of the original production recreates the jaw-dropping scenery and breathtaking special effects of the original, set to Andrew Lloyd Webber's haunting score.

SYNOPSIS: LOVE NEVER DIES

The year is 1907. It is 10 years after the Phantom's disappearance from the Paris Opera House. He has escaped to a new life in New York where he lives amongst the screaming joy rides and freak-shows of Coney Island. In this new electrically-charged world, he has finally found a place for his music to soar. All that is missing is his love - Christine Daae. Now one of the world's finest sopranos, Christine is struggling in an ailing marriage to Raoul. So, it is with excitement she accepts an invitation to travel to New York and perform at a renowned opera house. In a final bid to win back her love, the Phantom lures Christine, her husband, and their young son Gustave from Manhattan, to the glittering and glorious world of Coney Island... not knowing what is in store for them.

CAST AND FILMMAKERS
: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT ROYAL
ALBERT HALL
-----------------------------------------
Cast
: Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess, Hadley
Fraser, Barry James, Wendy Ferguson, Gareth
Snook, Liz Robertson, Wynne Evans, Sergei
Polunin
--------------------------------------------
Producer
: Cameron Mackintosh
---------------------
Music by
: Andrew Lloyd Webber
----------------------
Lyrics by
: Charles Hart
---------------
Book by
: Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber
------------------------------------------
Based on the novel
:
Le Fantome de L'Opera
by Gaston Leroux
----------------
Additional lyrics by
: Richard Stilgoe
-----------------
Film Directed by:
Nick Morris
-----------
Stage Production Directed by
: Laurence Connor based on the original
London Production directed by Hal Prince
-----------------------------------------
Musical Staging and Choreography
: Gillian Lynne
---------------
Lighting
: Patrick Woodroffe and Andrew Bridge
--------------------------------------
Sound
: Mick Potter

---
Set Design
: Matt Kinley, inspired by Maria Bjornson's
original design for the stage
--------------------------------------------

CAST AND FILMMAKERS
:
LOVE NEVER DIES
---------------
Cast:
Ben Lewis, Anna O'Byrne, Maria Mercedes, Simon
Gleeson, Sharon Millerchip, Emma J Hawkins,
Paul Tabone, Dean Vince
----------------------------------------------
Composer:
Andrew Lloyd Webber
-------------------
Lyrics & Book
: Glenn Slater
---------------
Book:
Ben Elton, Frederick Forsyth
----------------------------
Additional Lyrics:
Charles Hart
------------

CAST AND FILMMAKERS CONT.
:
LOVE NEVER DIES
---------------
Director:

Simon Phillips
--------------
Choreographer:
Graeme Murphy AM
----------------
Set & Costume Designer:
Gabriela Tylesova
-----------------
Lighting Designer:
Nick Schlieper
--------------
Musical Supervisor:
Guy Simpson
-----------

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
BLU-RAY(TM)
: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT ROYAL
ALBERT HALL
----------------------------------------
Street Date:
February 7, 2012
----------------
Copyright
: 2012 Universal Studios
-------------------------
Selection Number
: 61121260 (U.S.)/61121766 (Canada)
-----------------------------------
Running Time
: 2 hours, 40 minutes
----------------------
Layers
: BD-50
--------
Aspect Ratio
: 1.78:1
---------
Rating
: N/A
------
Languages/Subtitles
: English SDH, French, Spanish, German,
Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Portuguese,
Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Turkish,
Icelandic, Cantonese, Mandarin
----------------------------------------------
Sound
: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
----------------------------------

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
BLU-RAY(TM):
LOVE NEVER DIES
---------------
Street Date:
February 7, 2012
Copyright
: 2012 Universal Studios
-------------------------
Selection Number:
61121301 (U.S.)/61121768 (Canada)
-----------------------------------
Running Time
: 2 hours, 1 minute
--------------------
Layers
: BD-50
--------
Aspect Ratio
: 1.78:1
---------
Rating
: N/A
------
Languages/Subtitles
: English SDH, French Canadian, Spanish
----------------------------------------
Sound
: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/Dolby
Digital 2.0
----------------------------------------

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD:
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT ROYAL ALBERT
HALL

---
Street Date:
February 7, 2012
----------------
Copyright
: 2012 Universal Studios
-------------------------
Selection Number
: 61121259 (U.S.)/61121767 (Canada)
------------------------------------
Running Time
: 2 hours, 40 minutes
----------------------
Layers
: DVD-9
--------
Aspect Ratio
: 1.78.1
---------
Rating
: N/A
------
Languages/Subtitles
: English SDH, French, Spanish
-------------------------------
Sound
: English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby
Digital 2.0
-------------------------------------------

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD:
LOVE NEVER DIES
---------------
Street Date:
February 7, 2012
----------------
Copyright
: 2012 Universal Studios
-------------------------
Selection Number
: 61121300 (U.S.)/ 61121769 (Canada)
------------------------------------
Running Time
: 2 hours, 1 minute
--------------------
Layers
: Dual Layer
-------------
Aspect Ratio
: 1.78.1
---------
Rating
: N/A
------
Languages/Subtitles
: English SDH, French Canadian, Spanish
----------------------------------------
Sound
: English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby
Digital 2.0
-------------------------------------------

For artwork please log on to our website at
www.ushepublicity.com
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal , one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, newsand information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations groupand world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.

CONTACT: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENTJennifer BlackExecutive Director, Publicity(818) 777-0546Jennifer.Black@nbcuni.com

SOURCE Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Web Site: http://www.universalstudios.com

-------
Profile: intent