'Phantom' Nearly Sold Out at Parkland

Parkland High School director Frank Anonia wanted to give his thespians a real a challenge for the 2013 spring musical. So, he came up with a doozy for this year's production, one that the Parkland community has latched onto with great excitement.

The school will present five shows of "Phantom of the Opera," from Wednesday, April 10 through Sunday, April 14 at the Parkland High School auditorium.

"This is not the student version. This is the real Broadway show," Anonia said. "People are eager to see what we can do with this kind of show. The community has rallied around this, given the name and magnitude of the show. We've never done five shows before. The most we've done is four."

The five-show stand is nearly sold out. Limited tickets remain for the Wednesday, April 10 performance, but the Thursday, Friday and Saturday night shows and the Sunday matinee are sold out.

Remaining tickets ($10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors) can be purchased by downloading the order form at http://www.parklandsd.org/departments/arts/ticket-information/

The operatic production of Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel is a love triangle set in and around an old opera house revolving around the Phantom (played by senior William Marshall), Raoul de Chagny (played by senior Adam Groff) and the young Christine Daae (played by senior Elizabeth Stirba).

To say 'Phantom,' is one of the most challenging undertakings by Parkland thespians is an understatement. Consider that 52 cast members, 23 crew members and 44 pit musicians will take part in the production. And every one of them are needed.

"Everything about the show is just big," Anonia said. "It's the most challenging production yet, because every aspect of it has some degree of difficulty."

Set crews will be challenged with, among other normal things, a fog machine, a boat, moving candelabras and a crashing chandelier.

The cast must deal with a show that's 90 percent singing and 10 percent dialogue. But, they appear up to the task.

"It's pushed me in terms of vocal ability, but working with a great director, anything is possible," said Groff, who is in his third Parkland production. "What I like most about my character is that he's a guy that's always in charge. Whenever I step into a scene, I feel like I have authority."

Stirba, in her seventh show at Parkland, called Christine Daae her dream role.

"I've seen it on Broadway and know a lot about it, so it's not too difficult to pick up," Stirba said. "I really enjoy singing the classical music. It's not as difficult as if I were belting music from my chest. I love the character, because she's not very mean; she's sweet and cares about other people."

The anthesis of that is Marshall, who stars as the Phantom.

"It's great. He has a mean and angry style that's more than enjoyable to play on stage," said Marshall, who is participating in his seventh Parkland show.

"(The role) is pretty challenging, vocally demanding, but the name of the game is consistency," he said. "It's very rewarding, hard and difficult, but in the end, it's always worth it."

And, could the challenging production reward the cast and crew with a bevy of Freddy Awards come May?

"It's always in the back of my mind, but that's not what I strive for," Groff said.