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Mike Ricci's Production of
The Phantom 

Cast

Erik (the Phantom)	. . .	Dave Ongaro
Christine Daeé (the Phantom’s protégé)	. . .	Amy Koivisto
Gerard Carriere (former manager of the Opera House)	. . .	Jack Zollar
Cholet (new manager of the Opera House)	. . .	Tim O'Reilly
Carlotta (the new diva; Cholet’s wife)	. . .	Mary Chiaravalle
Philippe, the Count de Chandon (in love with Christine)	. . .	John Rian
Inspector Ledoux (chief of the Pairs police)	. . .	Joe Galatz
Jean Claude (the stage manager)	. . .	Pet Pellinen
Belladova (the Phantom’s mother)	. . .	Louisa Guggisberg
Young Erik (the Phantom as a child)	. . .	Josh Milani
Fleure (a company gossip)	. . .	Beth Sajevic
Florence (another gossip)	. . .	Shannon Seeba
Flora (and yet another gossip)	. . .	Jennifer Brown
Joseph Buquet (Carlotta’s costumer)	. . .	Steve Cook
Minister of Culture	. . .	Andre Duclos
MENS ENSEMBLE Steve Bauer, Andre Duclos, Andy Zahorsky, Sam Given, Steve Cook, Patrick Martin, Ben Kampf, Ron Kampf, Pete Pellinen, Bill Lah
WOMENS ENSEMBLE Michelle Rhodes, Bernadette Pospeck, Katie Spooner, Beth Sajevic, Shannon Seeba, Mary Zahorsky, Sarah Nading, Julie Logue, Carol Zakula, Jennifer Brown, Jackie Sletta, Kathryn Rowe, Louisa Guggisberg
Members of the ensemble play various members of the opera company, police, the Phantom's Acolytes, First Nighters, Penitents, etc.

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Crew

Stage Manager		Linda Wald
Production Mgr./Asst. Tech Dir.	. . .	Mike Ricci
Technical Director/Sound Engineer	. . .	Dan Dolinar
Vocal Director	. . .	Bobbie Sajevic
Musical Director	. . .	Alex Mauldin
Set Design/ Scenic Artist/Masks	. . .	Ellie Ricci
Lighting Design	. . .	Lee Fiskness
Movement Coach	. . .	Lon Church
Costumes	. . .	Aristea and Panagiota Papaioannou, Mike Ricci, Bobbie Sajevic, Linda Wald
Props	. . .	Gretchen Mayer, Mike Ricci
Rehearsal Pianist	. . .	Diana Giombetti, Lanae Ronchetti
Pit Band Musicians	. . .	Alex Mauldin (first keyboards) Diana Giombetti (second keyboard) Joe Gibbon (guitars), Paul Hanson (percussion)
Set Construction	. . .	Dan Dolinar, Bill Lah, Dave Ongaro Mike Ricci, Sammy Lah, Bernadette Pospeck, Ellie Ricci, Jason Osterman
Lightboard Operator	. . .	Gary Olson
Projection Operator	. . .	Shara Nading
Shift Crew	. . .	Mike Ball (crew chief), Jon Stone, Nick Tepovich, Roger Philbrick, Tim Manns, Emanuel Jackson, Bill Lah, Steve Cook, Simon Nading
Dressers	. . .	Aristea Papaioannou, Jamie Anderson
Billboard Artwork	. . .	Ellie Ricci
Box Office	. . .	Barb Suech

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Director Notes

 The Phantom of the Opera story has been with us for over a century now, and it has passed into the pantheon of horror myths, much like Frankenstein and Dracula. All of these stories are based on novels written at a time when the world as we know it today was in its infancy, where mystery surrounded the unknown, and unknowable. Our place in that world was defined in terms of black and white; there was little room for gray.

The Phantom of the Opera was written by Frenchmen Gaston Leroux, who used his experience as a public servant to write the account of a castoff from society who lives deep beneath the Paris Opera House. His deformed face has kept him hidden from the world above, and his seclusion feeds his need for human contact. Into his life comes a young singer, whose beauty and innocence touch him, and whose love of music appeals to his own sensitivity to the beauty he tries to create in his own world. Too soon, he discovers that he is to be denied this beauty, and the inevitable tragic turn of events soon follows.

In creating the world of the Phantom on our stage, I've had help from many dedicated people who were committed to making this production as amazing as possible. I owe a big dept of gratitude first of all to my talented wife Ellie, who has come up with another inspiring set design and who painted every detail on stage - to Dan Dolinar, whose technical knowledge and commitment to excellence makes all this possible, to Bobbi Sajevic, whose passion for music creates vocal magic, to my good friend Alex Mauldin, who once again made the trip from North Carolina to northern Minnesota to share his musical talents with all of us, to Lee Fiskness, whose lighting expertise makes everything look better, to Diana Giombetti, whose musical talents go far beyond playing the piano, to Linda Wald, who keeps it all together for everyone backstage, and to all of the wonderful cast and crew members who have given so unselfishly of their time and talent to bring you this very special production. I have learned over the years that my job is made easier if I surround myself with good people whom I can trust - and I have been blessed with having all of these people in my life at this time. This is our gift to you.

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Play Photos

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