Hi, I'm Christopher Rokosz, actor, director of both stage and screen. I want to tell you
a little bit about who composed the Phantom of the Opera. Actually there were actually
two composers, one is Ken Hill with the Ken Hill version of Phantom of the Opera. And
also the very popular Andrew Lloyd Webber, who, well produced the Andrew Lloyd Webber
version musical of the Phantom of the Opera. Both adapted from the 1909 novel by Gaston
Leroux. Originally published in French, translated into English in nineteen-eleven. Andrew Lloyd
Webber, a prolific composer. He won seven Tony awards, three Grammy awards, an Academy
Award, a Golden Globe award. In nineteen-ninety-two he was knighted. He also got the Kennedy Center
Honor Award. There may be other awards that I'm even forgetting. So he's well renowned,
also, his London based theater company, one of my favorite names for theater companies,
the Really Useful Theater Company as opposed to the Not Useful at All Theater Company.
I think I worked with them in Tampa. But seriously, Lloyd Webber did an excellent job. He has
a knack for putting together very popular musicals, sometimes not as critically acclaimed
as, you know, as other composers. Now you're saying to yourself, well Chris, you've listed
those litany of awards, sure, but we know sometimes awards don't necessarily mean directly
to critically acclaimed talent. I enjoy, I enjoy almost all of his musicals but specifically
the Phantom of the Opera holds a special place in my heart, those powerful driving beats
of the main overture and the title score, to the very high tubular bells inside of it.
It's an absolutely wonderful show, so if you like Phantom of the Opera, check out Lloyd
Webber, check out his other work and give Ken Hill a try too. I'm Christopher Rokosz.