Phantom of the Opera Facts and Notes

I. Setting: Paris Opera House

1. In ______, Napoleon III, ruler of ______, held a contest to find an ______to build an opera house.

2. Charles Garnier won the ______& became the architect of the ______. Construction began in 1861.

II. Construction: Paris Opera House

1. An underground ______was found running through the site.

a. A steam ______worked for 8 ______, 24 hours a day to dry it out.

b. An underground ______was created.

c. The underground lake was used for ______stage machinery (to ______costumes, scenery, etc. to stage level).

2. Construction stopped in ______due to the Franco ______War (from 1870-71) & to lack of money.

III. History of the Opera House

1. The unfinished Opera house was used as an ______& to store ______, supplies, & 1 million liters of wine.

2. France lost the war. Unfinished building taken over by ______classes.

a. Used as an ______post, communications ______, & commune (community living space).

b. Used as a ______prison.

3. Completed opera house opened on ______(Napoleon III ______got to use it).

4. It cost 47 ______francs (French money) in ______to build the Opera House - at today's exchange rate = over 54 million US dollars or over 10 million Euros.

IV. Facts: Paris Opera House

1.It's the largest ______for opera in the world (but only seats ______).

2. There are 4 ______to the building

a.Stage: ______ft. wide (side to side) x ______ft. deep (front to back).

b.Foyer: (like a ______).

c.Grand Staircase: (horseshoe ______with ______chandeliers)

d. Lounges: (Napoleon's ______area)

3. Dimensions of the Opera House.

a. 17 ______(7 stories were ______street level).

b. 118,500 sq. ft. on 3 ______of land.

c. Had a ______staff of 1500 with 2 ______schools, 80 ______

rooms, & apartments for ______.

4. The chandelier in the ______of the auditorium had 7 ______of metalwork & glass, & contained 400 bulbs.

V. Important People: Gaston Leroux (the author)

1. Gaston Leroux is the ______of Phantom of the Opera.

A. Born ______in Paris, France.

B. He won many ______awards.

C. He earned a ______degree in ______.

D. Worked as a court ______, theater ______, & newspaper journalist.

E. Began writing short stories, ______& fiction in ______(his favorite authors were Edgar Allan Poe & Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

F. He is known for writing French ______fiction & formed his own ______co. in 1909.

G. When his father died he left him 1 ______francs - Gaston spent it all on ______& gambling; he became bankrupt.

H. In 1911 he wrote the ______Phantom of the Opera. He also wrote ______& fantasy novels.

I. He married twice & had one ______, Madeleine & one son, ______.

J. He died on ______from complications of ______.

VI. Evolution of PhantomMovie versions:

A. 1st ______version of Phantom of the Opera released by ______Studios, 1924.

B. It was a ______& white movie

C. Lon Chaney was the ______who played the ______.

2. The ______version had ______, singing, color, & the ______was changed.

3. A 1962 movie version was made as a ______film.

4. The 1974 ______musical version of the story was called Phantom of the ______. The Phantom resides in a concert hall called "The Paradise."

5. The 1983 TV version was set in ______& not in Paris.

VII. Musical Version of Phantom

1. In 1986 the ______play version of Phantom opened in ______, England. It opened on Broadway in 1988.

2. The musical was written by ______.

A. He was born in 1948 in ______, England. He wrote the ______play version in 1983.

B. Andrew's father was a famous ______& composer in London. His ______was a violinist & pianist.

C. Andrew has written 13 musicals & is still writing ______.

D. He owns 7 London ______.

E. He has received ______, Academy, ______, & Golden Globe Awards.

3. Andrew is famous for writing these ______plays: Cats, Evita, Jesus Christ ______, & Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.

4. Andrew was ______by Queen ______in 1992.

5. He wrote a musical ______to Phantom of the Opera in ______titled Love Never Dies.

6. He is currently working on a musical play version of ______.

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