One of the most successful musicals of all time, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” has been playing on Broadway and London’s West End for nearly 20 years. It has dazzled more than 100 million people in 22 countries and has now become a major motion picture. This pictorial companion is the definitive account of the award–winning masterpiece, tracing the Phantom legend from its origins in historical fact, through numerous artistic incarnations, to the present–day theater production and film. Arranged in three parts, the first introduces the reader to Gaston Leroux’s classic story; the second part offers a unique insight into the acclaimed theater production, with backstage photos and commentary from the director, designers, and crew. The final section, which contains the original screenplay, looks at the making of Joel Schumacher’s film. It introduces the cast—Emmy Rossum, Gerard Butler, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver, Ciaran Hinds, and Simon Callow—and features exclusive photos and commentary. The Phantom of the Opera Companion is a splendid celebration of a classic story and its modern–day reincarnations.