Hal Leonard Hosts Phantom Cast
Actors Tour Milwaukee Headquarters of the World's Largest Music Print Publisher
MILWAUKEE - Company and crew from the acclaimed national traveling production of The Phantom of the Opera usually take time out of their rehearsal and performance schedules to see the highlights of the cities they visit. Among the Milwaukee must-sees for these musical actors was the world headquarters of Hal Leonard Corporation.
Hal Leonard Chairman and CEO Keith Mardak gave an overview of the music print industry. He told the story of how Hal Leonard went from a three-man operation in Winona, Minnesota in the 1940s to the industry juggernaut it is today. President Larry Morton touched on the company's endeavors in both the digital and gear distribution realms, then VP of National Sales David Jahnke escorted the cast to the various production departments, following the trajectory that a publication takes.
The tour was a homecoming of sorts for one Phantom actor, Grace Morgan, who plays the part of the Princess and is the understudy for the lead role of Christine. Grace, who hails from Indiana, has been singing professionally since the age of 6, beginning at the studio of gospel music legend Bill Gaither.
She and her siblings have soloed on many recordings for Hal Leonard in the Broadway Junior and Getting To Know (G2K) series of school musicals for kids, including Pirates of Penzance, Jr.; G2K...Once Upon a Mattress; Singin' in the Rain, Jr.; G2K...State Fair; and G2K...Oklahoma. Grace has also done recordings for McGraw-Hill's Spotlight on Music textbooks, and for many Hal Leonard original school musicals.
According to Hal Leonard Managing Producer John Higgins, "We honestly can't even count the number of publications on which Grace has sung, but her wonderful vocal performances have certainly helped inspire a new generation of kids to become interested in musical theater. We are proud that this rising Broadway star has contributed so much to our company."
Andrew Lloyd Webber debuted The Phantom of the Opera in 1986. This stirring tale of unrequited love between a young singer and her mysterious suitor is the most successful musical of all time, and is Broadway's longest running show. Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production is now touring North America and continues to capture the imagination of millions.
Hal Leonard has represented Andrew Lloyd Webber's music in print - via his company The Really Useful Group - since 1987. Hal Leonard has nearly 100 publications available for The Phantom of the Opera alone.
Photo: Members of the Phantom of the Opera cast and the Hal Leonard staff share their "Phantom" faces.