Michael G Morales comes home to Tampa with ‘Phantom of the Opera’ as Straz Center
“Pretty cool,” was how Michael G. Morales began when asked about returning to his hometown of Tampa and “home theater” at the Straz Center with Phantom of the Opera.
Morales, who lives in Colorado now, is the stage manager on the spectacular new production starring Chris Mann as the title character.
The “Phantom of the Opera” opens at Tampa’s Straz Center photo/Brandon Jones
“It blew me away as a kid,” Michael recounted when describing his experience, seeing the production at the Straz when he was ten. Morales graduated from Plant High School and says it’s a “dream come true” to think about another “South Tampa kid watching” this incredible presentation.
We get to “amp up the spectacular show,” Morales says of this latest production, noting there are “200 surround sound speakers to completely immerse the audience” and “allow us to completely transform the set.”
Michael detailed the efforts to bring the Paris Opera House to life, “getting into every nook and cranny” and truly “areflect the gritty realness” of the famous venue.
Like the cast, Michael was “greatly inspired by Phantom” with an “appreciation of the orignal” so their goal is to “honor the story and music, which the audience knows and loves.”
Michael credits his grandmother, Carmen, for her inspiring words and support which still help him in his career today. He beamed while listing off her accomplishments, owning a dance studio, being a Hispanic Woman of the Year, saying she was just an “amazing woman.”
Tickets are now on sale for THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, which will play the Straz Center for the Performing Arts’ Morsani Hall, Dec. 17, 2014-Jan. 4, 2015, as part of the Bank of America Best of Broadway Tampa Bay series.
Get tickets HERE!
Mann will be joined by Katie Travis as ‘Christine Daaé,’ Storm Lineberger as ‘Raoul,’ Jacquelynne Fontaine as ‘Carlotta Giudicelli,’ David Benoit as ‘Monsieur Firmin,’ Edward Staudenmayer as ‘Monsieur André,’ Anne Kanengeiser as ‘Madame Giry,’ Frank Viveros as ‘Ubaldo Piangi’ and Morgan Cowling as ‘Meg Giry.’
For more information on the production and a video sneak peek, please visit www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com/USTour
Michael G Morales, “Phantom of the Opera” at the Straz Center photo/Brandon Jones
