What: Paul Stanley plays the role of The Phantom of The Opera

Where: Toronto, Canada - The Pantages Theatre

When:May 25 through August 1st & September 28 through October 31.

Ticket Info: Box Office -- 244 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1B8.
Hours: Mon - Sat 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sun 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Livent Line: (416) 872-2222
Tickets Online

Webpage: Livnt Phamtom of the Opera website

November 3

August 24

Paul Stanley Phantom Note
From: Paul Boyd
A special note to those who order tickets to see Paul Stanley in the Phantom of the Opera here in Toronto, it is noted in all the advertisements that Paul Stanley will NOT play the Phantom on Friday, October 29th, 1999 due to a previous commitment.

June 9

June 1

KISS of the Phantom
From: Toronto Star
By Ben Rayner - Toronto Star Pop Music Critic
Rock band vocalist throws everything into his new gig.
From KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park to Phantom Of The Opera. There's actually a fair amount of continuity between Paul Stanley's best-known role as the double-entendre-spewing lead vocalist for enduring rock cartoons KISS and his latest endeavour, playing (as of tonight) the title character in Andew Lloyd Webber's equally enduring theatrical spectacle at the Pantages Theatre. Both ventures, after all, jibe nicely with Stanley's personal philosophy of ``entertainment in capital letters,'' favouring grandness and pyrotechnic flash over, say, subtlety and evocative minimalism. KISS and Phantom, too, have both weathered years of critical abuse to amass millions in album and ticket sales. Those same critics and Phantom die-hards are no doubt itching to take a few shots at Stanley's first foray into musical theatre. But the budding thespian, who got the part after a ``full-on'' audition in New York in January, is throwing everything into his new gig to ensure he has the last laugh. ``I'm not one who ventures into areas I don't plan on winning,'' says the surprisingly soft-spoken Stanley, 47, pausing for a chat at a downtown hotel between rehearsals, voice lessons and all-important mask fittings. ``No guts, no glory. The philosophy that will get you the farthest in life is the one that dares you the most. ``I think we're innately fully aware of what we're capable of doing, and that it's up to us to confirm our gut instinct.'' Stanley's gut instinct has told him he could do musical theatre since he first caught a production of Phantom in London 11 years ago, an experience he compares to seeing The Beatles for the first time. ``I felt like `Mmm, I can do that,' '' he recalls. ``I see it as a stretch, but not something that's so shocking. Musically, I'm a singer who sings rock, not a rock singer. So with some adjustments and some modifications, it's a perfect role . . . KISS is my vehicle, but it's not the only car on the road or the only car I want to drive.''
Click Here To Read The Rest of The Interview!

May 31

Charmed by Phantom's KISS
From: Toronto Sun via Francesco Gucciardo and Steve Araki
By Jane Stevenson -- Toronto Sun
Paul Stanley knows a little something about giving the fans what they want
Like Gene Simmons, his loud-mouth cohort in veteran glam-rock band KISS, the chatty but more refined Paul Stanley has never met a journalist he didn't like. So it would appear when Stanley sat down recently to discuss his surprising career move into theatre as the star of the long-running Toronto production of The Phantom Of The Opera. It opens with him at the Pantages Theatre on Wednesday night after previews this past week. Stanley screams rock star on this particular day, in a black leather outfit with his shirt undone to just above his belly button. He's also wearing silver hoop earrings. As I take notes, he rattles off his breakfast menu. "He orders Earl Grey tea, frosted flakes, skim milk, and an English muffin," says Stanley with a smile as I sit opposite him in a restaurant at a downtown hotel that's been his home for the last month during Phantom rehearsals. "You've done this before," I joke. Ah yes, the promotional machinery that has been KISS for the last 27 year doesn't suddenly disappear just because Stanley has traded in his platform boots, black spandex and Kabuki makeup for an opera mask and a black-tie ensemble. If anything, Stanley is selling himself even harder because he knows there are skeptics out there -- Entertainment Weekly referred to his casting as "talk about a Phantom Menace" -- who doubt his ability to perform without pyrotechnics. "I've always liked the challenge of breaking the rules and breaking tradition, and also winning at the game," says Stanley, 47. "I don't make a habit of doing things where I look foolish. I may have people scratching their heads when I do something but, by the end, they're usually well rewarded." And is there really that much of a difference between singing the KISS anthem Lick It Up and The Phantom's signature song, Music Of The Night? "It's related obviously," admits Stanley. "And yet it takes re-orientation. I've always thought of myself as a singer who sings rock as opposed to a rock singer. So in doing Phantom it gives me a chance to explore another facet." Stanley, who was on the road with the KISS Psycho Circus tour when he got the call in January to audition in New York, first saw Phantom in London back in 1988. He has seen it several times since, including twice in Toronto with his predecessor, Quebec singer Rene Simard. Stanley, who takes over the role until Aug. 1, will be followed by actor Jeff Hyslop as Phantom wraps up its 10-year run in September. Unlike Simard and Hyslop, Stanley has a healthy built-in audience. His visit to the Mike Bullard's Open Mike show caused KISS fans to start lining up outside the Masonic Temple at 10 a.m., while about 600 people showed up at Tower Records last weekend for an in-store appearance. Even Livent's ads for Stanley's Phantom run exclaim: "You can't escape his KISS!"
Click Here To Read The Rest Of The Interview!

May 27

May 26

Here's my review of Paul Stanley's opening night as the Phantom of the Opera. Tonight was a very cool night! Paul Stanley did his first performance as the Phantom of the Opera at the Pantages Theatre in Toronto. Here's what happened....Walking into the theatre was all that was needed to know that this wasn't just another Phantom of the Opera. I saw the production 9 years ago and something here was definitely different. The people here weren't your typical theatre goers. There was a lot of long hairs and leather there tonight which was great. It was a little louder than usual as well. The souvenir tables were selling Kiss CD wallets and Kiss T-shirts, programs, CD's (Paul doesn't sing on it. It's an old release) etc. We had some great seats, front and center section, about 8 rows back. There were a lot of Kiss fans in this section. We had some friends about 6 rows back and we had to stick our 3 fingers out (heavy metal style) and stick our tongues (Gene Simmons style) now and again just for kicks. Nobody was dressed in full Kiss garb though which kind of surprised me. I thought for sure somebody would do it. If anybody there came in make-up, I didn't see them. As far as the rest of the theater goes, it was packed like it always is. The show started and I was curious as to how the fans would react when Paul came on stage. I had forgotten exactly how the Phantom made his entrance. The female lead (Christine, no, not Christine 16) was singing in front of a mirror in which you could see her reflection and suddenly you hear Paul's voice singing a duet with her which was really cool. After he sang some of the song with her, his reflection appeared in the mirror with her. I expected some applause here. As it turns out, the reflection isn't actually Paul, but a body double. The double comes out of the mirror and walks down a flight of stairs. They then appear walking down a flight of stairs from way up in the air. This is actually Paul now. Not much noise from the fans yet, but you could tell they were getting excited.
Click Here To Read The Rest Of The Review & See The Complete Paul Stanley Phantom Postcard Set!

May 24

May 20

Paul Stanley On Mike Bullard Show Report
From: jderrick@ica.net
This evening Paul Stanley appeared on "Open Mike with Mike Bullard" here in Toronto, Canada. The show is kind of like the Canadian version of David Letterman. Paul was there to promote his upcoming run as "The Phantom", in "The Phantom of the Opera" theatre production. Paul has cut his hair short for the part(!). After playing 5 stadium shows in South America, Paul said that he flew into Toronto, and began rehearsals. In the brief interview, he discussed how this is a new challenge for him, and he hopes that it will be supported by KISS fans and theatre goers alike. He also noted that KISS will be back touring again and that he felt the best was yet to come. After his segment, he approached the audience to sign autographs, and then made a quick exit. The majority of the audience was made up of enthusiastic members of the KISS ARMY. Personally, I lucked out and somehow managed to get a front row seat for the show (very cool).

May 8

March 26

KISS Phantom of the Opera Desktop Theme
From: Rae
We have created a desktop theme in honor of Paul playing the Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera. It will only be available until August 1. Click Here to check it out.

March 11

More On Paul Stanley Joining Phantom Of The Opera
From: Digital Hit Entertainment
Toronto-based theatrical producer Livent announced today that its long-running production of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's The Phantom of the Opera would leave Toronto's Pantages Theatre on September 26th, 1999. With roughly six months to go before the show's 10th anniversary, the company also announced the signing of three performers who will don the mask. They are Canadian singing star RenČ Simard, Canadian song-and-dance sensation Jeff Hyslop, and most surprisingly, Paul Stanley, the lead singer of the rock band KISS. Messrs. Simard and Hyslop attended the press conference, while Mr. Stanley made his introduction to the press via a long distance phone call. Paul said that he's wanted to play the role for ten years and hopes to introduce theater to a broader audience. The dates for the three Phantoms are: