Written by Kathy Sabo
My Phantom story. I am now engaged to a man (Hugh) who first asked me to marry him in 1979, when I was 20 and he was 40. I was young and immature and tied to my family and stupidly declined his proposal. After many lost years, we are back together and things are better than ever. He carried his love for me all these years, says he tried to find someone to replace me but never did. I always knew I loved him but didn't know how much. My ex-husband (Dan) had met Hugh once. Apparently I talked about Hugh enough to Dan over the years that when we separated Dan was not surprised to hear that I was interested in rekindling things with Hugh. Told me he knew I had always cared for him. Shit! He knew and I didn't.
Hugh and I both, separately, saw the Phantom. I saw it in NYC, he saw it in Washington. We both loved it. Hugh fell in love with the song "All I Ask" and has been reduced to tears many times, saying it reminded him of us. He's right. It is now our song. I remember hearing the song and thinking what a wonderful love they were singing of. When the play was over, I looked to my business associate and just said Wow. That was all I was good for. I was just dumbstruck by the play. Had great seats -- dead center 6th row.
I offered to take him to see the play in New York. He dialed up the website, found out it was playing in London and has just finalized making our travel arrangements. Yes, he's taking me to London just to see Phantom.
I will not let this man get away. He is a prince. My prince.
Written by Barbara B.
Well, I forst fell in love with Phantom 9 1/2 years ago when we played Music of the Night in music class. Unfortunately noone liked it, so we handed the sheet music back in, but I ended up getting the OLC. I guess the rest after that is history, but Phanjtom has had a great influence on my life. As I was going to become a doctor, I changed my mind and majored in Theatre instead. Then, after having travelled to London and Paris a couple of times, I was so fascinated by historic architecture (especially the Paris Opera :-) that I am now doing a Masters Degree in Architecture. In Kay's Phantom Erik was an architect, so I guess I'm following in his footsteps :-)
Written by Adrienne Jeffries
I was about 11 years old.. (Im 17 now) and my dad took my mum and I with him on a business trip to San Fransisco. My mum and dad told me to get ready becuase we were going someplace special. Being the ignorant fool I was I was *not* happy when they said we were going to Phantom of the Opera (you know..11..eeewww opera stuff..ooh what a fool I was..) finally my parents forced me into the Limo. I remember walking in, and sitting in the box (afterwards I was mad we didnt have box 5) and sitting there. Right from the moment the overture struck I was HOOKED. Now my parents wished they had listened to me and left me at the hotel. Becuase during intermission I pulled them into the lobby and made them buy me the mask, the cd, the pin, the shirt, the hat, the book, the program...exc exc. I just *loved* it. I was at the edge of the seat the whole show just *soaking* it all in. Afterwards I had to drag my parents out to meet the cast before the left. Franc D'Ambrasio was my first Phantom, Lisa Vroman my Christine and Raymond Saar my first Raoul. They were so kind to me afterwards we had small talk..they signed my program and such. I treasure that moment to this day! Afterwards you can guess that everything Ive bought since then is POTO somehow..and Ive seen Phantom 5 other times with Tom O Leary (the best phantom to this DAY) and others.. (and many more times I'm planning for :o)
Written by Enforcer
I first fell in love with the "Phantom" when my grandma took me up to Ohio when I was 12 (19 now). I was getting bored on the 10 hour trip, so I went rummaging through her glove box. I saw tapes that I have never even heard before, until I say "The best of ALW" tape. I picked it up and looked at it. The first song was "Phantom of the Opera." Being that I was a very weird, withdrawn from the crowd, I wanted to listen to it. I also liked wrestling's Undertaker so that was a plus as well. Anyway, as soon as I heard the organ piece, I fell in love with the whole story. The more I listened, the more I fell in love with it. Over the years, I learned to respect the "Phantom" for who he was. Not what he looked like. The most funniest thing that I have realized, is that the whole story made me realize that I cannot see faces anymore. I mean, everytime I see someone, I can't see their face. Their attitude IS their face. The more sour the attitude, the uglier that got. I don't judge on what they look like, I judge in what is in their heart.
Written by Angel2dljb@aol.com
I fell in love with the Phantom on May 6, 2000. It's really my birthday, and it was a gift from my sister. I have never been the same since I heard his voice and watched his movement. I play the CD loudly while I am cleaning house, driving, headphones for when I cut grass, or everyone starts yelling at me about Phantom. The worst was having my daughter tape me, unknowingly, while I had my headphones on and was listening to Phantom. When she played it back, I saw a woman in the thralls of lust and a one sided love affair.
My heart belongs to the wonderful Phantom.
Written by J
Hi, well this story happens a few years after I fell in love with Erik. Anyway here it goes:
I was trying really hard for weeks to find a good tatooist to tattoo the mask and rose (ALW version) on to my ankle. It never seemed to happen. Finally on the morning I was going to get it done, wplj power 95 (known as then) played MC singing PTO. My alarm woke me up at 10:15 and I heard "The Phantom of the Opera is there, inside your mind"
I started to cry. It was like the Angel of Music himself was giving me permission to do this. That he was happy I was going to put his mark on me.
Written by Gaby Beltran
I fell in love with the Phantom the minute I heard the music. I had read the story when I was a girl, and it made a big impact in me.
I won a trip to New York in a creative painting contest and the hightlight in that trip was being able to watch The Phantom for the first time.
My life truly changed. I was so enthusiastic about the whole thing. The story, the music, everything. I began to feel different. I didnīt meet anyone then as enthralled as I was. Fortunately my family lets me be. What I felt ( and feel) for Erik is a mixture of love, pity, compassion, admiration. Oh how I would love to be able to change the way the story ends !
I have seen the play 5 times now, two in New York, three already in México City, where I live. I hope it goes on for years like it has happened in N.Y., for I have not yet had my fill. I think I never will.
At the end of every performance ( and in the middle too) I always cry, I always finish with this feeling that If I could, I would change the way the play ends.
I donīt know about you, but I really dislike Raoul. Had he not appeared, Christine might have fallen in love with Erik.
But then of course, we wouldnīt have a falling chandelier, and other things !
Well, I am so happy to have met all these people who share with me all of theri thoughts, feelings, happenings. I donīt feel alone anymore, I BELONG.
Thanks to all of you who have made this possible.
I am an elderly lady ( 64) , grandmother of 8 children. Being a widow ( one year already) I have felt very lonely sometimes. But you guys, all the list and our wonderful Webmasters, have made me feel so good. Thank you, I love you all.
