I still remember accidentally finding this book at the local Waldenbooks when I was fifteen. I'd loved Leroux's novel for years, but I had had no idea that there was anything beyond that novel until I stumbled upon this book. I bought immediately, even though the $20 I spent on it was pretty much all the money I had in the world at that time, and I never regretted my purchase.

This book opened a whole new world for me. I thought the pictures were gorgeous, and I memorized the entire libretto of the ALW musical without hearing a note of the music. I fell in love with the story, and I had never even seen it except through the pictures in this book. And when I finally did get to see the musical on stage, at last, four years later, I was enthralled with how beautiful it was.

Although, I really must partially blame this book for the horrible disappointment I experienced when I watched the ALW movie version of the musical. The movie was so very ugly in comparison to the stage production. I guess it didn't help that two of the three leads couldn't sing at all. I came home after watching the movie for the first (and only) time and made a beeline for this book, studying the photos in this book that I knew so well and saying to myself, "Well, at least the stage show has it right."

I've moved onto other things now, and though I still enjoy the musical, I'll never look at it with the same eyes as I once had. Still, I'll never forget how I felt when I first flipped through these pages. It was like magic. ( )

If you are a fan of Phantom of the Opera Legend, this has awonderful collection of photos and notes, plus historical information and data on the treatmet of the legend over the decades in film and stage.. Also contains The Libretto, more or less, with some stage direction of the Andrew Lloyd Webber version. Tons of photos and interviews with the original production team from the ALW musical stage version. A must have for Phantom fans and fascinating read for theatre buffs, dramaturgs, and production crews.