"All Things Phantom" - BlogTalkRadio

WE'VE MOVED TO A NEW WEBSITE

2011-06-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

Please follow us now at ALLTHINGSPHANTOM.COM for future information about the show and upcoming guests. You can sign up there for email notifications. This site will not longer be updated or monitored, but will remain up to direct people to our new format.

Our first test show for return will be July 9 @ 4 p.m. PST. Our first real show will be July 23 (time to be confirmed) @ 4 p.m. PST.

See you there!

Vicki and Teresa

Coming Back

2011-05-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

Well, Facebook pushed us to update our Group on All Things Phantom or be archived. I updated and with it came pleas to return.

Teresa and I have discussed the matter and will return with one or two shows a month, for now. It's very difficult for me to do shows every week because of my personal life, unless you wish to hear a screaming granddaughter on the air during broadcasts. Right now we are shooting for July!

To keep informed either subscribe to this blog or join our group on Facebook for updates via email. You can find us at:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_225965400435

OR

Follow us now on Twitter!
https://twitter.com/#!/AllPhantomBTR

The Show

2010-05-22T02:32:00.000-07:00

Though we no longer broadcast on the show, it is still going very strong. Currently, as of the date of this post, we've had 22,238 people (as of 3/8/11) download our shows - we only broadcasted 30. People from iTunes and elsewhere are picking up the archives. Teresa and I find it pretty amazing indeed.

We had some great interviews, but what has pleased me the most was the popularity of the last show when I talked about my experience seeing Love Never Dies in London. Recently, I received a heartwarming email from a listener thanking me for my honest assessment. There are quite a few people who have listened to the CD, of course, but lack the visual of what happens on stage. Though tons of controversy swirls around the much anticipated and much despised sequel, I'm still grateful I could experience the show for myself.

On a personal note, I did release my Phantom novel, and it is available for sale on Amazon in eBook and paperback. It received quite a bit of newspaper press on the isle of Malta where the show was set. For more information visit my website at: http://phantomofvalletta.com

In the meantime, thanks to all you Phantom fans who have supported our show, and continue to do so even when the microphones are silent!

Sincerely,
Vicki

Love Never Dies - Embrace, Enjoy or Reject

2010-03-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, April 3, 2010, we will be having a show at 5 p.m. PST to talk about my experience of seeing Love Never Dies in London. By that time, I will have witnessed the show three times, plus seeing the original Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theater.

If you have questions, now is the time to tune in. Teresa will be monitoring the chatroom, so jump in there and shoot away your queries to me. I have in the meantime written a review on my Lessons From the Phantom of the Opera site. CLICK HERE to read.

The picture of Ramin Karimloo was taken by me at the stage door. I was extremely lucky to catch him on the way out, get his autograph, and have my picture taken with him too - a brilliant Phantom and wonderful individual.

Until then!
Vicki

Open Chat - Come & Join Us!

2010-02-26T17:56:00.000-08:00

Since we ceased live broadcasts, we've been opening the chat room on Saturday's @ 5 p.m. PST. It's true - open it and they will come.

Each week our regulars have returned to chat live with one another while our microphones have been silent. However, the voices of fans never wane and people keep showing up!

Join us Saturday for live chat. Anything Phantom and then some is fair game for topic.

On April 3, we will schedule a special show so that I can share with our listeners my experience of seeing Love Never Dies in person. I'll spill it all - the good, the bad, and the ugly - and promise to give you my heartfelt opinion and scoop on what really happens on stage and in the story.

Until then!

Cheerfully yours,
Vicki

Down Memory Lane

2010-01-30T15:51:00.000-08:00

Let me start by saying this post is a personal reflection down memory lane regarding the past seven months of broadcasting All Things Phantom on BlogTalkRadio. I have much to share, so hang in there with me!

In June of last year, a frustrating experience plummeted me into action where I was faced with a choice to react one way or the other. I chose to do something bold and start my own Internet radio show entitled, "All Things Phantom."

Since January of 2008, I immersed myself in the Phantom community and discovered that many fans, like myself, had much to share about how the story touched their lives. During my networking, it was obvious some voices were louder than others, but there were other fans in the community that needed a way to express their Phantom obsessions, if you will, and a platform to do so. Of course, I thought it would be a good medium to promote my blog in book form, Lessons From the Phantom of the Opera, but that wasn't my main goal.

As a result, our show quickly booked with collectors, authors, make-up specialists, cartoonists, film reviewers, book reviewers, and artists. One show after the other, people flocked wanting to share their love and talent, and I gave them a voice. Too much Phantom some would say? I don't think so! It was desperately needed in the Phantom community and a unique avenue no one before had tapped into in order to bring fans together.

The word spread and others began showing up in our chatroom during the show. Brianne Kelly Morgan, who plays Meg Giry, in the Vegas production, found her way and chatted with other fans while we broadcast.

We were invited to broadcast at the Phantom Fans Week in Las Vegas in September, and two of the principles allowed us to interview them (Andrew Ragone and Brianne Kelly Morgan).

My co-host and I began to get a bit bolder, and to our surprise even stage actors accepted invitations. Byron Nease was our first, and we were thoroughly thrilled! He had played Raoul in the original Toronto production and also Phantom on the Yeston & Kopit version. He sang for us a few tunes and blessed the audience with his wonderful personality and stories of his tenure on stage.

December, the very talented Brianne Kelly Morgan, who plays Meg came out from the chatroom and granted us an interview. Talented and much loved, we enjoyed her immensely.

January, of course, was another Phantom blessing straight from Vegas. Our first guest was the very handsome Andrew Ragone, who plays Raoul. Then on January 23, the Phantom - Anthony Crivello, and Christine - Kristi Holden, were our guests!

I cannot thank the Phantom Vegas Production enough for the kindness and support they have shown our show allowing us to interview the principles. A true blessing indeed.

Also, kudos to BlogTalkRadio who consistently made us featured shows when we had Vegas guests! At one point in time we hit the #2 slot in popularity out of 500 entertainment shows! As of today, we've had over 7,289 archived shows downloaded for listening. Wow! Amazing.

January 30th is our last show before we go on hiatus, and I do have mixed feelings giving up this wonderful medium to bring fans together. However, I have some personal life issues that need attention and planning the show takes time and money. Teresa and I are on the brink of burn-out, so we want to hang up the mics before we crash and burn.

I want to thank Teresa, my Facebook buddy, for going along with me on this insane idea. When it first popped into my head, she was willing to sink or swim with me - that says an awful lot! After all, when we broadcast it goes worldwide and the archives are there to listen to even after we stop broadcasting.

Of course, like anything else, we had our share of critics. I found that the old adage you can only please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time, quite true. Teresa and I tried to stay true to the vision and commitments of our scheduled show, which was important to us as a team. Our fan based stayed strong, and new listeners discovered us each week.

The lessons this journey has taught me boils down to a few profound revelations.

When others wish you to slink away, don't do it! Go stand on a rock and shout! If someone infers you have nothing of value to offer, go prove them wrong. Take your rightful place in life and follow the passions of your own heart regardless of the critics. Give a voice to others, when people try to silence you. You'll be a better person for it and extremely blessed, as I have been, after embarking on this journey with All Things Phantom. It's been a liberating experience of growth and success that I will never forget.

Will I be back for more? Stay tuned! If you've missed our seven months of broadcasting, they are all there on BlogTalkRadio. The player is on this page and the archives are on the show page from months past. Go listen and enjoy!

Sincerely,
Vicki Hopkins

January 30th Show - Chanson de l'Ange

2010-01-30T14:08:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to join us on Saturday, January 30th for our interview with Paisley Swan Stewart. She will be discussing the much anticipated release of Chanson de l'Ange. We will also be playing some exceptional music composed by her son Nathan Pinard for Paisley's book.

It's an important show - with lots to share and say. You know Teresa and I love you all, and though we are taking a hiatus, I have the distinct feeling inside we will return some day to feed your obsession.

Remember, on Saturday, at 5:00 p.m., in lieu of the shows, we will open the chat room on the show page. So join your friends anyway, and talk away about All Things Phantom.

The Phantom & Christine On Our Show!

2010-01-19T22:38:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited!!!

On Saturday, January 23 @ 3 p.m. PST, we are blessed to have two great stars on our show from the Phantom Vegas Spectacular!

Tony award-winning Anthony Crivello, who plays the Phantom, will interview from 3:00-3:30 p.m.

Kristi Holden, who plays Christine, will interview from 3:30-4:00 p.m.

If you missed last week and didn't get to hear Andrew Ragone, who plays Raoul, listen to his interview on the player to the right of the page. Also, wonderful Brianne Kelly joined us on December 12 and her interview is archived as well.

Mark you calendars! Visit us at All Things Phantom on BlogTalkRadio.

January Reminders! Raoul (1/16 @ 5 pm) & Phantom (1/23 @ 3 pm)

2010-01-09T15:58:00.000-08:00

This month is going to be our All Things Phantom Show Vegas Spectacular! Brianne Kelly Morgan, who plays Meg, joined us in December. In January, we have two more exciting interviews for you to enjoy!

January 16 @ 5 p.m.

Andrew Ragone, who plays Raoul will join us on the show. Frankly, he's my favorite, and I love his performance. I've seen him seven times on stage in Vegas, and I never get tired of his great portrayal of the handsome Vicomte de Chagny.

January 23 @ 3 p.m

The very talented, Tony Award winning Anthony Crivello, who plays the Phantom will greet you! Due to his make-up schedule before going on stage that evening, we scheduled the show two hours earlier. So don't miss it! Should be a very exciting and informative interview.

Brianne Kelly Morgan - December 12 Show @ 5 pm PST

2009-12-11T12:30:00.000-08:00

Don't miss the show tomorrow at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time as we have the honor of interviewing Brianne Kelly Morgan, who plays the wonderful Meg Giry in the Phantom Vegas Production!

She's sweet, funny, sings great, dances fantastic, screams well, and is the best Meg Giry around!

Bring your questions to add with ours and come enjoy a wonderful time on All Things Phantom on BlogTalkRadio.

http://blogtalkradio.com/All_Things_Phantom

Phantom Pin Up Calendar for 2010

2009-11-21T12:11:00.001-08:00

As most of our listeners know, Raphael - a very talented artist - was on our show earlier this year. He creates wonderful Phantom artwork, and he is offering his very first Phantom pin-up calendar!

For all you Phantom Phans out there looking for the perfect Phantom gift, now is your chance to get his premier Raphael's Phantom Pin-Ups 2010 Calendar. Follow the link to his work on Zazzle below to order.

Phantom Pin-Up Calendar

Visit his website for more wonderful Phantom artwork at: Phantoons of the Opera

Phantom Holiday Joy!

Recap of What's Ahead

2009-11-21T10:50:00.000-08:00

Just a quick reminder about our guest today - Kathy H.D. Kingsbury, Author of Variations on a Theme of Leroux. In "Variations on a Theme of Leroux," the author takes this tale of Gothic romance and puts it on its head. Within the pages of this book, you will find a story of romance, suspense and passion, but with a twist. It is the Phantom’s story as it might truly have been. To read more and purchase the book visit: H.D. Kingsbury on Lulu.Com

No show next weekend due to Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. Enjoy your turkey!

December 5 we will be playing a clip received from Ladyghost (http://ladyghost.com) answering a few questions I sent her way.

Also on 12/5, Dominique Soucy will be joining us on the show to talk about her UK experience seeing Phantom on stage in London. If you wish to read her wonderful recount, visit her at this link on Facebook.

December 12 - Mark your calendars for Brianne Kelly Morgan - our own Meglet from the Vegas production will be our guest! Got any special questions you want answered, please shoot them my way now so I can include them in our script.

That's about it! See you at 5 p.m. today.

Vicki & Teresa

Update & November & December Shows

2009-11-02T16:53:00.000-08:00

To save time, I'm going to make this a three-in-one posting, because I'm exhausted! Thanks for understanding.

Kudos to SCORP last week for the great show! First, we experienced technical difficulties, and he had trouble calling in. The Halloween ghosts were fooling around, but he finally made it on line. Then we had to calm all the ladies down in the audience that loved listening to his British accent. After that, we got down to business regarding Gaston Leroux. Who would have known he was quite the man in real life!

Scorp shared with us his love for Phantom, his desire to drop lamp shades on people's heads when he was young (a chandelier thing going on there), and his wonderful knowledge and insight into Leroux's life. He's even picked through the boxes of his writings, handled the original manuscript, visited his grave, and had dinner with Leroux's great granddaughter.

For more tidbits in the world of Gaston Leroux, don't forget to follow the links in the blogs below and sign up for his Twitter updates.

Next week, November 7, we have Theodora Bruns as our guest. She is the author of "Through Phantom Eyes." She has written three books regarding The Phantom of the Opera that looks into Erik's private world and intimate thoughts, and there are six more books on the way. Volume Three, Mon Ami, has won the Editor's Choice Award. Visit her website at: http://ThroughPhantomEyes.com

November 14 is Facebook friends day. This will be a 90-minute show, and we have four individuals lined up who just want to broadcast their love of the story and how it's changed their lives. We're going to wing it, so if you want to be one of the callers, tune in. The show will be informal, fun, and just a great time of sharing.

November 21 it's HD Kingsbury, the last of our authors to be interviewed. She has written Variations of a Theme on Leroux. For more information, visit her website at: Phantom Variations.

I have no other authors scheduled, unless I get the infamous Susan Kay on board. Believe me, I'm trying. Other authors that people have requested hearing from have been contacted, but have not responded.

As far as December goes, the 5th is wide open for anything and everyone, however, I do have a five minute clip of greeting from LADYGHOST!!! December 12, Brianne Kelly Morgan (Meg from the Vegas Production) will be our guest.

December 19 the Iron-Gibbet returns for an encore. Then we will take a break 12/26 and 1/2. The only other scheduled interview we have is with Andrew Ragone (Raoul of the Vegas Production) on January 16.

After that, I think Teresa and I will step back and assess the show, where to go from here, or whether to hang up our microphones. By then, we will have been on the air for 7 months, and it's been a great run. However, it's a big commitment, as well, and a time-consuming task putting the shows together, etc. I need to get down and serious about other fiction novels on my plate, including my own Phantom insanity (I must be nuts)!

Until then, we'll talk Phantom, dissect the variations, have fun, laugh, and see where we go from here. If any of you have the braves or time and want to host, let me know! I'm always open for ideas and taking a break.

Hugs and love to you all, and thanks so much for your continued support!

Update & Halloween Leroux Show

2009-10-24T19:14:00.001-07:00

We were totally blessed today having Byron Nease as our guest. What a treat!

He was wonderful, and if you haven't listened to the archive, please tune in - you won't be disappointed.

He shared with us his years playing Raoul in the Toronto production, and his role as the Phantom in Yeston and Kopit productions.

To top things off, he sang for us too! Wonderful man - wonderful voice - great personality - lots of laughs and fun.

Next week, it's our tribute to Gaston Leroux!

Open lines
A few cool guests
Lots of facts
Your turn to chat.

You asked for it! Phantom masks required!

Also, remember if you're not on Twitter, get on there! A great site honoring the 100th year of Leroux's novel has been set up. Already some very informative facts have been tweeted, terrific historical pictures, and Leroux's family is apparently following the tweets. The stream will be used to release exciting new ongoing research currently being undertaken into the novel and all its subsequent adaptations in areas never previously explored. Here's the link and website too!

http://twitter.com/fantomedelopera
http://phantomslair.com

The owner of the site is going to try and be on the show sharing all that wonderful knowledge for the hungry Phans!

Vicki & Teresa

Update & October 24 Show

2009-10-17T23:09:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Sadie Montgomery for being on the show today and for sharing with us her series of books. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with her and consider her wonderful writer. She's taken Erik on journeys in her novels, that have touched a lot of Phantom fans worldwide.

As you all know, we started this show 15 weeks ago. When it took off, it did so like wildfire. I had scheduled the show out to November within a few short weeks and it included a lot of authors. Mostly, I did that because I was an author and wanted to give a voice to others. Little did I know, that fans would flock to the Internet radio show hungry for more. Teresa and I were both shocked.

My vision for the show has not changed - to give a platform for those in the Phantom of the Opera community to share their talents and love of the story. In addition, we have talked about the story and how it has profoundly touched the lives of others.

As I've stated, I realize a lot of people are anxious to get onto other things and we will. It takes time. We are doing this show for the fans as a whole and that includes everyone from every version.

Next week, I'm happy to report that Byron Nease will be our guest. He played Raoul in the Toronto production for over five years. In addition, he's played the Phantom in the Yeston & Kopit production. Please welcome Byron to the show! He has much to share about how revealing what's behind the mask can heal a person's heart. His newly released book entitled, "B ehind The Mask No More" will also be featured on the show page.

Afterward we will focus on the Yeston & Kopit version, if you are interested in participating, get your phones ready. I know a lot of you wanted to talk about it, now here is your chance to do so with with a man who has played the part.

See you next week.

Vicki & Teresa

Update @ October 17 Show

2009-10-10T20:17:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Iron-Gibbet for being on the show this week. Talk about fans! We had 171 live listeners and 68 in the chatroom, beating our record of 48/28. It's obvious you guys have a great fan base, which speaks volumes about how much people love "The Requiem Mask." We've promised to have Chelsey and Alex back on the show, because our telephone lines were flooded with callers and we ran out of time.

Next week we are pleased to welcome Sadie Montgomery, the author of The Phoenix of the Opera. It started with one book, and she swore #4 was the end of the series. Apparently, Erik gives her no one rest. When the muse speaks, the author pens, and Sadie has just released book #5, the Phantom Madness.

Sadie lives with her family in Minnesota, where she teaches literature. When she's not correcting her college students' essays, she writes stories and novels.

I personally owe a lot to Sadie Montgomery. When I first stuck my neck out writing my blog Lessons From the Phantom of the Opera, she encouraged me through my fears. I learned about self-publishing through Sadie, especially realizing there's no shame in walking that road. She is very special to me, and I'm stoked to finally be able to talk to her live over the phone!

Please welcome her to the show this coming Saturday with open arms, as she tells us about her love of Phantom, and why she likes the thought of Meg and Erik living happily ever after!

Afterward, we'll just chat about the all the loves of Erik, as penned by other authors. What combination is your favorite? Erik/Meg, Erik/Christine, Erik/Anybody else?

See you next week!

Vicki & Teresa

Update & October 10 Show

2009-10-04T05:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Martha, the organizer of the red carpet event of the Phantom Redux VI for being our guest. Each year the 2004 movie staring Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, and Patrick Wilson is shown again on the big screen in Hollywood at the The Crest Theater.

Afterward we discussed the movie, its critics, pros, cons, and everything in between. Not the favorite of some of our listeners, its still loved by many. "All Things Phantom" is here to give a voice to everyone whether we agree with the likes or dislikes of others. I like to think of our show as Phantom Switzerland - a safe place for all.

Our next show on October 10th we are welcoming the creators of the Requiem Mask, more commonly known as the Iron-Gibbet on Deviant Art.

They provide a comic strip called the Requiem Mask, which is a collaborative effort, a studio of many people working together. They are several artists. All the artwork displayed are depictions of Gaston Leroux's "The Phantom of the Opera." Follow this LINK for bio information on the creators.

They illustrate a comic adventure in which Erik has been given a second chance in the present, but he must deal with the fact that he is now a real ghost. He has a companion who is determined to see that he will not fail again.

Will he be doomed to relive his past? Or will he find peace and redemption? Join the show and find out!

Vicki & Teresa

Update & October 3 Show

2009-09-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Anne Burnside, for sharing about your book The Sultan's Favorite. It's always a personal joy of mine to speak with other authors who pen Phantom stories. If you're interested in purchasing her book, follow the link on our page and support another author.

After we talked about Anne's book, we invited Jason Michael Hammond on the show to share about his Phantom makeover experience during Phantom Fan's week. Look how great he and Ashley Yarbrough look pictured here! Sounds like a spiritual Phantom experience to me. We are going to try and get Ashely on the show next week to have her share about her transformation into the infamous Christine Daae.

Next week the organizer of the red carpet event of the Phantom Redux will be our guest. Each year the 2004 movie staring Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, and Patrick Wilson is shown once again on the big screen in Hollywood at the The Crest Theater. This year the event will be held on November 14, 2009 at Midnight. Tickets are $15.

The location of the event is at the beautiful Crest Theater, an example of Art Deco at its best. It breathes "Phantom ... " It was originally built by Henry Fonda's wife in 1941 at the height of Hollywood's most elegant era. It has kept it's unique atmosphere of a glorious Hollywood now past. Many premieres were held there and still are.

Phantom fans flock by the hundreds, dressed in period costumes to watch the movie once again. Join us as we talk about the 2004 Phantom of the Opera production and why there are those out there that love the movie, despite its critics. I have some interesting production notes about the movie itself, I’ll dig out and share with you as well.

Other News

As mentioned on the show, make sure you check out the following information. There is a new fan forum entitled, Deserted Phans. Romil, who attended Phantom Fans Week has written some absolutely wonderful posts regarding the stage production itself and his experience at the convention. I highly recommend you visit and join at: Deserted Phans Forum .

In addition, if you're not on Twitter, get on there! A great site honoring the 100th year of Leroux's novel has been set up. Already some very informative facts have been tweeted, terrific historical pictures, and Leroux's family is apparently following the tweets. The stream will be used to release exciting new ongoing research currently being undertaken into the novel and all its subsequent adaptations in areas never previously explored. Here's the link and website too!

http://twitter.com/fantomedelopera
http://phantomslair.com

That about does it for news and updates! See you all next week on All Things Phantom.

Vicki & Teresa

Update & September 26 Show

2009-09-06T08:08:00.001-07:00

Well, there are no words to describe this past week except AWESOME! The Phantom fans week at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas was spectacular....just like the show. We had our broadcast live from the hotel, and Brianne Kelly Morgan, who plays Meg Giry, as well as Andrew Ragone, who plays Raoul joined us. In addition, we had some of the participants call in and talk about their experiences. We definitely are going to continue the discussion next week, as we ran out of time!

Part I. On September 26, Anne Burnside will be joining us to talk about her book "The Sultan's Favorite." Here is a quick synopsis:

The Phantom rejected by the only woman he loved, Erik tries to leave his past behind to begin a new life working as an architect. As the years pass, he accumulates enormous wealth and finds much success. When he is summoned by the sultan of the Ottomans to build a new palace, Erik believes it will be his greatest accomplishment. Yet even in another land he cannot escape his bitterness toward the world, and when the creation of the ruler’s home appears impossible, his anger only increases. But the arrival of the sultan’s newest wife awakens feelings Erik thought were long dead.

Part II. Jason Michael Hammond, who was chosen as the fan to receive the Phantom makeover at the Phantom Fans Week, will be joining us the second half of the show to talk about his transformation! In addition, we're going to be opening the lines once more to attendees to talk more in depth about the conference sessions and experiences. In addition, Ashley Yarbrough, who received the Christine Daae makeover will join us as well.

Hopefully, by next week Teresa and I will have calmed down a bit from the trip, though I doubt it. It's going to take some time to recover, and I hope we never forget the memories.

We will have Brianne Kelly and Andrew Ragone back on the show sometime in the future. In addition, Anthony Crivello, the Phantom from the Vegas production, has agreed to be our guest. We will keep you advised when we have a date set.

Now, I need to fly home, unpack my bags, kiss my dog, and get back to real life. Do I have to?

Post Script: Attached is a link to Broadway World's Recap on Phantom Fans Week. Good article.

Update & September 19 Show

2009-09-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

Well, our show this week was great with the Phantom Reviewer from YouTube. Everyone enjoyed the pre-recorded sessions, and thank you Phantom Reviewer for taking the time to record the 40 minute clip! It sounded great, and I'm sure we'll get many people tuning into the archived show. Actually, you were a big hit! We had the most participation in the chat room and the most live listeners than any other show in history!

Afterward we opened the phone lines to talk about favorite Phantom movies, least favorite, and off-the-wall everything versions. I still can't get the thought of Wishbone as Raoul out of my mind. Great discussion! We all have our reasons for loving the ones that touch us the most.

So hopefully Phantom Vegas will forgive me for using their pic on this post, but after all we are giving them promo, right? As you know, the countdown has begun.

We will broadcast our show from Vegas next Saturday, and convention attendees will be invited to phone in and share. I only have the capacity to bring four callers on, so first come first serve. Also, we are being showcased on the home page of BlogTalkRadio as a featured show that day!

The show format will pretty much stick to the schedule of events that include talking about the Phantom production itself, the breathtaking $40,000,000 theater, meeting the cast, the chandelier experience, the backstage tour, the costumes/makeup, the masquerade party, and the session with Hal Prince. If we don't get through it all, we'll pick it up the second half of the show on September 26 after our guest interview.

Teresa and I are looking forward to meeting our listeners who are attending and the Phantom cast. If they do a repeat next year, hopefully, we'll get to meet more of you! Perhaps this will be a yearly gathering for us all.

See you in Vegas!

Vicki and Teresa

Update & September 12 Show

2009-09-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Anstance Tamplin, Author of "My Phantom: The Memoirs of Christine Daae." It was a great interview, and I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with you Anstance! Follow the link here to purchase her book on Amazon.

As I mentioned when we had our first author on the show, giving writers a platform to share their books is dear to my heart. Being a new author myself, I know the daunting task of marketing, and I also deeply respect anyone who has tackled the task of writing a book regarding the Phantom of the Opera. They are heavily reviewed by fans, often receive tough criticism, but also feed our unending desire to continue to pen stories about Erik's life leading him to love and happiness. No doubt, they will continue to come off the press for years to come whether published through traditional houses or self-published (no prejudice here folks).

If you have a particular author you wish to hear on the air, please send me their name. I continue to reach out to others; but, of course, not all are willing to appear on the show. If you don't find your favorite author in the lineup, it's probably because they've declined or I've had difficulty contacting them.

Now, for next week! It's the Phantom Reviewer on YouTube! Muwahahaha! This guy is a kick. He's reviewed pretty much every movie adaptation out there and is about to start Season 3 to add a few more. The Phantom Reviewer lives overseas in the UK, so we've pre-recorded portions of this show. The segment is 40 minutes long, great fun, and really informative. I know you'll all love it. Unfortunately, he's experienced some YouTube problems lately as you will hear below, but his fan following is astronomical nonetheless.

The entire show segment will be 90 minutes, because afterward we're opening up the telephone lines for a really lively discussion. This is your chance to telephone in and tell us what your favorite Phantom movie is and why!

See you next week!

Vicki and Teresa

International Phantom Fans Week - Las Vegas 9-16 to 9-20

2009-09-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

We are happy to announce that we will broadcast live from Las Vegas, Nevada during the International Phantom Fans Week to be held at the Venetian Hotel from September 16-20, 2009.

My co-host and I will broadcast on Saturday, September 19, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

The show will focus on the Phantom Fans Week event, and we will be taking calls from attendees to share their experiences at the convention.

Tune in at BlogTalkRadio to listen live on 9/19 or catch the archived show on our show blog here.

If you are attending and wish to be one of the callers to share your experience, contact me at vicki@vickihopkins.com, so we can make arrangements and give you instructions.

Vicki and Teresa

Update @ September 5 Show

2009-08-29T12:44:00.001-07:00

Heartfelt thank you to Romil Ilagan, aka Raphael, for being on our show this past week. Your talent, background, and artwork are absolutely amazing, as well as your interesting sense of humor!! I know that many of our listeners were excited to hear you share, and no doubt our archived hits will be plenty this week! You have an open invitation for an encore performance.

As we anticipated when we first started back in July, we have attracted a wide variety of Phantom fans from every camp. Love of the story from Leroux to Webber and everything in between is evident with all of our listeners. One of our greatest concerns when we first started the show was the mixture of lethal Phantom passions that we were proposing to mix together in one pot. We knew if we combined everyone, it could lead to a potential explosion!

However, Teresa and I are very thankful that listeners during the show continue to respect each other’s opinions as they phone-in or visit the chat room. No matter what camp you choose to pitch your tent, I want to reiterate that EVERYONE is welcome here. You have the right to feel safe and respected in your opinions. Don’t be afraid to call in, and don’t be afraid to express the version that touches your heart the most. Our common bond at All Things Phantom should be one thing and that’s our love of the Phantom of the Opera.

Next week, we have the privilege of introducing Anstance Tamplin, the Author of "My Phantom: The Memoirs of Christine Daae." Anstance is not new to the world of publishing. In fact, she has seven earlier novels – one historical and six contemporary, including four mysteries that were published by two brand-name commercial publishing houses. Several went into foreign editions in Australia, the Philippines, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Israel, and Latin America. She has also put in fifteen years as a staff reporter at newspapers ranging in daily circulation from 30,000 to 480,000 copies, as well as writing as a freelancer for several national newspapers and magazines.

She's a newbie to the Phantom world, having been introduced to the story in 2006. She decided to self-publish her Phantom story under the pseudonym of Anstance Tamplin. Here's an introduction to her story pitch:

“My Phantom is the fictional memoir of Christine Daaé, the soprano at the heart of the myth of the phantom of the Paris opera. The novel isn’t meant to be genre fiction. It isn’t a horror story or a vampire romance. Rather it is a fiction classic re-imagined, in the tradition of Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea . My retelling of the story created by Gaston Leroux in The Phantom of the Opera transforms a legendary fiend into a tragic lover. Christine’s memoir contains multiple stories: a girl orphaned at thirteen who struggles to thrive within a competitive and impersonal institution; a boy abused for his deformity who grows into a bitter and misanthropic man; two lonely people – a musical master and his gifted student – who rescue each other from solitude as they strive to reach the pinnacle of their art; and a love triangle that destines one to remain forever alone."

Please visit her website below for her Phantom work, and wholeheartedly welcome our next author to the show!

Link: My Phantom: The Memoirs of Christine Daae

Update & August 29 Show

2009-08-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Phantom on a Budget for being our guest on 8/22. It was great fun! Frankly, I think her group is pretty "useful" rather than "useless." A woman in dress Phantom, and she makes a very handsome one at that! Thank you, Lindsey, for the informative and fun show. As usual, we had a great time and lots of laughs.

August 29th we have the privilege to interview a very talented artist, as you can see from this post!

Romil Ilagan (known in the Phandom as "Raphael") is a fun-loving Taurus who loves Argentine tango, edged weapons, piña coladas and dancing in the rain. But his true muse and all-consuming passion is the Phantom of the Opera. A fan since 1990, Romil's interest in the story led him from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical and Gaston Leroux novel to the films, other musicals, and books. In addition to realistic portraiture of characters from the ALW musical, Romil is the creator of the "Phantom Lite" series of illustrations (also known as "Phantoons"), and his art has been spotted backstage in Phantom productions from Las Vegas to Hamburg. His artwork can also be seen on Llumina Press's hardcover edition of Susan Kay's "Phantom."

He dreams of one day playing the role of the apple in "The Point of No Return."

Relevant websites:
www.phantoonsoftheopera.com
www.romil-ilagan.com

Follow this link during the showtime: Phantoons Demo

Note to self: Wants to be an apple? Add to list of questions...what the heck?

Anyway, he's promised me we'll have NO dead air time, so hopefully we'll keep things moving along. We're still mulling over our discussion for the second half of the show and will keep you advised.

As usual, our audience rocks! 1,300 downloads for the past six shows! Our guests and listeners are amazing.

See you next week!

Vicki & Teresa

Update & August 22 Show

2009-08-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

Well, we had a great time with the Opera Ghost hosting the show. Thanks, Jeffrey, for being part of our lives and contributing to All Things Phantom. You are a blessing even if you do hit the Limeade a bit too much while you're sitting in Box 5. ;-)

We also had a good discussion about how we view Erik and the various portrayals and characterizations that touch our hearts. In addition, we discovered, thanks to Jeffrey and others, that the lyrics vary from language to language. That was interesting!

A few more brave callers came on the show, though we still have a few technical problems through Click to Talk and Skype calls. I'm hoping BlogTalkRadio will some day provide free 1-800 numbers for callers. Let's keep our fingers crossed on that one!

Next week we are fortunate to have Lindsey from "The Official Site of Pretty Much the Most Useless Group Ever and Phantom on a Budget." Here is the About Me from her site:

"I've been a fan of the story of The Phantom of the Opera now for 14 years, ever since I first heard the Original London Cast Recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster musical. A year later, I read Gaston Leroux's original novel, and have since read multiple versions of it over the years. I also have read Susan Kay's novel, Phantom, many, many times. She provides the depth of character that brings Erik to life. I have experienced nearly every version of Phantom of the Opera available, whether literary, film, or stage. Over the years I have seen the Webber musical over 20 times across the United States, from Broadway, the U.S. National Tour, and the Vegas production. I have had the privilege of meeting many wonderful cast members and touring backstage on several occasions. Because of this, I have had the opportunity to see first hand how the show is put together, from set pieces and stage management, to costumes, makeup, hair, props, and more. All have been truly memorable experiences that I will never forget."

You gotta love her humor too! See you next week on the show!

Hey, next week let's talk about the "Horror" aspect and "Fear" in the story. There's lots of it!