The Phantom of the Opera (miniseries) stolen, however, by Ian Richardson and Andrea Ferreo...," and concluded ""Phantom" adds up to an odd but fascinating prime-time diversion." The Phantom of the Opera (miniseries) The Phantom of the Opera is a 1990 American two-part television miniseries directed by Tony Richardson and stars Charles Dance in the title role. It is adapted from Arthur Kopit's book from his unproduced stage musical "Phantom", which is based loosely on Gaston Leroux's novel. The Phantom of the Opera is a disfigured musician named Erik who lives below the Opéra Garnier in Paris. He has a large part in managing each performance through
Phantom of the Opera (1976 musical) developing a grand scale version of his Phantom in the West End, and offered to produce it. In fact, Hill and Lloyd Webber had worked together earlier on a revival of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the Winchester Theatre. Lloyd Webber and his producer, Cameron Mackintosh, had been highly enthusiastic when they broached Hill about his Phantom of the Opera. But in the end, Lloyd Webber chose to pursue the musical without Hill. "Phantom of the Opera" then emerged on the other side of the Atlantic in 1987 for its American premiere in St. Louis at the Repertory