Goosebumps The Musical: Phantom Of The Auditorium (also known as Goosebumps The Musical) is a musical with book and lyrics by John Maclay, and music and lyrics by Danny Abosch. It is based on Phantom of the Auditorium, book 24 of the bestselling Goosebumps book series by R.L. Stine, published by Scholastic Publishing.
Productions
The musical was co-commissioned by First Stage Children's Theater and Oregon Children's Theatre, and received simultaneous World Premiere productions in Fall 2016 at the Todd Wehr Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the Newmark Theatre in Portland, Oregon. The Wisconsin production, directed by Niffer Clarke, ran from October 14 to November 13, 2016. The Oregon production, directed by Stan Foote, ran from October 22 to November 20, 2016. Both productions were well received by local reviewers. Goosebumps was also performed at Roanoke Childrens Theatre in Roanoke, Virginia as the first show in their 2017–2018 season. The musical has since been produced at other theaters throughout the country.
Plot synopsis
Act I
Before the action of the play, the company comes together to deliver a warning and an invitation to join them as they recount their spooky tale (Goosebumps).
The story begins and we meet our heroine, Brooke, her best friend Zeke, and their classmates at Woods Mill Middle School. The halls are filled with the excited chatter of the students as the news spreads that this year's musical will be (A Super Scary Play) called The Phantom. When Ms. Walker posts the cast list, Brooke and Zeke are excited to be cast as the leads, as they both love all things spooky and scary.
Rumor has it that the play is cursed. Though Ms. Walker tries to dispel the rumor, Tina, Brooke's understudy, recounts (The Legend) of the first production 73 years ago at their very school. Ms. Walker's great grandmother, Abigail, tried to stage the play, but the boy who played the titular character vanished on opening night without a trace. The principal ordered all copies of the script be destroyed, though Abigail kept a copy in secret. Rumor has it the spirit of the boy still haunts the school, ensuring the play will never be performed.
Brooke and Zeke sneak back to the stage after rehearsal to get a better look at the trap door, put in for the play but which never has a chance to be used during the first production. Despite Ms. Walker's warning that the trap door is not safe, curiosity gets the better of Brooke and Zeke and they pull the lever and the platform plunges deep below the stage. Spooked out my what could be lurking in the darkness, they leave and make their way back to the stage. Waiting for them is the school's night janitor, Emile, who warns them to be careful or they may fall to their deaths (Watch Your Step).
The next day, Brooke finds a creepy mask and an ominous note in her locker which proclaims "STAY AWAY FROM MY HOME SWEET HOME". Brooke thinks this is Zeke playing a joke.
Brooke shows up early for drama class, only to find an unfamiliar, and cute, boy sitting in her chair. The boy introduces himself as Brian and the two share an embarrassing, yet sweet, conversation as they introduce themselves in which Brooke can't stop babbling (Babbling Brooke). Brian, having moved after roles were cast, is assigned to help Tina with the scenery.
Zeke admits to Brooke that he hasn't read the play, leading to her detailing to Zeke (The Story of the Phantom). This play-within-the-play very much mimics the plot of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. The play takes place in an old theater rumored to be haunted by the titular character, The Phantom. The Phantom is not a ghost, but actually a previously renowned composer, now living in the tunnels underneath the theater due to the scars disfiguring his face making him an outcast from society. The play's heroine, Esmerelda, sees through the Phantom's outward appearance to the misunderstood artist beneath, though she is torn between her love for the Phantom and her love for her childhood friend Raoul. Raoul later attacks and kills the Phantom, who accepts his death, knowing he could never live without Esmerelda. A devastated Esmerelda flees and is never seen or heard from again. After his death, the Phantom's body disappears and it is said his spirit still haunts the theater, longing to sing one last song with his beloved Esmerelda.
There is a blackout during play rehearsal the next day and a mysterious figure dressed as the Phantom appears above the actors under a single spotlight. In a haunting voice, the figure warns the actors to "Stay away from my Home Sweet Home!" (Stay Away). An ominous laugh echoes as the scene fades to black.