VIDEO: Interviews and behind the scenes THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Oslo

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will open in Oslo September 7, but instead of a replica of the original production the producers wanted to to bring it to Norwegian audiences in a new way. Australian born Stephen Barlow, who has already directed the Romanian 2015 premiere in Bucharest, brings with him the rest of the creative team from that very same production to Oslo, including Ewan Jones (choreography), Andrew Riley (Stage design and costumes) and Howard Hudson (Light designer). Atle Halstensen will be Musical Director and Lars Jacobsen wll be assisting director.

Regarding the new approach the director explains. "In Oslo the producers decided that they wanted to a new production. They could have easily done the replica, but they wanted to do it in a new way, which i think is a sign of imagination, courage and a desire to feel like you are doing something new"

From what BroadwayWorld has glimpsed it looks like they are going for a look that is less abstract than the original production. The sets look massive more realistic in tone. The roof of the opera house is there in full size, while the set for Masquerade has more of a ballroom feeling with lots of mirrors.

It will star Espen Grjotheim as The Phantom. Finish soprano Mira Ormala will be playing Christine, and her knight in shining armor, Raoul, will be played be Swedish born Carl Lindquist. Former Internationally renowned opera and concert singer Solveig Kringlebotn will be playing the furiously nasty diva, Carlotta Giudicelli.

The rest of the cast will include Markus Bjørlykke, Hans Marius Mittet, Arvid Larsen, Jannike Kruse, Charlotte Brænna, Trygve Svinland, Trond Teigen, Øyvind Boye Løvold, Liv-Unni Larsson Undall, Jonathan Böiers, Andreas Hoff, Astrid Giske, Aurora Louise H. Itland, Birgitte Velsvik, Egil Solberg Smørås, Fransiska Sveinall, Inger Øverebø Uberg, Kamilla Tell Aronsen, Kristoffer Grua Pedersen, Malin Skjolde, Marius Grønsdal, Marte Golten, Mare Jahren, Samuel Brandt, Sofia Skjønneberg, Stine Mari Langstrand, Thomas Ottersen, and Tine Bariås.