'Phantom of the Opera' gets haunting redesign

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- "Phantom of the Opera" is the longest running musical of all time, making it the jewel in the crown of Andrew Lloyd Webber's long list of Broadway hits.

The latest iteration of the production is like nothing you've never seen before. The show has been treated to a bit of a face lift and is playing at San Francisco's Orpheum Theater.

The music sends shivers up your spine.

"Whether you are a fan of the theater or not, you probably know the entire music body of the Phantom of the Opera. That's something that's fun. When the lights go down every night, when that chandelier reveals itself, people are excited," said Chris Mann, who plays the Phantom.

Before donning the Phantom mask, Chris Mann made a name for himself as a recording artist. Today, Mann belts the phantom's indelible tunes opposite soprano Katie Travis who's finally playing her dream role as Christine Daae.

"Phantom of the Opera was the first show I ever saw. I was four and said this is what I wanted to do. I was always auditioning for phantom. It took a couple years and close to 10 tries, but we got it," Travis said.

This is a transformative time as the production is unveiling its first re-design since premiering in 1988.

"Obviously, the lighting has changed a lot in the last 25 years, so that's one thing that really got updated. Our chandelier takes advantage of all of those things. It has motion effects, sound and lighting equipment, pyrotechnics in it," said Jovon Schuck, the show's stage manager.

Schuck toured for years with Disney's "The Lion King" before recently joining Phantom of the Opera. He's no stranger to dazzling technological feats as designed by the show's famed producer.

"Cameron Mackintosh wanted to take advantage of those advances in the last 25 years and refresh the show," Shuck said. "We like to say that the show is more explosive than the original."

The audience will definitely be able to feel the heat. The Phantom of the Opera runs through Oct. 4.