Masked Phantom fans set record at musical’s fourth anniversary

Denise Truscello/WireImage

Andrew Ragone (Raoul), Kristi Holden (Christine) and Anthony Crivello (The Phantom) celebrate Phantom — the Las Vegas Spectacular‘s fourth anniversary at The Venetian on June 24, 2010.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Friday, June 25, 2010 | 10:10 a.m.

Denise Truscello/WireImage

Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular's fourth anniversary at The Venetian on June 24, 2010.

As Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular starts its fifth successful year at The Venetian, the hit musical spectacular is sailing along as strong as ever and hasn’t lost one iota of its extraordinary appeal. The cast is fantastic, and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s story is a timeless wonder of torn love. The majestic music will continue to play for years to come. It’s little wonder that there was a standing ovation last night once again.

To mark its fourth anniversary last night, the audience of the 1,800-seat theater was given masks at the end of the show to become Angels of Music. For one record-breaking moment, it was the largest gathering of Phantoms ever in one place. Photographer Denise Truscello and a video crew captured and memorialized it for the Phantom Web site and its Facebook pages as of this morning -- and now here at VegasDeLuxe.com, too.

I also snapped a couple of photos from my seat as Tony Award-winning actor Anthony Crivello, who plays the Phantom, thanked fans on behalf of the cast and producers and led the audience in the masked rundown. After the historic shots, the cast relaxed with a celebratory fourth-anniversary cake. Christopher Rauschnot @24kMedia on Twitter posted his video on YouTube.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.