PBS to record show when The Four Phantoms appear at The Grand Oshkosh

OSHKOSH, WI – (WISS) – Not only will four legendary performers visit Oshkosh when they perform at The Grand Oshkosh this month, but they will also tape a television special while in the city. 

Brent Barrett, John Cudia, Franc D’Ambrosio, and Ciarán Sheehan, together, have performed the iconic title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera over 6,000 times.  The three-performance run of The Four Phantoms In Concert includes a taping of the Phantoms’ television special, taped in front of the live Oshkosh audiences, for nationwide release distributed by American Public Television for PBS and other networks in Summer, 2024.

 “Here’s the thing, if you don’t know The Grand. It has 500 seats. It’s like playing in a living room and that’s what the artists say,” said The Grand Oshkosh Director Joseph Ferlo.

“I remember walking onto the Grand stage with Joe Ferlo,” said Four Phantoms In Concert founding member Franc D’Ambrosio. “I was in Oshkosh to perform my solo show for a return engagement at the Grand. As I walked onto the stage, I immediately realized what a treasure this theater is and called our producer, right from center stage, about bringing the Four Phantoms to perform.” 

“It’s a stunning and humbling relationship we have with The Four Phantoms organization,” said The Grand Oshkosh Director Joseph Ferlo. “To have a world-class organization take a show that’s made for a large performing arts center and modify—not scale back—for our jewel box theatre, is pretty much unheard of in this business. For us to have an ongoing relationship, an annual residency, and now, to host the taping of their Public Television Special, is a monumental moment in time for The Grand, for Oshkosh, and for Northeast Wisconsin, as we secure our place ‘in the spotlight’.”

Bringing The Four Phantoms to Oshkosh is huge for the city

The PBS special of The Four Phantoms in Concert is scheduled to air during the late summer and early fall pledge cycles on public television stations nationwide, according to Ferlo.

“What does it mean when a public television special goes on, and it’s from Oshkosh!” said Ferlo. “It’s going to be enormous for the city.” 

Ferlo says that the benefit to the city goes beyond the entertainment value of the performance.

“Talk about economic development!” said Ferlo. “There’s 30 people just from the Phantoms and the television crew who are staying for a week in Oshkosh, in the hotels, eating the food and doing the stuff.”

The show features solo and group numbers celebrating the music of Broadway and more. Kaley Ann Voorhees, a special guest star, played the role of Christine in the Broadway production. The production is under the music supervision of two-time Grammy Award-winner David Caddick and Music Direction of Ryan Shirar.

 For more information, visit TheGrandOshkosh.org or contact The Grand Oshkosh Box Office located at 100 High Ave. Oshkosh, WI 54901. The Box Office is open Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and can be reached via phone at 920-424-2350.