Based in San Diego, California, Thomas “Tom” Spetter previously held management level positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb since 2010. Outside of his responsibilities in his prior role as a regional key account manager of the firm’s Market Access Division, Thomas Spetter has enjoyed attending plays such as The Phantom of the Opera.

1. The Production of The Phantom
of the Opera
By Thomas Spetter

2. Introduction
• Based in San Diego, California, Thomas “Tom” Spetter
previously held management level positions at Bristol-Myers
Squibb since 2010. Outside of his responsibilities in his prior
role as a regional key account manager of the firm’s Market
Access Division, Thomas Spetter has enjoyed attending plays
such as The Phantom of the Opera.
The Phantom of the Opera is one of the most famous musical
theatre shows in history, with nearly three decades of
productions under its belt. Show creator Andrew Lloyd
Webber first entertained the idea of turning Gaston Leroux’s
famous novel into a musical after reading a review of a local
theatre adaptation in 1984.

3. The Phantom of the Opera
• He quickly contacted producer Cameron Mackintosh to pitch
the idea, and the pair developed an early draft of the first act
for presentation during Webber’s annual Sydmonton music
festival in the following year. This small production featured
Webber’s wife, Sarah Brightman, and tenor Colm Wilkinson
in the title roles.
After the festival, Webber developed Phantom of the Opera
further, enlisting Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart to pen the
lyrics and Maria Bjornson to create the costumes and set
designs. The show later previewed in September 1986 at Her
Majesty’s Theatre in London’s West End, featuring Brightman
as Christine and Michael Crawford as The Phantom. The show
officially opened to the public on October 9, 1986.