CD Review: Goosebumps – The Phantom of the Auditorium

GOOSEBUMPS – THE PHANTOM OF THE AUDITORIUM (Ghostlight Records – digital download)

Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

From the very start of this album I was hooked. It is infectious and beware: some of the tracks can become earworms – you’ll be singing them in your head and wondering where they came from.

The show is based on the book by R.L. Stine published by Scholastic Inc, and features music and lyrics by Danny Abosch and book and lyrics by John Maclay. The all-star cast includes Krystina Alabado, Alex Brightman, Noah Galvin, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Will Roland and Stephanie Styles, in addition to a special appearance from R.L. Stine himself. The ensemble features Arianny Escalona, Alex Gibson, AJ Lewis, Armenia Sarkissian, Shuba Vedula and Aika Zabala. The album is produced by Danny Abosch, who also provides the wonderful arrangements and orchestrations.

The premise of the story is that Brooke and Zeke are thrilled to be starring in a mysterious show called The Phantom, and not the least bit frightened by the old legend that the play is cursed. But when strange, spooky messages start appearing, and a masked menace starts disrupting rehearsals, they begin to wonder: what if there really is a ghost haunting their school, determined to stop the show?

I loved it! In fact, I loved it so much I listened to the album three times in a row trying to find something negative to say in this review but, I’m afraid, I couldn’t find a thing. It is funny, it tells a story, the music is irresistible and all the artists taking part in the recording are completely in character.

Tracks are: ‘Goosebumps’, ‘A Super Scary Play’, ‘The Legend’, ‘Watch Your Step’, ‘Babbling Brook’, ‘The Story of The Phantom’, ‘Stay Away’, ‘Entr’acte’, ‘Is Somebody Down There?’, ‘Understudy Buddy’, ‘ Whodunit?’, ‘The Trapdoor’, ‘My Home Sweet Home’, ‘Opening Night’, ‘One Last Goal’, ‘The Performance’, ‘My Story’, ‘ The Phantom Unmasked’ and ’Goosebumps (reprise)’.

I could dissect the story and the characters and tell you how wonderful they all are but I would prefer you to purchase the album and find that out for yourself!

Nick Wakeham