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Most popular to theatre audiences from his title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's version of The Phantom of the Opera, Michael Crawford was in fact a star of the British stage and screen for almost two decades before. Born in Wiltshire, England in 1942, he began singing in the school choir and while still a teenager, changed his name from Dumble-Smith to the more charismatic Crawford and began working in radio, television and film. After first stepping on the London stage in the early '60s, Crawford's first regular television series was the BBC's 1960s show Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life; he appeared in several films as well (The War Lover, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and a starring turn in How I Won the War, which also featured John Lennon).

Crawford moved to New York in 1967, and appeared in several small plays before Gene Kelly recruited him to star in the fim version of Hello, Dolly!, with Barbra Streisand. Other films proved less successful, and Crawford returned to England in the early '70s, winning an award for his role in the sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.

Mark Watters is a five time Emmy Award winner whose composition credits include Doug's First Movie, The Return Of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves for Disney, The Pebble And The Penguin and All Dogs Go To Heaven 2 for MGM as well as over 300 episodes of various television series including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Tiny Toon Adventures, The New Pink Panther, All Dogs Go To Heaven, 101 Dalmatians and A Very Muppet Christmas.

In 1996, Mark served as Music Director for the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta for which he received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Direction and an Emmy nomination for the song "Faster, Higher, Stronger," performed by opera legend Jessye Norman and co-written with lyricist Lorraine Feather. He returned to the Olympic podium again as Music Director for the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games where he had the honor of working with the acclaimed Utah Symphony and the Grammy Award winning Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Today, that same idea is what makes this group of talented singers and dancers so appealing to audiences young and old. The Young Americans® range in age from 15 to 24 years old and tour the world to promote understanding through educational initiatives and theatrical performances.

The Young Americans® is an independent organization and is not connected with any religious or political agenda. Its purpose is simply to present youth as they are.

Dale Kristien is well-known for her record-breaking four-and-one-half years in the role of 'Christine Daae' in The Phantom of the Opera. Ms. Kristien first played 'Christine' opposite the original Phantom, Michael Crawford, on Broadway and they both premiered the Andrew Lloyd Webber show in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre. She subsequently continued in the role until the show closed. Altogether, Dale Kristien was featured in more than 700 performances – the longest running Christine in captivity and the only actress allowed to play the role for all eight shows per week, anywhere in the world.

Prior to her monumental achievements in 'Phantom,' Dale Kristien starred on Broadway with Donald O'Connor in the Houston Grand Opera production of Show Boat. She also appeared on Broadway with Richard Burton and later with Richard Harris in Camelot.