Eva Tavares is on the ride of her life.

Far from the rural tranquility of her parents害羞草研究所� organic High Croft Farm in Notch Hill, Tavares is performing the lead role in Cameron Mackintosh害羞草研究所檚 spectacular new touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber害羞草研究所檚 The Phantom of the Opera.

Based on the classic novel Le Fant么me de L害羞草研究所橭p茅ra by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it.

He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been such a crazy, awesome ride and I am so grateful,害羞草研究所� says the 25 year old who has been with the show since July.

Tavares was performing in a show in Toronto and working with someone involved in The Phantom, who told her she should audition for the starring role.

As soon as that show ended, she flew to New York twice, the second time to audition for Lloyd Webber himself.

害羞草研究所淚 had booked it, but had to keep it a secret for almost two months,害羞草研究所� she says, of her successful audition, noting management had not released the news that the former principal was leaving the show.

Rehearsals began in Vancouver this summer.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 definitely the biggest show I害羞草研究所檝e been in,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 such a dream role and it means so much to so many people.害羞草研究所�

A big part of what Tavares loves about being part of The Phantom of the Opera is talking to people at the stage door following the show, people who have a longtime and deep affection for Lloyd Webber害羞草研究所檚 production. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 spanning generations and it is still so relevant, filled with empathy, loving someone for who they are under the construct of who they show the world.害羞草研究所�

There have been significant changes to the new production that toured North America in the 1980s, including massive changes in technology that make things like the chandelier drop a 害羞草研究所渓ittle more freaky.害羞草研究所�

Tavares害羞草研究所� journey to the Phantom stage began at the age of 13 in White Rock when she auditioned and was accepted to the Langley Fine Arts School.

Once accepted into the world of dance training, Tavares says one of her instructors told her she should consider singing lessons 害羞草研究所� something her opera-singing grandmother had been encouraging for years.

With a couple of performances with the children害羞草研究所檚 chorus of the Vancouver Opera to her credit, she headed to UBC where she earned a bachelor of music in opera.

When she graduated in 2014, Tavares was already working professionally and 害羞草研究所渁uditioning for everything.害羞草研究所�

After university, Tavares headed to Toronto where she concentrated on developing her acting chops.

害羞草研究所淚 knew I wanted to do musical theatre but I didn害羞草研究所檛 know how that would look like,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚 put all my energy there and did a few shows before booking in as Maria in West Side Story in Edmonton.害羞草研究所�

One of the 害羞草研究所済ifts害羞草研究所� of that role was three months of paid training for the entire cast at the Banff Centre prior to the 2016 theatre run.

害羞草研究所淗onestly, when I look back, it害羞草研究所檚 all kind of a chain reaction. My first union gig was in 2013 and since then it害羞草研究所檚 been go, go, go,害羞草研究所� she says, pointing out she has had many great contracts. 害羞草研究所淭hen there害羞草研究所檚 the times in between when there害羞草研究所檚 nothing; it害羞草研究所檚 a huge roller coaster ride. When you see someone at the top of their game it害羞草研究所檚 not representative of the struggles they have had.害羞草研究所�

Tavares claims her career has involved a combination of working very hard, being in the right place and taking a lot of risks.

Currently in Boston, Tavares performs in six out of eight weekly shows and, while she finds touring rough, she and her cast mates try to adventure a bit in each city on the tour.

害羞草研究所淲hen we were in Calgary, I was a little bit more active 害羞草研究所� we took salsa dance classes,害羞草研究所� she says, noting she is gradually becoming more accustomed to changes in each new environment with its own associated weather and air quality.

And every city brings new reviews and opinions her father is quick to send.

害羞草研究所淭hank God they害羞草研究所檙e nice,害羞草研究所� she laughs.

And the grandmother who encouraged her to sing?

害羞草研究所淪he saw the show in Vancouver and we met at the stage door. I said, 害羞草研究所楴ana did you like it,害羞草研究所� and she just burst into tears and put her head on my shoulder.害羞草研究所�

Tavares has also bonded with her cast 害羞草研究所榝amily害羞草研究所� and says she would trust Derrick Davis, the man behind the mask, and Jordan Craig as 害羞草研究所楻aoul害羞草研究所� with her life.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e had various little technical difficulties and you have to be able to trust those people,害羞草研究所� she says of recent incidents where her skirt got caught in a floorboard and another in which she fell onstage, helped immediately by her co-stars.

The family farm is a welcome place for Tavares when she has time off, an organic, sustainable refuge that represents the 害羞草研究所渙pposite end of the spectrum害羞草研究所� in her life.

As prestigious as her role as Christine is in the well-loved The Phantom of the Opera, Tavares does not believe it is a 害羞草研究所済olden ticket害羞草研究所� to future success.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a great opportunity that will teach me a lot,害羞草研究所� she says, noting she will continue as she always has, with hard work, more training and auditions.