My wife recently dragged me to Atlanta to see The Phantom of the Opera at the Fox. Actually, to say I was dragged is stretching it. I enjoyed the stage performance, as I knew I would.

My problem with Phantom, not that you asked and as I've explained to Carrie so frequently that she no longer listens, is that I'm a purist. I prefer the original story from Gaston Leroux's novel and the Carl Laemmle production Universal Pictures released in 1925. To me, nobody but Lon Chaney will ever be the Phantom, and that silent movie's two best scenes (the unmasking and the falling chandelier) have never been done better, and never will be.

Grumblings aside, it's still hard to beat live entertainment, and Chattanooga is a great place for it. Plays, concerts, movies, operas, festivals, stand-up comedy shows - the Scenic City offers a host of options in attractive and historic venues.

Watch this section for local entertainment news, interviews, and profiles. The Bard and the song are correct. The world is a stage, and the stage is a world of entertainment.

Our portion of the world offers plenty, and we're here to give you a little more information about what there is to see. Please check back often.

— Buddy Roberts, Publisher