I recently attended a media day for Phantom of the Opera, which runs through Aug. 24 at Winspear Opera House.Meeting the cast was a privilege and a pleasure ...

Maria Bjornson, 53, a set and costume designer who won the loudest raves of her career for her work on the hit musical "The Phantom of the Opera," has died.

The costumes and sets of "The Phantom of the Opera" were originally designed by Maria Björnson; the current tour, which stops at the Paramount Aug. 8-19, still uses her designs.