The Phantom of the Opera" has a long history, and the man behind the mask in the national touring production has a long history with the show.

Elizabeth Southard and Gary Mauer take their children, Nicholas and Eden, on tour with them and "The Phantom of the Opera."

Gary Mauer, who is part of the show's monthlong stop here, really knows his way around "Phantom." He joined the company of the Broadway production in 1995 and a year later was playing Raoul. Now, he's playing The Phantom -- one of the most enduring characters in theater history.

"I've kind of grown up with 'Phantom,' " Mauer says. "It's been a neat opportunity to grow up with a very long-running show."

The Phoenix native and University of Arizona graduate also appeared in the Broadway and national touring versions of "Les Miserables" and "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber," as well as the national tour of "Show Boat."

He's married to one of the Christines in this production -- Elizabeth Southard. Marie Danvers plays the lead role of Christine, and Southard performs the alternate Christine on weekends.

Southard hails from Long Island and is a graduate of Ithaca College School of Music. She played Christine in the Broadway and Vancouver, B.C., productions of "Phantom" and also was cast with Mauer in the "Show Boat" tour.

They met while working on a cruise ship, playing a pair of newlyweds in "New York Honeymoon." In 1994, life imitated art, and they were married.

Now, they're a family with a new generation -- their children, Nicholas, 8, and Eden, 5 -- growing up on the road with "Phantom."

For Southard, playing Christine No. 2 works out nicely. She gets to spend weekdays with the kids, whom she home schools. "Then I get to do what I trained for years for and love to do. This really is the best of both worlds."

Playing romantic characters with a real-life mate adds a new dimension to the mix. Mauer said he sometimes reads fan mail or posts on "Phantom" Web sites, where people have commented on the connection between the two performers. "People sense an added chemistry between Beth and me. There is a familiarity that I suppose goes over the orchestra pit. Because we trust each other, that allows us to take that extra performance energy."

"There's that history we have that you can't really hide. There's an intimacy that you can't manufacture," Southard says.

On Monday, "Phantom" will surpass "Cats" in number of performances, and later this month it turns 18, becoming the longest-running Broadway show in history (more in accompanying story). How do performers keep things fresh on long tours and with a show that's had such an incredible run? Mauer says it's a matter of avoiding patterns and habits that can put a performer on autopilot.

What has made "Phantom" such an enduring favorite among theatergoers? Mauer says it's the show's universal appeal. "Everybody, at one point in their lives, has felt that aching of not being accepted in some situation. It can be something as simple as not being chosen for the kickball team in grade school, or more painful experiences in a situation of unrequited love. It's that feeling of being cast out. Everyone can associate, to some degree, with what the Phantom is going through."

Southard says there's a real depth to the show that speaks to audiences. "It appeals to so many people on so many different levels. When I first saw it, I didn't see all the levels, I have to admit. I thought, 'This is a nice spectacle -- all the smoke and mirrors.' " But as she began to study the character of Christine, Southard saw its deeper qualities. "There's far more. There's an age-old story about love, rejection and the desire to be loved."

The fact that "Phantom" is still packing houses after 18 years also feeds the performer's energies. Mauer says when he looks at the audience or sneaks around the theater in Phantom mode, he's always happy to see big, enthusiastic crowds. "People still go nuts for the show. It's new and exciting every night we do it. When we can hear you out there screaming and hollering and clapping, we give back more."