Lydia Boots adjusts Rebecca Spencer's wig before a performance of "Phantom -- The Las Vegas Spectacular" Monday at The Venetian. Spencer portrays Madame Giry -- the Phantom's backstage ally in the Paris Opera. Photo by Ralph Fountain. Blending in with the mannequins who provide creepy atmosphere in the "Phantom" theater, Ted Keegan, left, Rebecca Spencer and Bruce Ewing say it's fun to be part of such an elaborate production. Photo by Craig L. Moran.

Most people curse the walk from a casino to the employee parking lot. For three performers in "Phantom -- The Las Vegas Spectacular," the nightly jaunt has been a blessing.

"That's how we've caught up on 20-some odd years," says Ted Keegan, who makes the hike each night with castmates Rebecca Spencer and Bruce Ewing.

It also gave them a chance to swap CDs or talk about recording new ones.

Beyond their renewed connections, the friends have common ties from their early careers. All three traded higher-profile stage work for small parts or chorus roles in The Venetian's relaunch of "The Phantom of the Opera."

But they also are using the steady income from "Phantom" -- which Spencer terms a "top of the line" theater contract -- to pursue other creative side ventures.

"I've been here 10 years, and the thing I'm trying to make my friends love about Vegas is that we can afford to do the extra things here," Ewing says. "When I was living in New York, I was just trying to pay rent and find jobs. I got here, and I could produce my own disc."

Ewing was one of only four actors in "Forever Plaid" at the Gold Coast when he left in April to be part of the "Phantom" chorus. He also is the understudy for the minor character Piangi.

"My biggest fear was being bored, and I don't feel bored for a second," he says six months into the musical. The move allowed Ewing to avoid "Plaid's" dubious future, but also gave him time and connections to produce a recent benefit performance of "God Lives in Glass," a new work composed by Las Vegas-based musician Keith Thompson.

"I first saw Becky in summer stock years ago, working with my college roommate," Ewing says of Spencer. Later, "she did the funniest cabaret act I've ever seen." He and Keegan both spent a high school summer as part of an all-state performing arts choir in New York.

For Spencer, the role of Madame Giry -- the Phantom's backstage ally in the Paris Opera -- was coincidental to the Las Vegas visits she had been making to produce her second album, "Fair Warning." She auditioned for the musical after nearly completing the album with pianist Philip Fortenberry, who moved here for a job in the band of the bygone "We Will Rock You."

Though Spencer has a husband and house on the East Coast, a familiarity with Las Vegas made a year's contract with "Phantom" more realistic and attractive. "I already knew the lay of the land and saw where the other actors from 'We Will Rock You' lived, and felt, 'This is pretty great. Why not take it?' "

Another perk for both Ewing and Spencer was the chance to work with famed Broadway director Hal Prince, who supervised the pared-down, 95-minute relaunch of his original "Phantom."

"You choose projects that are obviously going to pay your mortgage, but you're looking for something you're going to learn from," she says. Here, "You are working with the original creative team on a brand-new project."

That lure worked in reverse for Keegan, who already has played the Phantom on a national tour and in the Broadway company. On one hand, it could be seen as a step down to be called as a chorus member and Phantom understudy.

On the other hand, well, he was called. "When they give you a telephone call from the office: 'Hal would really like you to come in and sing...' OK! You don't say no," he says with a laugh.

Keegan covered a few performances for one of the twin-cast Phantoms, Anthony Crivello, during a paternity leave. Beyond his stage time, Las Vegas "completely inspired" him to begin work on a followup to his 2001 album, "Sings."

"There's a community here that wants to create," says the singer who had the same voice teacher as Spencer at Ithaca College in New York. "Whatever the energy is that's here, it affords it. You feel comfortable doing that. You're excited about it as well. Even though this is a huge city growing leaps and bounds every day, when you get into that community, it doesn't feel that way at all."

"They chose, they chose to be here," Spencer adds.

In January, Ewing plans to begin recording an album of vintage hymns, arranged for harp and voice. Keegan also is a photographer, and is looking into a DVD-audio recording that would combine his photos and music.

"Everything's just kind of feasible, here, it's possible. And it's also very creative. There's a wonderful energy here," Keegan says. "It's a very strong musical theatrical community. An absolutely amazing group to get involved with, because everyone gets along so well and everyone is willing to share of themselves."

Ewing and Spencer recently sang in "Tis the Season," a benefit for the Performing Arts Society of Nevada.

On Feb. 25, Spencer returns to the same Clark County Library Theater for a full concert to promote her album as part of the Performing Arts Society of Nevada's Brown Bag Concerts. All three performers gather with other members of the local show community for a "composer's workshop" every month to try out new material.

Spencer says she "decided about two months in, after we got over our exhaustion (from opening "Phantom"), I just decided that if you're not tired in Las Vegas you're not inspired," she says with a laugh.

"I need to start embracing tired because there's a lot going on."