Although no stranger to flashbulbs and fancy premieres - he has, after all, been nominated for two Tony awards, an Emmy and a Golden Globe - Wilson confessed that it was a little strange to be doing the star thing in the place he grew up.

``It's weird to be doing press in my hometown,'' he said, between hugs and kisses from former teachers, doctors, friends and acquaintances. ``I come home to play golf and hang out.''

The son of WTVT Channel 13 anchor John Wilson and singer Mary Kay Wilson, Patrick Wilson's career has ranged from stage (``The Full Monty'' and ``Oklahoma'') to screens large (``The Alamo'') and small (``Angels in America''). As Raoul, the handsome love interest in the lavish movie adaptation of ``Phantom,'' he will perform for his largest audience yet.

``I can't imagine my 31-year- old self in teen magazines,'' Wilson said, laughing off the idea that the sword-fighting, love-singing role of Raoul will earn him legions of swooning new fans.

Wilson will follow his first turn as a straightforward romantic lead with a dark independent film called ``Hard Candy.'' His plans for next year include ``The Good Shepherd,'' a CIA drama directed by Robert DeNiro and co-starring Matt Damon, and a return to Broadway for a revival of ``Barefoot in the Park.''

``It kind of puts things in perspective,'' he said of the trip home. ``I've been fortunate to work with a lot of really great people, but it's not until you tell your family, and they say, `Oh my God!' that you think, yeah, it is kind of cool.''

For his parents, the role in ``Phantom'' is about more than big names.

``We've been singing this music since it came out 18 years ago,'' said John Wilson, who often performs with his wife.

A favorite numbers is the Raoul-Christine duet ``All I Ask of You.'' As luck had it, the day his parents visited Patrick on the set of the movie, he was filming that scene.

Even with an invited audience, there were plenty of autograph seekers Monday night - including longtime family friend Carol Ellis, who brought a picture of herself with Patrick, taken when he starred in ``Carousel'' at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in 1997.

``We knew Patrick when he was in elementary school, and he was playing the part of Snoopy,'' Ellis said. ``You could already see the talent. It was there from the beginning.''