Re: High School and College Productions

SenorSwanky Fri Nov 19, 2010 5:41 pm

Raphael wrote:
operafantomet wrote:
Bric wrote:
toasterphantom wrote:Go see it then! It's not terrible. It's got it's rough spots in production, but all in all it's not that bad. Also, it's only $15. Though scarily opening tomorrow.

"Not that bad" isn't enough of a recommendation for me.
I feel the same. I don't want mediocre. Never wanted it in the past, don't want it now. I want to be blown away, or at least be mighty impressed. Labels like "not that bad", "could be worse", "decent", "good for their age" etc. repels me rather than attract me.
I remember when labels like those were used to justify a certain film adaptation

R.

To be honest, I wouldn't have even gone that far. These kids might have a leg up. Laughing

IamErik771 Sat Nov 20, 2010 12:47 am

SenorSwanky wrote:
Raphael wrote:
operafantomet wrote:
Bric wrote:
toasterphantom wrote:Go see it then! It's not terrible. It's got it's rough spots in production, but all in all it's not that bad. Also, it's only $15. Though scarily opening tomorrow.

"Not that bad" isn't enough of a recommendation for me.
I feel the same. I don't want mediocre. Never wanted it in the past, don't want it now. I want to be blown away, or at least be mighty impressed. Labels like "not that bad", "could be worse", "decent", "good for their age" etc. repels me rather than attract me.
I remember when labels like those were used to justify a certain film adaptation

R.
To be honest, I wouldn't have even gone that far. These kids might have a leg up.

The version I saw definitely did... The Phantom was pretty poor, but just about everything else about the production topped the movie in my eyes. I posted a full review over in the appropriate section. (Yes, the 'R' word again! Wink

)

toasterphantom Sat Nov 20, 2010 7:16 am

http://robinweisel.webs.com/phantom.htm

I edited a video together, mostly just audio from their first run through. But also with some images of the two Christines, and one of the phantoms. I don't have any video or music from the other Phantom yet. But this is just some from the first run through.

toasterphantom Wed Dec 08, 2010 6:55 am

I also added a few misc. photos beneath that video on that page. Including a few shots of the make up on one of the actors. The video is one Christine/Erik pair, and the Pictures below are the other.

We closed last weekend.

SenorSwanky Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:10 am

I like that Christine's voice, and the Phantom's is alright. Acting seems pretty stilted, and the piano player chose some odd tempos for several of the bits (some too slow, some too fast). But while it would be nice to see some productions get creative with sets and costumes, you can't go wrong essentially copying Bjornson note for note (pun intended), right down to the deformity and the reused Crawford masks.

Bric Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:01 pm

They did a lot better job on the Phantom's makeup than the small college production I saw.

We can get only a partial idea of the production from clips and photos, of course, but it looks better than I would expect.

Good job putting together the photos and clips Very Happy

toasterphantom Fri Dec 10, 2010 5:45 am

Thank you. Yeah, I did the make up. It's not entirely the same, but similar to the original London design. The newer deformity seems too complicated. I mean, for my skills.

SenorSwanky Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:03 pm

You did a good job. Looks better than any of the other student productions' deformities I've seen.

toasterphantom Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:42 am

Are there any pictures of other high school deformities? I'd really like to see what other people did. If anyone has any links, I'd love to see 'em!

SenorSwanky Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:38 am

I know I've seen some, but I can't remember where. Keep your eye on the Phantom Broadway Facebook page, where people are posting pics from their productions, and the webmaster or whatever is consolidating then into an album with pics from all the school productions.

ML6 Sun Dec 12, 2010 7:07 pm

Wow, a school that actually was closer to the original designs than the film. I find the movie recreations too much 'in your face'.

Thanks for posting this, ToasterPhantom.

toasterphantom Thu Dec 16, 2010 4:16 am

No problem!

**MasqPhan** Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:01 am

New school productions coming.

link

SenorSwanky Thu Feb 03, 2011 7:59 pm

So a Christian academy very near my house is doing Phantom in March, and I'm really not sure whether I should go. As far as I know, they're not known for their productions, but it's been awhile since I've seen any HS shows in the area. If it were my alma mater, I'd go in a heartbeat, because I know they do a bang-up job.

**MasqPhan** Thu Feb 03, 2011 8:43 pm

Personally I'd go. My high school really isn't known for being good at musicals. I saw Into the Woods and seriously it looked and sounded like something from elementary kids. Fast forward a few years and I take the plunge to see their version of Cats. I don't even like Cats very much but it turned out to be an amazing production and I even went the next night to see it again. The sets, costumes and choreography could rival professional productions. So you never know. Take a chance.

Phantour Thu Feb 03, 2011 9:07 pm

Greece Athena High School: Dress Rehearsal Photos

Greece Athena High School in Rochester, NY did the production last weekend and is continuing this weekend. I was a bit skeptical when I saw they were going to do the show. Growing up around the area, I was not surprised they'd be in the one who would do it as they always did productions that involved a big budget. I remember when they did Beauty and the Beast almost a decade ago. Anyway, looking through the photos, it's a bit disappointing to see the production's design. I feel like when I saw their Beauty and the Beast or even Peter Pan, they both had nicer looking sets and costumes. But maybe it also had to do with the fact I was just a young teenager then and sitting back in balcony. I'd be curious to see video clips of the production.

Phantomlove Thu Feb 03, 2011 9:24 pm

I think some of it looks like it could have been good if they only knew how to design properly for Phantom. It looks too clean, smooth and like set pieces. Phantom need that kind of old, slightly dusty and murky feel to it. I think it shows that this school actually did a lot of work on their production but they don't seem to have the eye for making it soar. It looks flat instead of interesting, but I think that this set could have looked interesting if they only understood the importance of shadows, darkness and things like that, in Phantom.

I also think it's a bit of a shame about the costumes. They have many and seem to have spend quite a bit of money on them too, but they look to sloppy for the most part. And I get really sad when I see all these amateur productions that have black and white masquerades Sad

.

ML6 Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:15 pm

I found an *amazing* clip of a girl being Carlotta for a High School production. I don't think she's that bad, she sounds pretty fierce.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBmo_00qZ7U&feature=related

**MasqPhan** Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:48 pm

There are some other clips from that same school and I thought their Christine was excellent voice and acting wise. Raoul and Phantom sounded good too.

Nice to see a Masquerade without the black & white scheme. Yay for colour! Very Happy

ML6 Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:49 pm

MasqPhan wrote:There are some other clips from that same school and I thought their Christine was excellent voice and acting wise. Raoul and Phantom sounded good too.

At least finally someone did a Masquerade with some colour.

It was also nice to see that someone liked the original stage shows costume designs. I see so many replicas of the film.

SenorSwanky Thu Feb 10, 2011 6:34 am

Wow, so it can be done well. I'm leaning toward seeing the school production near me. Tickets are like $20 though. Hope it's worth it. I found a YouTube vid with the girl who's playing Carlotta talking about her character and doing Carlotta's little snippet of Think of Me. She certainly understands the role, and has boatloads of charisma.

operafantomet Thu Feb 10, 2011 12:07 pm

Have this one been posted yet? Elon University doing Phantom, this is a highlight reel of the whole show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkKjI2Z4tec

Best I've seen so far - because they have competent singers in the leads AND they have added their own flair to the design. I'm not crazy about the costumes (Elissa in chains? Red Death as a catholic cardinal??), but I admire them for trying something completely different, and for what it's worth they don't look like second hand emergency buys.

One question about school productions in general: many copy Maria Bjørnson's design, and/or the movie design. Have any of these schools actually credited the original designers for this? I came to think of this when I saw "The Producers" in Oslo the other day. The sets and costumes there were bought from Sweden. But they were a blueprint of what was seen in the movie version of "The Producers". That even went for some of the choreography. But it was the Swedish designers and Norwegian choreographer that was credited, no word of the movie. I found that a bit rude. And then I started thinking of the many school versions of Phantom, and also the Polish movie-lookalike production. How much credit do they give to the people they copy?

LadyCDaae Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:45 pm

operafantomet wrote:Have this one been posted yet? Elon University doing Phantom, this is a highlight reel of the whole show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkKjI2Z4tec

Best I've seen so far - because they have competent singers in the leads AND they have added their own flair to the design. I'm not crazy about the costumes (Elissa in chains? Red Death as a catholic cardinal??), but I admire them for trying something completely different, and for what it's worth they don't look like second hand emergency buys.

Yes, finally! This is what I've been wanting ever since the rights have been available--a company that tries for its own vision, rather than a cheap imitation of the stage or film designs. True, the costumes have a definite "stuff we dug out of the storehouse" feel (although "Masquerade" still looked pretty good, Red Death notwithstanding). But the set, with the shifting staircases, was great, and I actually liked the idea of the dancers playing the candelabra on the lake.

Firmin's pronunciation of "Suerte" made me giggle, though. ("Swuh-Soo-uh, you know, those French secret police-y types...)

~LCD

SenorSwanky Thu Feb 10, 2011 3:36 pm

Not bad. Elon's about an hour and a half to the west of me.

Phantom on a Budget Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:25 am

A high school near where I grew up is actually performing it this weekend. If I were in the area, I'd be in the front row just out of curiosity.

ChristineDaae1982 Sat Mar 19, 2011 10:45 pm

PHANTOM TO LIVE ON IN THE PERFORMING HEARTS AND TO BE PERFORMED AT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL... (read on please)!

I am visiting my hometown of the Napa Valley, and whilst I was out with my mother today (Saturday), I noticed a sign for my 1 and only Catholic high school here in Napa, Justin Siena, collaborating with Napa’s only live theatre, Lincoln Theatre, a rather semi-quaint venue!

I went into thinking to myself, “… should I attend…?” It’s only performing for 4 nights in April, and tickets or only $25 per person (I’d be bringing my parents, so that’ll equal $75 with MAYBE tax… not too certain how that particularly goes)! Even still, I supported the local HS drama department/theatre troupes as much the next person (for you never who know who might be your next “Crawford,” or your next “Brightman…” I know, I know… there’s absolutely no comparing the 3). This particular drama department/HS theatre group has previously won 22 National Regional Awards within their drama department!

What is your given option? I obviously need to act fast on this 1! (That is if I am to go)! Tickets will obviously be selling out, and selling out quickly, at that! I do have some pending questions for you all, also!

As seeing as what a smash/following Les Miserables has (even still), absolutely nothing compares to the following (at that) that Phantom has! Therefore I have a 2 part question for you! In seeing as though Phantom’s still on Broadway, but not touring any longer, how does a HS retain the rights to such a venue, and also, how costly would it have to be?

Thank you for promptly getting back to me and answering my 2 inquiries!

Your Obedient Friend ~

~ Like a Star @ heaven

ChristineDaae1982 (Kat Taylor) Like a Star @ heaven

SenorSwanky Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:01 am

I don't think you needed to start a new thread when we already have a thread on the hundreds of school productions that've opened by now (including one about 5 minutes from me that's playing this weekend and next). I'd give it a shot though. I'm generally against the school productions, but if you think they'll do a good job, go.

ChristineDaae1982 Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:39 pm

Thank you, SensorSwanky!

First off, I didn't know that there was already a thread started. Secondly, I didn't quite realize how many school(s) would be picking this up! Honestly, I didn't!

Consider me that "bad phan" in not keeping up with this!

I truly appreciate this, however!

~ Your Obedient Friend

~ Like a Star @ heaven

Christine Daae (Kat Taylor) Like a Star @ heaven

operafantomet Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:36 pm

I merged the topics, if anyone wondered...

**MasqPhan** Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:27 pm

Unless I'm wrong, this is the first Canadian High School production of Phantom.
newspaper link

From what I've heard they are not going for a replica look.
They were visited by a former Toronto Phantom who gave them a mask. I was told this Phantom's name is Robert Pilon but it's not ringing a bell with me. I don't remember him in the Toronto show and haven't found much on the Internet about him. Anyone?

I don't know a whole lot about the cast other than Carlotta. She sang in the Peter Karrie concert in February in the Les Mis section as Fantine and she has a gorgeous voice. PK was very impressed with her and gave her some pointers on the Carlotta character.

Will have to check this out.

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