Re: 25th anniversary celebrations

SenorSwanky Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:31 am

Scorp wrote:Oh well, Cameron knows that I'll pay what I have to pay...

...to take Cosette away. Wink

Josephine Wed Sep 21, 2011 6:07 am

Does anyone know in which cinemas in London the anniversary performance will be shown? I keep trying to find it online, but I can only see the list of cinemas in the US.

Freyalise Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:58 pm

This link here appears to have a list of London theaters screening the show?

This is probably a long shot, but is anyone else planning to hit up the Trussville, AL theater?

operafantomet Fri Sep 23, 2011 9:53 am

Full cast list for the concert is now announced. 1,5 week before the concert. As usual I'm VEEEEEERY impressed.

PHANTOM: Ramin Karimloo
CHRISTINE: Sierra Boggess
RAOUL: Hadley Fraser
CARLOTTA: Keira Duffy
ANDRE: Gareth Snook
FIRMIN: Barry James
PIANGI: Wynne Evans
MADAME GIRY: Liz Robertson
MEG GIRY: Daisy Maywood
SLAVEMASTER: Sergei Polunin (I have no idea why THIS is specified, unless Gillian Lynne is having some fun....)

So Fraser, Duffy and Maywood has never performed the roles on stage before. Why were these chosen? And why two Americans for the female leads? I wish some recognition were given to the WEST END production, though I know this is meant as a general 25th anniversary celebration.

http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/news/latest-news/full-principal-casting-announced-for-phantom-25

Anyhow.... For those attending the concert, I'm dying to get my hands on the brochure. Would anyone be willing to pick up a copy for me, if I paid you through PayPal? That would mean a lot to me.

Scorp Fri Sep 23, 2011 10:12 am

operafantomet wrote:Full cast list for the concert is now announced. 1,5 week before the concert. As usual I'm VEEEEEERY impressed.

PHANTOM: Ramin Karimloo
CHRISTINE: Sierra Boggess
RAOUL: Hadley Fraser
CARLOTTA: Keira Duffy
ANDRE: Gareth Snook
FIRMIN: Barry James
PIANGI: Wynne Evans
MADAME GIRY: Liz Robertson
MEG GIRY: Daisy Maywood
SLAVEMASTER: Sergei Polunin (I have no idea why THIS is specified, unless Gillian Lynne is having some fun....)

So Fraser, Duffy and Maywood has never performed the roles on stage before. Why were these chosen? And why two Americans for the female leads? I wish some recognition were given to the WEST END production, though I know this is meant as a general 25th anniversary celebration.

http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/news/latest-news/full-principal-casting-announced-for-phantom-25

I'm still curious as to who the auctioneer is going to be... It'll be weird if it's not Philip Griffiths.

Anyhow.... For those attending the concert, I'm dying to get my hands on the brochure. Would anyone be willing to pick up a copy for me, if I paid you through PayPal? That would mean a lot to me.

Yeah I can get you a brochure, but be warned that it's likely to be expensive! They may end up selling them online after the event; that's what they did with the Miz O2 brochures.

Miss von Krolock Fri Sep 23, 2011 4:43 pm

Scorp wrote:I'm still curious as to who the auctioneer is going to be... It'll be weird if it's not Philip Griffiths.

It's Earl Carpenter! Totally didn't see that one coming... Laughing

Full cast/company here:

http://phantom25th.com/company/

Nice to see so many familiar names in the ensemble Smile

phantomgirl110 Fri Sep 23, 2011 4:44 pm

**Raphael** Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:42 pm

Plenty of UK Phantom alumni in there Smile

TAFKaR

Guest Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:55 pm

Rosemary Ashe as the Confidante? Boo! The original Carlotta should not be playing back seat to anyone else in that role, IMO...

Helen Fri Sep 23, 2011 11:21 pm

I'm sure Kiera Duffy will be brilliant, but I wish that Rosemary Ashe was playing Carlotta. I think Earl Carpenter will make a brilliant Auctioneer. I'm really pleased that Ellen Jackson will be playing the Wardrobe Mistress and that Heather Jackson will get to wear the beautiful Mme Firmin gown. I wish she was wearing the black Mme Giry gown, though. I saw Hadley Fraser play Javert in Les Mis. I wasn't a big fan of his portrayal, but his voice is excellent. I'm sure he'll be a strong Raoul.

Scorp Sat Sep 24, 2011 12:17 am

phantomfett wrote:Rosemary Ashe as the Confidante? Boo! The original Carlotta should not be playing back seat to anyone else in that role, IMO...

WTF? And perhaps London's second greatest Carlotta, Jasna Ivir, is relegated to the ensemble. I find the casting of Earl as the Auctioneer and Ramin as the Phantom insulting. Just as well Crawford declined. I'm not even a big fan of Earl's Phantom (aside from one performance where he wowed me), but IMHO he is FAR more suitable and Phantom-like than Karimloo. What the hell is Cameron smoking?! Mad

Helen Sat Sep 24, 2011 12:29 am

I didn't realise Jasna Ivir had played Carlotta. I saw her in Chicago a while ago, she was great. I'd love to see her as Carlotta. Maybe one day she'll return to the role. I was a big fan of Earl's Phantom, he's probably my favourite.

What the hell is Cameron smoking?!

The same thing as when he cast that Jonas guy as Marius for Les Mis' 25th.

Madame Giry Sat Sep 24, 2011 1:11 am

Helen wrote:I'm sure Kiera Duffy will be brilliant, but I wish that Rosemary Ashe was playing Carlotta. I think Earl Carpenter will make a brilliant Auctioneer. I'm really pleased ... that Heather Jackson will get to wear the beautiful Mme Firmin gown. I wish she was wearing the black Mme Giry gown, though.

AMEN about Heather Jackson! Yet another case of LND apology casting with Liz Robertson.

As far as Rosemary being cast as the Confidante in Il Muto, well, I may be taking a stab in the dark here, but it might be that her voice isn't up to the task of Carlotta anymore. After all, it has been 25 years since she performed the role. It's not unheard of for voices to decline in range and strength as years pass. Of course, I don't know this fore sure; just speculating.

Surprising to see a number of Big Names from past Phantom casts are in the Ensemble. Not that I'm displeased by their inclusion, just rather shocked that a couple of principle Phantoms and Christines are in there, as opposed to leading/featured roles.

That being said, it does look like a generally strong cast and they should sound great.

~Madame~

Scorp Sat Sep 24, 2011 1:18 am

Hmm, well I last saw Rosie Ashe perform the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd in 2007 and her voice sounded great, but then of course that role is not nearly as demanding as that of Carlotta...

I just listened to a BBC Radio 2 interview with Laurence Connor and Sierra Boggess about the concert, and Sierra talks about the challenge of going back to the character "knowing what happens 10 years later". Oh, just give it a rest. And to talk of the joy of playing this part strikes me as a bit rich after dismissing it as two-dimensional last year.

Nick Jonas was a terrible Marius but he does sell DVDs, particularly in America. People like Wynne Evans and Kiera Duffy don't. I am baffled.

And yes, Jasna Ivir was a terrific Carlotta and a very popular one. She was in the cast at the time when Peter Cousens was the Phantom. She had enormous stage presence.

**Raphael** Sat Sep 24, 2011 5:52 am

Scorp wrote:I just listened to a BBC Radio 2 interview with Laurence Connor and Sierra Boggess about the concert, and Sierra talks about the challenge of going back to the character "knowing what happens 10 years later". Oh, just give it a rest. And to talk of the joy of playing this part strikes me as a bit rich after dismissing it as two-dimensional last year.

Is that interview available online? Because I'd be curious to hear it.

From the interviews she gave while in LND, she very much seemed to be spouting the party line as was to be expected (it's not good form to point out the faults of a show you're in, no matter how you may feel about it), and since this "25th Anniversary Celebration" seems to be a thinly disguised ad for the late LND, I'm not too surprised that she's doing it again, albeit with more kindness to that bit of hokum she'll happen to be performing in this time. But I fear she may very well have bought completely into ALW's sequel storyline and WILL alter (or perhaps "wrench" or "distort" may be better terms) her performance as Classic Christine to fit with LND Christine. In which case, my respect for artists and their choices notwithstanding, my respect for her in regards to PotO pretty much dropped to zero.

Oh, if only the Christines could talk to one another through one of them Doctor Who giant time lenses like the Amy Ponds did a couple of episodes ago. Maybe LND Christine would realize it's time she threw in the towel and stopped f#cking around with her younger self's character arc...

TAFKaR

ChristineDaae1982 Sat Sep 24, 2011 6:32 am

Color me naive in even asking this...

But is there any particualr reason that they couldn't utilize Michael and Sarah for the lead roles, Like they did for Les Mis (well... for at least for the lead of Jean Val Jean)? Or have Michael and Sarah moved on completely from Phantom?

Or is it just me in saying that ALW has that big of an ego with the LND's cast and literally "butchering" his once self-pronounced "baby," POTO?

And why is it that ALW had to go ahead and make a musical out of one of the worst Phantom-based novels out there, then go ahead and utilize the leads within a musical that -- to the very best of my knowledge, please someone educated the slightly uneducated, here -- presubably flopped in London for the 25th anniversary of Phantom?

Isn't this just a recipe for having his 25th anniversary special flop, with the leads cast as they most certainly are? Furthermore, what's with all this Gerard Butler crap and him being the narrator of Phantom's 25th anniversary? Isn't that all the more reason to make this a recipe for disaster towards the true die-hard phans? I just don't completely understand any of this!

That's just my thoughts (and questions from a somewhat naive Phan) on Phantom's 25th anniversary.

Thank you all for your feedback and your imput in educating me! It's most appreciated!

Aled_Boyo Sat Sep 24, 2011 2:35 pm

Hello all! Been a while (as usual)...

Only a week to go now, very excited! While I'm not 100% sold on the casting - there could've been more appropriate choices - as someone else mentioned, I'm sure it will SOUND amazing. And if the concept designs are anything to go by, it will definitely deliver visually.

Got arena seats E, if anyone's interested in meeting for a drink / chat on Sunday night?

Very Happy

Scorp Sat Sep 24, 2011 2:56 pm

Raphael wrote:
Scorp wrote:I just listened to a BBC Radio 2 interview with Laurence Connor and Sierra Boggess about the concert, and Sierra talks about the challenge of going back to the character "knowing what happens 10 years later". Oh, just give it a rest. And to talk of the joy of playing this part strikes me as a bit rich after dismissing it as two-dimensional last year.
Is that interview available online? Because I'd be curious to hear it.

From the interviews she gave while in LND, she very much seemed to be spouting the party line as was to be expected (it's not good form to point out the faults of a show you're in, no matter how you may feel about it)

I agree, but there is a difference between supporting the show you're currently in and insulting another. The latter simply shouldn't be necessary in order to achieve the former.

Interview here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0147wvq You need to skip to about an hour into the programme to hear the interview.

Meanwhile ALW delivers yet another facepalm/headdesk comment in this interview: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2040479/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-reveals-hes-got-time-old-flames.html

The Mighty Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote:I think, in the end, if I was a betting man – which I’m not – the musical that I’d say will be remembered in 100 years’ time is Love Never Dies.

Just as well he's not a gambler, then.

SenorSwanky Sat Sep 24, 2011 3:38 pm

Gerard Butler narrating? Where'd you see that? And what is there to narrate?

Scorp Sat Sep 24, 2011 3:41 pm

SenorSwanky wrote:Gerard Butler narrating? Where'd you see that? And what is there to narrate?

I think that's an unsubstantiated rumour with no basis in reality. Unless someone took a spoof casting I came up with yonks ago before we knew anything about this concert seriously.

**Raphael** Sat Sep 24, 2011 3:49 pm

Scorp wrote:I agree, but there is a difference between supporting the show you're currently in and insulting another. The latter simply shouldn't be necessary in order to achieve the former.

Oh I agree with you completely. Tearing someone/thing else down in order to make yourself look better merely proves you don't have many positive things to say about yourself. And thanks for the link!

The Mighty Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote:I think, in the end, if I was a betting man – which I’m not – the musical that I’d say will be remembered in 100 years’ time is Love Never Dies.

The only way that will happen is if he buys off theatre historians the same way he bought his way into getting Gina Beck's "Love Never Dies" and David Shannon's "Til I hear You Sing" recordings onto an album titled "100 Greatest Musicals."

TAFKaR

Madame Giry Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:20 pm

Raphael wrote:
The only way that will happen is if he buys off theatre historians the same way he bought his way into getting Gina Beck's "Love Never Dies" and David Shannon's "Til I hear You Sing" recordings onto an album titled "100 Greatest Musicals."

I must've missed this... say WHAT?!

*fumes*

And as for Sierra? Utterly reprehensible that she demonstrates such a lack of respect for the role that essentially propelled her to theatrical success.

~Madame~

LadyCDaae Sun Sep 25, 2011 12:19 am

Every time I think I should order tickets for this, something comes along that makes me wonder if I really want to spend my money on it...

~LCD

Josephine Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:37 pm

Freyalise wrote:This link here appears to have a list of London theaters screening the show?

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, the cinema closest to where I live won't show it. If I go to a different cinema, I won't be back before midnight, and I can't do that, not with work the next day. Oh well, I guess it'll happen without me. It doesn't sound like I'll be missing much, anyway.

operafantomet Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:47 pm

Whatever the case, this will be released on DVD, will it not? So if you miss the actual concert or the screening, it's not like you'll never get to see it.

I heard some TV channels (paying) also stream it live, though I haven't checked into that at all.

alaron4 Sun Sep 25, 2011 11:01 pm

Going to see the simulcast at the AMC on Palm, in Burbank. Who else is going?

**Raphael** Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:23 am

Just saw this posted on Sierra's Twitter feed today:

Know when u finally meet someone who has impacted ur life in ways they will never know & u walk away even more inspired?
#michaelcrawford

TAFKaR

phantomgirl110 Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:47 am

The Mighty Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote:I think, in the end, if I was a betting man – which I’m not – the musical that I’d say will be remembered in 100 years’ time is Love Never Dies.

Remembered as what? One of the biggest missteps in musical theatre history? One of the most unnecessary shows to have ever existed?

Honestly, his dedication to this show is starting to seem a little sad, at least in those moments when I can let go of my anger over what he's done to the characters and the things he and RUG have said about the phans. I can't figure out of he's so delusional that he really thinks it's his best work/better than the original, or if he's just so desperate for it to be a success that he's willing to say or do anything to make it happen. Do you think he'll ever come around and admit that the show was a mistake, or will he keep selling this one until he dies? I can't imagine at the moment that he'll ever let go of this one, but I never would have imagined that he'd trash the original and shrug off his other work so casually either.

**Raphael** Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:18 pm

ALW seems to me like someone with a whole lot of pride and ego. The fact that there were fans that rejected what he thought was a sure thing (and rejected in such a public manner) just made him dig his heels in. If history serves, once the whole thing dies down and a few years go by, he'll have a much more realistic opinion of LND.

TAFKaR

Madame Giry Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:51 pm

Egads!

It appears that Claire Hammacott, former UK Christine and Ensemble member of the 25th Anniversary Cast, was recently injured in a car accident and is trying to recover from her injuries in order to be fit to perform in the Anniversary event.

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Phantom-star-Swansea-injured-M4-car-accident/story-13372885-detail/story.html

*crosses fingers* Let us hope that she will be will be back to normal so that she won't miss out on the Anniversary!

ETA: It looks like that Claire's name is not in the full cast list posted earlier in this thread. I do wonder if that means she had to bow out from the concert because of her injuries? What a shame, if so. Sad

~Madame~

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