The Broadway production + US tour

While it's alwyas nice for actors to move on to other things, I'm gutted to hear SJF is leaving. Usually I dont mind not seeing the principal CHristine, but I was truly dissapointed beyond all words when Both times I saw the show last year I got the alternate. (not that anything is wrong with her) I just LOVED SJF's voice from clips I've seen online.

I know it would never happen, I believe she has a project lined up, but I for one would LOVE if Sierra would do a 6 month stint on broadway.

Sierra was announced for Rebecca which, if all goes as planned, is supposed to open in March.

So Marilyn Caskey is leaving the Broadway production? Or just "stepping down"?

The official Broadway FB site wrote Cristin J. Hubbard is returning from maternity leave, and will start playing the role of Madame Giry again from October 31. I just doesn't hope this means Caskey is leaving. She is the most fantastic Madame Giry I've ever seen, no competition (and I'm a big fan of Heather jackson in the role, mind you).

There's a new Hubbard/Barisich photo at the FB site - the classical lantern one, of course:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150523142744689&set=a.178241399688.153059.55494929688&type=1&theater

Does anyone know if Hugh will be in the role in February '12? Didn't know when his contract was up and if he was planning on extending. Thank you!

Phantom on a Budget wrote:Does anyone know if Hugh will be in the role in February '12? Didn't know when his contract was up and if he was planning on extending. Thank you!

His current contract is up at the beginning of December. About two weeks ago, he told me he expected to renew. I haven't followed up with him since them, but someone asked Sara Jean Ford on her fan page if he was leaving when she does and she said, no, he's staying. Assuming his renewal is for six months as usual...he'll be there in February. Though there is a chance he'll have some days off that month to do the annual Tarbell concert out on California...assuming that show doesn't conflict with the 10,000th performance of Phantom. He does have a concert out-of-town for Valentine's weekend...but that might change.

I'm glad Hugh Panaro is staying, if that indeed is the case. He was simply awesome when I saw him. Still very curious about their Christine situation. Who can it be, who can it be... If it's a brand new one, the Broadway production will have gotten a pretty brand new cast in a one year span!

I read the planned Phantom Halloween boat trip was cancelled due to foul weather. Maybe just as well they announced it so late... That meant only locals could attend, and only locals would be disappointed by the cancellation. No long trip fares and hotels and such involved. Too bad, though, I thought the idea was very cool.

Thanks Paula! We'll be out there the first couple days of February (just before the 10,000th performance actually) and were hoping he'd be around. Hopefully he's not taking leave or anything on the 3rd!

Yeah, the Northeast from DC upwards got a snow storm yesterday. It smelled like it was gonna snow here on Friday, but it wasn't quite cold enough--only in the 40s during the day. Just rained. My dad and I were just talking the other day about the year it snowed on Halloween when we still lived in upstate NY. I believe it was 1993. Not unusual to have snow on Thanksgiving (usually did), but Halloween? A little early for that.

According to Marni Raab's website she will be staying on as Alternate at least until June 2012.

I have a question and I apologize if this has already been answered. I just received a brochure in the mail today with no cast insert and I am trying to figure out who the cast was! Ironically, whoever owned it prior wrote the performance date at the top of the cover. It says December 6th, 1990 and it's from the Majestic Theater, New York.

Can anyone tell me who the Phantom, Christine, and Raoul were?? I saw a picture of Steve Barton in there but am not sure if he was indeed THE Raoul during this time.

Thanks!!

Steve Barton played the Phantom on Broadway from March to October 1990, and then he left for Los Angeles where he repeated the role of Raoul. So I think the pictures in the brochure is not quite up to date.

The cast of January 1991 on Broadway was Kevin Gray, Karen Culliver and Hugh Panaro. I assume it was the same cast in December.

operafantomet wrote:Steve Barton played the Phantom on Broadway from March to October 1990, and then he left for Los Angeles where he repeated the role of Raoul. So I think the pictures in the brochure is not quite up to date.

The cast of January 1991 on Broadway was Kevin Gray, Karen Culliver and Hugh Panaro. I assume it was the same cast in December.

Thanks! I am including a few pics from the brochure to see if you can tell who the cast might be. LOL.... ;-)

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Looks like Steve Barton and Rebecca Luker from the pictures. They were Raoul/Christine in at least 1989. I think Chris Groenendaal was the Phantom? Barton then went from being Luker's Raoul to being her Phantom. Kinda sweet.

operafantomet wrote:Looks like Steve Barton and Rebecca Luker from the pictures. They were Raoul/Christine in at least 1989. I think Chris Groenendaal was the Phantom? Barton then went from being Luker's Raoul to being her Phantom. Kinda sweet.

Okay thanks! Sorry the pics were so big...I should have sized them down before I posted them. It's getting late and my brain is fuzzy...lol But thanks for the information!!

Kimilee Bryant is on as Madame Giry for both performances today. Just in case someone is heading for The Majestic.

Now that's interesting. Has she performed that role before?

SenorSwanky wrote:Now that's interesting. Has she performed that role before?

Yes, she's done it every now and then. I think she's covered/played all female roles except Meg! But it's quite a bit since she last performed the role of Madame Giry now, she usually goes on as Carlotta, and a few times a year as Christine. So interesting change - vocally at least!

Just realized SJF leaves the show a week from tomorrow. Any word on a replacement yet?

Odd they have not announced anyone yet.

A person at the POTO Broadway FB site commented that Marni Raab is more or less performing as principal the first week after Sara Jean Ford has left. So in effect the new principal won't start until early-mid December. But still, it should definitely be announced by now. Ditto for Hugh Panaro, if he has renewed his contract or not.

Marni Raab's performance schedule in December:
http://ical.mac.com/WebObjects/iCal.woa/wa/default?d=4&u=marnimail&v=1&y=2011&m=11&n=Marni%27s%20Schedule.ics

I'm going to see the show during the week of December 12th. If Marni keeps her alternate schedule that week I'll probably see her as I am going on Monday. Though I would be very interested to see Elizabeth Welch too if she takes over for alternate that week.

It's finally official...Trista Moldovan.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/157093-Trista-Moldovan-Will-Step-Into-Phantoms-Mirror-on-Broadway-Heather-McFadden-Will-Be-Meg

Also, Hugh has renewed. I knew that much, but just couldn't actually say so. I still don't know for how long at this point, but when I hear back from him on that, I'll update the schedule page on his site.

Trista Moldovan.... no surprises there. Hands up, all of those who guessed a recent US tour Christine would take over after Sara Jean Ford.

But Marilyn Caskey is definitely gone as Madame Giry then? She just floored me in the role, I'm so glad I got to see her. A pity she left, but I guess that was the plan all along. Cristin J. Hubbard was on a maternily leave, no?

Yay for Hugh Panaro renewing his contract. He totally floored me as well. His performance and that of Marilyn Caskey was the reason I saw Phantom on Broadway a second time instead of seeing the original cast Mary and Bert in "Mary Poppins". I was so close to choose the latter, especially since the Phantom cast was the same both days... but I just had to see Panaro and Caskey in the roles again. :-)

Stephanie wrote:I'm going to see the show during the week of December 12th. If Marni keeps her alternate schedule that week I'll probably see her as I am going on Monday. Though I would be very interested to see Elizabeth Welch too if she takes over for alternate that week.

I did a quick search, and apparently Elizabeth Welch will be on as Christine on Thursday, December 8th: http://www.elizabethwelch.net/ElizabethWelch/Welcome.html

By the way... I'm planning on going to NY on Saturday and I'd LOVE to see Sara Jean Ford before she leaves. Right now the best I can afford with the discount code is the rear mezzanine. Would I be better off waiting and trying my luck with TKTS so that maybe I could get something closer at a comparable price? (I have a backup plan... if I can't get Phantom tickets, I could see "Follies" instead.)

How much are the tickets in the side boxes? Can you reserve tickets in the boxes by calling the box office at the theater or do you have to buy them in person? Is it hard to see action at the other side of the stage from the boxes? Or, does the proscenium block the action on the same side of the stage? (When I saw the tour in Philadelphia, my dad's seat was at the far left end of the front mezzanine, and he said he couldn't see the kiss and some other parts of the final lair scene because the proscenium blocked it.) Is it too loud in the side boxes? I don't think I'd like sitting right next to a huge speaker.

I've heard so many good things about Sara Jean Ford that I'd love to be close enough to see her facial expressions without using binoculars, but I'm afraid it could be too risky to wait until the day of the show to buy tickets.

operafantomet wrote:Trista Moldovan.... no surprises there. Hands up, all of those who guessed a recent US tour Christine would take over after Sara Jean Ford.

But Marilyn Caskey is definitely gone as Madame Giry then? She just floored me in the role, I'm so glad I got to see her. A pity she left, but I guess that was the plan all along. Cristin J. Hubbard was on a maternily leave, no?

Yay for Hugh Panaro renewing his contract. He totally floored me as well. His performance and that of Marilyn Caskey was the reason I saw Phantom on Broadway a second time instead of seeing the original cast Mary and Bert in "Mary Poppins". I was so close to choose the latter, especially since the Phantom cast was the same both days... but I just had to see Panaro and Caskey in the roles again. :-)

Excellent choice, and exactly who i said would take over, i look forward to seeing Trista in the role again.

I SOOO preferred the boxes compared to the blah seat I had in the stalls (floor... orchestra... whatever it's called in the US). Much closer to the stage, slightly bird view, and a nice glimpse of the auditorium as well. And even better, it was half the price! To me it was a totally different experience.

I think original price for the stalls tickets was $130, but I had some kind of discount and paid... $80 or something? The boxes were around $65. I sat in the stalls the first night, and was kinda disappointed about the placement. It wasn't too bad, but it was right where the mezzanine starts, and just a bit too far away from the stage to gorge in details. The box gave me much better view of facial expressions, costume details and such.

BUT NOTE: whatever you do, don't choose the boxes nearest to the stage. You'll miss big chunks of the action. Choose the one furthest away (but still with an own entrance). Only thing I missed there was the first seconds of Red Death entrance, and that's it. I loved it there.

But if you're on a more restricted budget than that, the rear mezzanine is about $27. It is rather affordable. I have no idea how the seats are, but I'm sure someone will fill you in on the best spots etc. The prices I've quoted is based on mid-week, not weekends. The latter is more expensive. But do check the official site for offers:
http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/new-york

I just read that from the 9th of december, Trista Moldovan will be the Broadway Christine, joined by Heather McFadden and Cristin J Hubbard. First reactions: Awesome!
OG

thephanfullerton wrote:I just read that from the 9th of december, Trista Moldovan will be the Broadway Christine, joined by Heather McFadden and Cristin J Hubbard. First reactions: Awesome!
OG

AKA "what we've been discussing above"...

operafantomet wrote:

thephanfullerton wrote:I just read that from the 9th of december, Trista Moldovan will be the Broadway Christine, joined by Heather McFadden and Cristin J Hubbard. First reactions: Awesome!
OG

AKA "what we've been discussing above"...

Sorry! Ionly spotted that when I had sent the message! As you can probably see, I'm not exactly an observant person...
OG

Looks like performances for the Christine Alternate at the Majestic are changing. As of the week of December 12th, the alternate will now perform Monday evenings and Wednesday matinees.