The Broadway production + US tour

I agree with Sean's assessment of the best part of the show. The final scenes, as well as the dressing room scene (particularly the Phantom's lines before appearing in the mirror) are my favorite parts and the defining parts of what makes great Phantoms.

Sorry not on for long or I'd have properly searched but can anyone tell me who the current cast in the Broadway production are and if anyone has seen any of them, opinions please?

ruthy wrote:Sorry not on for long or I'd have properly searched but can anyone tell me who the current cast in the Broadway production are and if anyone has seen any of them, opinions please?

The current Broadway cast list, as per the official website: http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/new_york/meet_the_people/

I've seen all 3 of the leads (but not together), & they are all very good, especially John Cudia & Jennifer Hope Wills. Cudia is a very smooth, sensual Phantom & a vocal powerhouse. Wills really shows Christine's evolution over the course of the show as she gains maturity & confidence. She also has an angelic voice. Silverman is a very brave, dashing Raoul who projects strength and confidence, also with a great singing voice.

Oh, I agree about John Cudia. He's mesmerizing! Very much to my liking...

Thank you very much! Very excited now.

ruthy wrote:Thank you very much! Very excited now.

When are you seeing the Broadway production? Would be good to have a new review of that one.

Re: the US Tour, this review made me laugh:

If the Phantom and his muse, Christine, had had access to some sort of instant messaging client, the first act would go pretty much like this:

phanboy: I TAUGHT U 2 SNG U UNGR8FL SLT

chrissyd: BT I WNT 2 MRRY A NRML MN INSTED OF SPNDNG MY LF IN A SOGGY BSMNT W/ A CIRCUS FRK

phanboy: PHANTOM SMASH!

Link to the rest: http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2009/11/curtains_the_phantom_of_the_op.php

Also, some very cool pics of the US tour being set up in Durham, NC: http://bit.ly/1xpumY

Scorp wrote:
Link to the rest: http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2009/11/curtains_the_phantom_of_the_op.php

Interesting review! And a rather good one considering the reviewer hasn't been exposed to the material before. Although...

Tim Martin Gleason's Phantom was very strong as an actor -- especially considering that he spends nearly the entire show with his face covered by the trademark white mask -- but, I thought, merely adequate as a singer. Then again, his character is not an opera singer.

'Cuz, you know, just because you can convince someone you're the ANGEL of Music doesn't mean there are mere mortals that can sing better than you

R.

Scorp wrote:Also, some very cool pics of the US tour being set up in Durham, NC: http://bit.ly/1xpumY

Coming my way!

Hi all! So, according to Marni Raab's website, she's covering the tour for about a month (end of January-ish to end of February-ish). Does anyone have any idea who will be covering her on Broadway for that month then? Just curious! Thanks!

[quote="Amberly_Nichole"]Hi all! So, according to Marni Raab's website, she's covering the tour for about a month (end of January-ish to end of February-ish). Does anyone have any idea who will be covering her on Broadway for that month then? Just curious! Thanks![/quote]

Would it possible for Kimilee Bryant to cover her part then? Is Marni taking over for Trista?

Amberly_Nichole wrote:Hi all! So, according to Marni Raab's website, she's covering the tour for about a month (end of January-ish to end of February-ish). Does anyone have any idea who will be covering her on Broadway for that month then? Just curious! Thanks!

I have no idea if it's correct, but I'm thinking Susan Owen? Thanks for that info, at least.

ETA: ooooh, forgot that Kimilee Bryant has gone on as Christine a couple of times. She sounds like a good choice, but I'm thinking that because of her versatility they might wanna keep her as a swing? She plays basically every female singer part (except Meg), it's quite amazing!

I'm thinking that Marni is taking over for Trista while she's on vacation perhaps? I'm not entirely sure, though. My understanding is that Trista is staying for at least another year with the tour. But, again, I'm not sure.

I was wondering about both Susan Owen and Kimilee Bryant, too. But, my first guess was Susan, too, since Kimilee usually covers the role of 'Carlotta,' among others. I haven't known Susan to cover any other principal roles other than 'Christine,' either.

Thanks for replying :]

Amberly_Nichole wrote:I was wondering about both Susan Owen and Kimilee Bryant, too. But, my first guess was Susan, too, since Kimilee usually covers the role of 'Carlotta,' among others.

She's also been on as Madame Giry and Il Muto confidante lately, two noticeable roles, so I fully understand if they want to keep her a swing. Will be interesting to find out!

Kimilee always has the best photos of herself backstage in various costumes on Facebook. There's one of her as Carlotta in the Prima Donna costume and holding a Pomeranian...speaking as a Pom person, every diva should have one.

Amberly_Nichole wrote:I'm thinking that Marni is taking over for Trista while she's on vacation perhaps? I'm not entirely sure, though. My understanding is that Trista is staying for at least another year with the tour. But, again, I'm not sure.

Trista's taking a leave of absence January 12th through February 21st to play Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. She'll be back.

Oh, wow! That's amazing! Thanks for the information :]

A video interview with the tour's advance stage manager, David Hansen, as the tour's set goes through finishing set-up touches at DPAC for tonight's premiere:

http://durhamcounty.mync.com/site/durhamcounty/news|Sports|Lifestyles/story/45021/phantom-of-the-opera-comes-to-the-dpac

Woot! I snagged 5 tickets for the...I think it's March 28th show here in Austin. I know I gave somewhat of a tepid review of the show in Houston but man...I am excited! So, who all is coming to Austin for this run of shows?

Edited for the real date. That's how excited I am

Demodiki wrote:Woot! I snagged 5 tickets for the...I think it's May 28th show here in Austin. I know I gave somewhat of a tepid review of the show in Houston but man...I am excited! So, who all is coming to Austin for this run of shows?

Actually the Austin shows are March 17 to April 4.

On May 28 it will be in East Lansing.

Two reviews of the tour from the local papers: the News & Observer, which, other than being wrong on a few facts in the first paragraph, is positively glowing about the production values and ALW's "musical genius," but mostly negative about the performers, who he sees as going through the motions and lacking chemistry; and a terribly written but universally positive review from the Durham Herald-Sun.

Here also is an interview from the latter paper with Trista Moldovan.

An article with an accompanying slide show of the tour cast from an actual performance (so not the usual posed pics):
http://durhamcounty.mync.com/site/durhamcounty/news/story/45021/phantom-of-the-opera-comes-to-the-dpac

SenorSwanky wrote:An article with an accompanying slide show of the tour cast from an actual performance (so not the usual posed pics):
http://durhamcounty.mync.com/site/durhamcounty/news/story/45021/phantom-of-the-opera-comes-to-the-dpac

That'd be great if only they'd given us a way to enlarge the pictures. Three-inch tall photos are nearly pointless.

L'anyhoodle, here's a 50 - yes, that's fifty - minute long video interview with Tim Martin Gleason: Clicky!

I haven't had a chance to watch the whole thing yet, but it looks as though most, if not all, of the makeup application process is filmed. Sort of. They only film from the non-deformed side, due to copyright and all that jazz. But still, it's neat to see even from the wrong side.

And here's the CliffsNotes version of that interview, condensed to only 2 and a half minutes for the sake of your valuable time: Clicky!

SenorSwanky wrote:An article with an accompanying slide show of the tour cast from an actual performance (so not the usual posed pics):
http://durhamcounty.mync.com/site/durhamcounty/news/story/45021/phantom-of-the-opera-comes-to-the-dpac

Tiny/blurry images aside, there's a couple nice Giry shots in there. I love the one where Andre is kissing her hand and she's pretty much got a 'you are not worthy' look on her face.

~Madame~

What an awesome interview. Tim is very eloquent and fascinating to listen to. And this area is lucky to have a journalist like David Crabtree and a news channel like WRAL. Great questions.

4 hours and counting...! I'm really excited.

Got back from the show and my backstage tour a little under an hour ago. It was awesome going backstage for the first time, though unfortunately I didn't get to take any pics, which I was afraid would be the case. As well as Sean MacLaughlin and Elaine Matthews, I briefly caught TMG, who, like when I saw him on Broadway, was the first out the door and was in a rush. I did get him to sign my Playbill though. Anea, you'll be jealous I was shown a rack of the female understudies' costumes (mostly Carlotta and Giry dresses), which at this stop are stored in MacLaughlin's dressing room.

The show itself wasn't as good as when I saw it on Broadway (though part of that was the sound mixing, I think, which could have been turned up quite a few decibels on some of the actors and instruments), but some of the cast members, notably MacLaughlin's Raoul (best I've seen in person and one of the best I've been exposed to period), the managers (Bruce Winant is apparently back; no sign of Michael McCoy in the cast list), Satomi Hoffman's Mme. Giry, and Tonna Miller's Carlotta, were outstanding. Kelly Jeanne Grant's Christine had her moments as well, particularly in Wishing and Notes II, though she was a little too strong vocally and acting-wise overall, and not quite the innocent, shy ingenue in the first act that I like. TMG is definitely a second-act Phantom acting-wise, and had his best vocal moments in the softer parts of MOTN, AIAOY Reprise, and WC, and in his final line, and he had a fantastic Say You'll Share..., but he's just not my cup of tea in the role overall. I loved seeing Greg Rahming as Don Attilio again, though instead of holding out the "heeeeeerrrrrrrrr" forever like he hilariously did on Broadway, he does this pelvic thrust, with his voice wobbling with his hips. Very funny, but not quite as much so as the way he holds out the note. Andrew Varela isn't quite suited for Piangi. Sadly, I missed David Gaschen by 2 days; it appears Varela is the new principal and that John Whitney has left the show. They also have three different auctioneers during this stop; I got Kirk Vaughn-Robinson, who was decent. Greg Mills is also at least temporarily back, as he played the Hairdresser and Marksman tonight and was not in the cast list. Stephen Tewksbury is also in the cast as Lefevre (and Phantom u/s) at the moment; he was pretty good in that role. To complete the cast comings and goings (probably many due to the holidays), Joelle Gates, normally the dance captain/swing, was in the ensemble.

I'm not one to write out epic scene-by-scene or performer-by-performer reviews, so I'll probably just keep editing this post or writing further ones when I have more thoughts.

It doesn't need to be some epic scene by scene thing to qualify to belong in the reviews section. What you wrote is good. Glad you got to see the show again and that you got a tour after the show. Always a treat to see what goes on backstage.

Tim did some Ramin-style belting in parts, including the final line, which was interesting for an American Phantom, but fitting for a guy who has not had extensive vocal training. He also had a great way of sending Raoul and Christine off; he sort of held his arms and acted really nervous and anxious (reminded me a little of the guy who kills Corinne and himself in Patch Adams, if you've seen that), and he waited til the last possible second to scream "Go now and leave me," which left his voice ringing through the theater after the music had stopped. He was also great at the sarcastic parts around Raoul's arrival.

Also, I didn't mind the new overture and title song orchestrations as much as I thought I would, but they definitely could tone down the electric guitar during the cadenza, as it really overpowers both Christine and the Phantom.

Another note on the sound mixing: it was clear when the vocals were pre-recorded because they were louder and clearer than the live vocals, at least from the rear center orchestra. That shouldn't be the case, and I don't remember it being the case any other time I've seen the show.

Sounds like it was a great show overall!

SenorSwanky wrote:(Bruce Winant is apparently back; no sign of Michael McCoy in the cast list)

Bruce is back for a few months - I can't recall at this moment exactly which stops he's staying through - which makes me very happy. ^_^ (Of course, I'd be happier if I could get somewhere to actually see him in the show...)

Who are playing Passarino and the Princess now? I hear Stephen and Juliette left, but I don't know who the new ones are. And is Jessi still Meg? And has Kim Stengel left, or was she just out for the night?

...haha, sorry for all the random questions.

phantomgirl110 wrote:Sounds like it was a great show overall!

It was. Wish I could go again (holding out hope I win the last contest I entered). I think some of the lukewarm or negative feelings also had to do with the fact I was spoiled by being in the 3rd row orchestra left when I last saw it on Broadway, and while I had a great view of the whole stage tonight from center orchestra, I prefer being right up on the action both for sound and viewing purposes.

Bruce is back for a few months

Oh. I could have sworn I saw McCoy listed on the official site when I checked not too long ago. He was very good, up there with Tim Jerome, who I absolutely loved (though most people didn't seem to like him, compared to Jeff Keller, at least).

Who are playing Passarino and the Princess now?

Carrington Vilmont and Elizabeth Welch, respectively. I like Vilmont's Passarino, though not so much his Auctioneer (I saw him as both on Broadway), so I'm glad I got to experience someone else's auctioneering.

I hear Stephen and Juliette left

Yeah, no sign of them in the cast list.

And is Jessi still Meg?

Nope. Jessica Bishop is now Meg. She was ordinary--cute, sweet voice, but nothing that really stands out about her performance. I know you'll be shocked and dumbfounded by this, but Meg never really leaves much of an impression on me, regardless of who plays her.

And has Kim Stengel left, or was she just out for the night?

Kim's still there. There were three understudies tonight (plus, I assume, swings in the understudies' usual roles, though I'm a bit confused because the one female swing was on as Mme. Giry, so either Welch, Anne Kanengeiser, or Pamela Shandrow must have added Tonna Miller's usual track to her duties). Miller (Carlotta tonight) normally plays the Spanish Lady, but isn't listed as a Carlotta understudy, so she must be relatively new to the show, and it must have been among her first performances in the role, but you wouldn't have known it, because she was just as good as most principals. Satomi Hoffman is a swing listed as an understudy for both Carlotta and Mme. Giry (I'd love to see her as Carlotta). And Greg Mills must be a vacation cover (though he is not listed as such in the Playbill, unlike Kyle Barisich and Rob Lorey); he filled in for Dallyn Vail Bayles as Hairdresser/Marksman.

...haha, sorry for all the random questions.

No problem. They're the same kinds of questions I always ask. I love casting.

Bruce is back for a few months

Oh. I could have sworn I saw McCoy listed on the official site when I checked not too long ago. He was very good, up there with Tim Jerome, who I absolutely loved (though most people didn't seem to like him, compared to Jeff Keller, at least).

Does it surprise you very much that the official site is out of date?

I got the news about Bruce being back via Facebook. He'll be doing Durham, Ft. Lauterdale, Orlando, Dallas and Austin, and he did Tempe before Durham.

Who are playing Passarino and the Princess now?

Carrington Vilmont and Elizabeth Welch, respectively.

Ah, thanks. I figured Elizabeth had probably been bumped up.

I know you'll be shocked and dumbfounded by this, but Meg never really leaves much of an impression on me, regardless of who plays her.

Shocked and dumbfounded that somebody isn't as obsessed with a minor character as I am? Hardly.

And has Kim Stengel left, or was she just out for the night?

Kim's still there.

Oh good. ^_^

And Greg Mills must be a vacation cover (though he is not listed as such in the Playbill, unlike Kyle Barisich and Rob Lorey)

Kyle is a cover for the tour? Oh yay! I knew he'd been back in the Broadway production recently, but didn't realize he was currently associated with the tour.