The Broadway production + Original US Replica tour

The tour was in a nearby city earlier this month, and I didn't even go see it. Instead, one Saturday afternoon, I went to the venue right before the matinee and bought two tickets to Wicked, which is coming in January (not a fan of the show, but my gf is, and my HS classmate is the principal Elphaba).

Here's a collection of videos featuring Chris Mann and Katie Travis, for the curious. Overall not bad, but hopefully Mann will rein in the pop inflections....

~LCD

I just watched the tour at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans. This was my 3rd time seeing Phantom live as my parents brought me to watch it at the Saenger in the mid 90's and I watched in in Houston  around 10 years ago.

First, I must give praise to Julia Udine as Christine.  I was thoroughly impressed with her. Her voice was tremendous as Christine.  I loved the way she portrayed Christine as a shy, naive girl.   Can't say enough good things about her.  I will put her as the best Christine I have ever seen live and one of my favorites overall.

I lived Ben Jacoby's voice and enjoyed his portrayal of Raoul. Cooper Grodin did well as the Phantom, he didn't have the strongest voice I've ever heard but did a good job with the Role. I enjoyed the chemistry between Ben, Julia and Cooper and thought they worked well together.


The rest of the cast was quite good as well.  No one had anything I can really complain about.  Julia Udine definitely stole the show in my opinion.

I've heard negative things about this new production and I found that I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed the show, possibly more-so than the original tour.  I found all of the complaints to be unfounded and do not agree at all with the harsh criticism this tour has received from some fans.  The sets were very elaborate and the transitions between the scenes were quite impressive.  

Can't say enough good things about the show.  No one walked out of the show, it got a standing ovation at the end and everyone at intermission was very positive about the show.

I highly recommend going watch the show if you get a chance.



The Saenger in New Orleans is a fantastic venue that really adds to the Phantom.  Enjoyed this showing more than any other I have been to and will definitely go watch the tour again when I get a chance.

... However, is it worth seeing & placing my monies down for good seating for Cameron Mackintosh's newest US touring production?? I have heard extremely mixed reviews about the new POTO & was curious & inquiring. I've also "heard" that Christine does NOT kiss Erik at the end of the new touring production. It's more like a "peck on Erik's malformed lips," rather than the "kiss" one witnessed in the old Touring Production. Could someone please clear this up for me?? Also, any Phans from the boards going to attend (if it's actually worth attending) & when so that I may meet up with them??

Thank you ~

~ ChristineDaae1982

I have tickets to see it when it comes to Phoenix, Arizona the first week of June. I was able to get tickets right smack in the middle of the Grand Tier in the first row! My entire family wanted to go so we were able to get the group rate of $78.00 per ticket months before they went on sale to the general public. The same seats are now going for around $130.00 per ticket.

I'm so excited! This will be my second time seeing it but it will be the first for the rest of my family.

There's a set of photos here showing the process of Howard McGillin's makeup being applied.
http://www.broadway.com/shows/the-phantom-of-the-opera/photos/masked-man-howard-mcgillins-phantom-transformation/

Some of the pictures were taken via the mirror, so you have to get used to the deformity swapping sides.

Mary

SenorSwanky wrote:Can someone remind me what Kaley's alternate schedule is?

Monday and Thursday matinee.

Saw the show in NYC a few days ago with Norm, MMP, and Jeremy Hays.  Great show.  Loved certain aspects of Norm's take on Phantom, didn't love other aspects, but overall really happy I got to see him in the role, and would happily see him again.  Definitely the richest sounding MOTN ever.  Really enjoyed MMP as well.  

Also, Electric Portcullis.  It happened.

Phantom on a Budget wrote:Also, Electric Portcullis.  It happened.

Can you explain that, please?

Mary

MarySkater wrote:

Phantom on a Budget wrote:Also, Electric Portcullis.  It happened.

Can you explain that, please?

Mary

It's when something goes wrong with the Punjab lasso in Final Lair, and Raoul is "stuck" on the portcullis by some magic force to keep him restrained.

Thank you, PoaB! I haven't seen that happen.

I'd never wish an accident on a live stage show, but if it happens, it's great to see a good recovery. Like the video link which was posted on the old forum, of the time when Joseph Buquet missed his entrance when he should have been frightening the ballet girls, and Meg delivered his lines instead.

Mary

Phantom on a Budget wrote:

SenorSwanky wrote:Can someone remind me what Kaley's alternate schedule is?

Monday and Thursday matinee.

Thought that was still the case, but somewhere it was mentioned that could change when Julia Udine joins.

Does BroadwayBox do discounts post-Christmas? So far they only run through 12/20, and I'm hoping to see it 12/29.

Just announced via Facebook...

James Barbour will be taking over the role of The Phantom after Norm's departure.

That's...interesting.

I saw the show December 29th. I thought Norm was very good in parts (his MOTN is definitely one of the best, his AIAOY Reprise is superb, and he's got a nice voice in PONR), but underwhelming in the Final Lair, which is crucial to me. Seemed to be a bit of a low-energy cast that night. But there were some great moments, and Kaley was phenomenal.

Paula74 wrote:Just announced via Facebook...

James Barbour will be taking over the role of The Phantom after Norm's departure.

Thanks for posting this news!

Hmmm...I've seen James Barbour in other shows: Jane Eyre, 1776 (at the Papermill Playhouse), A Tale of Two Cities, and in video footage from when he was the Beast in Disney's Beauty & the Beast. I've always liked him as a performer, and I think he's got a great voice -- very powerful. Hopefully he'll make a good Phantom. I'll think about if I'll be going to see him in the show or not.

Might this be another nail in Rebecca's coffin?

I feel so bad that although I know him by name, I've never seen him or heard him sing, Youtube time for sure

Im just thrilled I 'might' get a chance to see Norm before he leaves

Having youtubed Barbour's MOTN, i think he sounds great. I'll be at Norm's last show and Barbour's first, I think he might make a great Phantom.

in his youtube clip every so often there are hints of something like what Davis Gaines brought to the role vocally, it would be awesome if he could bring more of that out in his voice. But either way he has a powerful voice, cant wait to hear him

SenorSwanky wrote:

Phantom on a Budget wrote:

SenorSwanky wrote:Can someone remind me what Kaley's alternate schedule is?

Monday and Thursday matinee.

Thought that was still the case, but somewhere it was mentioned that could change when Julia Udine joins.

is this still the case? i'm possibly going to NY end of march/early april, and would love to see kaley! i think i saw julia udine in chicago on the tour already.

http://www.news-press.com/story/entertainment/2015/01/22/new-phantom-opera-swoops-fort-myers/22172939/

These sorts of articles are coming regularly out of the US press these days. Do these journalists have their own thoughts at all, or do they just act as mouthpieces for Cameron?

This particular article makes my blood boil because of how much of it is patently untrue. I wish they would STOP pretending that this production was conceived because Phantom was in need of some update and just admit that it's because the Prince/Björnson production is too expensive now for Cameron to bother touring. The characters are not in the slightest more "relatable" now, this isn't "grittier", whatever the hell that means, and how anyone can think this production has a "more cinematic flow" than Hal Prince's direction is beyond me.

I would be more generous to the production if it were less boastful and stopped making these ridiculous claims.

Scorp wrote:http://www.news-press.com/story/entertainment/2015/01/22/new-phantom-opera-swoops-fort-myers/22172939/

These sorts of articles are coming regularly out of the US press these days. Do these journalists have their own thoughts at all, or do they just act as mouthpieces for Cameron?

This particular article makes my blood boil because of how much of it is patently untrue. I wish they would STOP pretending that this production was conceived because Phantom was in need of some update and just admit that it's because the Prince/Björnson production is too expensive now for Cameron to bother touring. The characters are not in the slightest more "relatable" now, this isn't "grittier", whatever the hell that means, and how anyone can think this production has a "more cinematic flow" than Hal Prince's direction is beyond me.

I would be more generous to the production if it were less boastful and stopped making these ridiculous claims.

My grandma (a 30 or 40+ time veteran of the Prince / Bjornson version) saw the tour in Ft. Myers last week and echoed the above as well as the general commentary from people who are even remotely familiar with the original. She likened it to a quite-good college production, with immensely talented singers in the principal roles, but that the show was downright bad (even laughable) at times, particularly the second act. She could tolerate it if only to hear the score in a large theatre, but doesn't think this show would survive if there wasn't such a strong or loyal following of the show due to the original.

todaaefor wrote:

Scorp wrote:http://www.news-press.com/story/entertainment/2015/01/22/new-phantom-opera-swoops-fort-myers/22172939/

These sorts of articles are coming regularly out of the US press these days. Do these journalists have their own thoughts at all, or do they just act as mouthpieces for Cameron?

This particular article makes my blood boil because of how much of it is patently untrue. I wish they would STOP pretending that this production was conceived because Phantom was in need of some update and just admit that it's because the Prince/Björnson production is too expensive now for Cameron to bother touring. The characters are not in the slightest more "relatable" now, this isn't "grittier", whatever the hell that means, and how anyone can think this production has a "more cinematic flow" than Hal Prince's direction is beyond me.

I would be more generous to the production if it were less boastful and stopped making these ridiculous claims.

My grandma (a 30 or 40+ time veteran of the Prince / Bjornson version) saw the tour in Ft. Myers last week and echoed the above as well as the general commentary from people who are even remotely familiar with the original. She likened it to a quite-good college production, with immensely talented singers in the principal roles, but that the show was downright bad (even laughable) at times, particularly the second act. She could tolerate it if only to hear the score in a large theatre, but doesn't think this show would survive if there wasn't such a strong or loyal following of the show due to the original.

That slightly restores my faith in humanity...

I have since discovered that the author of the above-linked article hadn't even seen the show when that was written. So the whole "grittier", "more cinematic" (?!?!), "more relatable" BS is completely unsubstantiated. This journalist literally just wrote what Cameron et al told him to. My blood continues to boil.

A lot of the UK reviewers who praised this production (which was even worse in the UK) were obviously unfamiliar with the Prince/Björnson production, which frankly astounds me given how iconic and long-running it is. It baffles me that so many in the States could also be so unfamiliar with the original too.

I am, though, now convinced by the hearsay that the Vegas production was closed under Mackintosh's pressure to make way for this. Can you imagine this being reviewed at all favourably by West Coast reviewers with the Vegas production running nearby?!

Has this tour played anywhere near NYC yet? Surely the reviewers there would know the Broadway production...

Keep in mind that this isn't so much a "review" as it is a puff piece interviewing people attached to the production--who will, of course, talk up their version as much as they can. It's not objective, nor is it intended to be. I agree it's frustrating hearing all the implied and explicit "Oh, it's so much better than that dusty old thing playing on Broadway!" though....

~LCD

LadyCDaae wrote:Keep in mind that this isn't so much a "review" as it is a puff piece interviewing people attached to the production--who will, of course, talk up their version as much as they can.  It's not objective, nor is it intended to be.  I agree it's frustrating hearing all the implied and explicit "Oh, it's so much better than that dusty old thing playing on Broadway!" though....

~LCD

Oh, I get that - but what annoys me is that it doesn't even say that the "Oh, it's so much better..." stuff is from the mouths of those working in the tour and/or Cammie. It's written as if it's the journalist's opinion (see the sentences: "The characters are more relatable" and something about the production being "more cinematic"), which I later found out couldn't even be the case, because he hadn't seen the show when this was written.

Saw the Broadway sow this past Saturday with Norm and Julia, was thrilled as I was not sure I would be able to catch him in it at all since he leaves soon. Had a seat at the back so can't comment on acting but vocally everyone was on point, I do love Julia's voice and Norm's final lair was very moving (no over the top shouting or hysterics, thank you very much) Odd thing, the way he crawls along the floor in 'stranger' is very unusual and I thought quite brilliant. I guess he has tremendous upper body strength as his legs do not move at all and he does it in pieces in time with the music. I also loved how at the end he ran up to the portculis with the veil and not just stood there as they rowed off, very touching.

There were a few minor sound issues, particularly during the overture where the speaker above my head kept looking feed for the overture track, but otherwise I could hear every instrument clearly.

Im still amazed how after 27 years everything still works so well. Was also glad to see an almost full house for a saturday matinee in that sort of weather

Couldn't really get a good look at how the makeup might have been changed colour wise to suit his skin tone but it looked good from where I sat.

He is also such a nice guy when you meet him in person. Since the Monday anniversary was snowed out, they celebrated with one of their pizza parties on stage the Saturday night so I was lucky to go back for that after I went to see the 8pm show of Aladdin.

I know there is alot of backlash for the new guy but every one over at the Majestic is very supportive and I am looking forward to seeing him perform (he is there for about a year I believe)

Is anyone able to verify if this list of the principal Broadway Phantoms from the beginning of the run up to the present day is correct? Is anyone missing? Are the dates all correct?

Michael Crawford - 9 January 1988
Timothy Nolen - 10 October 1988
Cris Groenendaal - 20 March 1989
Steve Barton - 19 March 1990
Kevin Gray - 3 December 1990
Mark Jacoby - 22 February 1991
Marcus Lovett - 24 May 1993
Davis Gaines - 4 July 1994
Thomas James O'Leary - 11 October 1996
Hugh Panaro - 1 February 1999
Howard McGillin - 23 August 1999
Hugh Panaro (return) - 14 April 2003
Howard McGillin (return) - 3 October 2005
John Cudia - 27 July 2009
Hugh Panaro (return) - 7 September 2010
Norm Lewis - 12 May 2014
James Barbour - 9 February 2015

Thanks to anyone who can help... But I need more help with the list of London Phantoms - click here.

Looks right to me.

Peter Joback is missing.

Totally forgot he had that short run in the middle of Hugh's third (fourth?) run in the show. Probably because he was a forgettable Phantom.

From what I've heard of Barbour so far, he sounds phenomenal vocally. Can't tell how he is acting-wise yet. I love his Mirror scene and MOTN. PONR and FL could use some work, but he's got time to grow.