New York casts of 25 years

Some months before the 25th anniversary celebration in Royal Albert Hall I tried to list the various principals of the West End production through 25 years. Now I'll attempt the same for the Broadway production, as the 25th anniversary is closing in.

My collection of Broadway playbills and programmes is way less extensive than for the West End, so I will probably need you people to fill in a lot. Especially on understudies! I'm starting the list, feel free to add whatever info you have.

CHRISTINES

January 1988: Sarah Brightman - Patti Cohenour - Rebecca Luker, ?
Summer 1988: Patti Cohenour - Dale Kristien - ?
1989: Patti Cohenour - Dale Kristien - ?
Later in 1989: Patti Cohenour - Rebecca Luker - ?
Summer 1989: Rebecca Luker - Katherine Buffaloe - ?
Spring 1990: Rebecca Luker - Katerine Buffaloe - ?
November 1990: Rebecca Luker - Katherine Buffaloe - ?
March 1991: Karen Culliver - Katherine Buffalone - ?
July 1991: Karen Culliver - Katherine Buffalone - ?
April 1992: Karen Culliver - Luann Aronson - ?
June 1992: Karen Culliver - Luann Aronson - ?
May 1993: Mary D'Arcy - Luann Aronson - ?
November 1993: Tracy Shayne - Luann Aronson - ?
July 1994: Tracy Shayne - ? - ?
February 1995: Tracy Shayne - ? - ?
January 1996: Tracy Shayne - Adrienne McEwan - ?
November 1996: Tracy Shayne - Teri Bibb - ?
August 1998: Marie Danvers - Susan Facer - ?
January 1998 - Sandra Joseph - ? - ?
September 1998: Sandra Joseph - Kimilee Bryant - ?
February 1999: Sandra Joseph - Adrienne McEwan - ?
June 1999a: Sandra Joseph - ? - ?
June 1999b: Adrienne McEwan - Sarah Pfisterer - ?
January 2000: Sarah Pfisterer - Adrienne McEwan - ?
June 2001: Sandra Joseph - Adrienne McEwan - ?
April 2002: Lisa Vroman - Adrienne McEwan - ?
December 2002: Lisa Vroman - Adrienne McEwan - ?
October 2003: Sandra Joseph - Julie Hanson - ?
December 2004: Sandra Joseph - Julie Hanson - ?
July 2005: Sandra Joseph - Rebecca Pitcher - Susan Owen, ?
January 2006: Sandra Joseph - Rebecca Pitcher - Susan Owen, ?
April 2006: Rebecca Pitcher - Jennifer Hope Wills - Susan Owen, ?
December 2006: Jennifer Hope Wills - Julie Hanson - Susan Owen, ?
2007: Jennifer Hope Wills - Julie Hanson - Susan Owen, ?
December 2007: Jennifer Hope Wills - Elizabeth Loyacano - ?
August 2008: Marni Raab - Elizabeth Loyacano - ?
June 2009: Jennifer Hope Wills - Marni Raab - ?
September 2010: Sara Jean Ford - Marni Raab - ?
August 2011: Sara Jean Ford - Marni Raab - Elizabeth Welch, Susan Owen
December 2011: Trista Moldovan - Marni Raab - Elizabeth Welch, Susan Owen
August 2012: Trista Moldova - Marni Raab - Elizabeth Welch, Susan Owen

(I lack most understudies, both first and second cover, here. I also have some programmes with no alternate listed. I assume there were some?)


Sarah Brightman, Patti Cohenour, Dale Kristien, Rebecca Luker, Katherine Buffaloe.



Karen Culliver, Luann Aronson (pic from Canada), Mary D'Arcy, Tracy Shayne.



Adrienne McEwan, Teri Bibb, Marie Danvers, Susan Facer.




Sandra Joseph, Kimilee Bryant, Sarah Pfisterer, Lisa Vroman, Julie Hanson.




Rebecca Pitcher, Jennifer Hope Wills, Marni Raab, Elizabeth Loyacano, Susan Owen.




Sara Jean Ford, Trista Moldovan, Elizabeth Welch.

PHANTOMS:

January 1988: Michael Crawford - ?
Summer 1988: Michael Crawford - ?
December 1988: Timothy Nolen -?
Early 1989: Timothy Nolen - ?
Later in 1989: Cris Goenendaal - ?
Summer 1989: Cris Groenendaal - ?
Spring 1990: Steve Barton - ?
November 1990: Kevin Gray - ?
March 1991: Mark Jacoby - ?
July 1991: Mark Jacoby - ?
April 1992: Mark Jacoby - ?
June 1992: Mark Jacoby - ?
May 1993: Marcus Lovett - ?
November 1993: Marcus Lovett - ?
July 1994: Davis Gaines - ?
February 1995: Davis Gaines - ?
January 1996: Thomas James O'Leary - ?
November 1996: Thomas James O'Leary - ?
August 1998: Davis Gaines - ?
September 1998: Thomas James O'Leary - ?
February 1999: Hugh Panaro - ?
June 1999a: Hugh Panaro - ?
June 1999b: Howard McGillin - ?
January 2000: Howard McGillin - ?
June 2001: Howard McGillin - ?
April 2002: Howard McGillin - ?
December 2002: Howard McGillin - ?
April 2003: Hugh Panaro - John Cudia/?
October 2003: Hugh Panaro - John Cudia/?
December 2004: Hugh Panaro - John Cudia/?
May 2005: Hugh Panaro - Stephen Buntrock/John Cudia
October 2005: Howard McGillin - Stephen Buntrock/John Cudia
January 2006: Howard McGillin - Stephen Buntorck/?
April 2006: Howard McGillin - Stephen Buntrock/?
April 2007: Howard McGillin - James Romick/Jeremy Stolle
April - May 2007: Gary Mauer - ?
December 2007: Howard McGillin - Jeremy Stolle/?
June 2008: John Cudia (May to July) - Tim Martin Gleason/Jeremy Stolle
July 2009: Howard McGillin - Jeremy Stolle/?
August 2009: John Cudia - Jeremy Stolle/?
September 2010: Hugh Panaro - Jeremy Stolle/?
August 2011: Hugh Panaro - Jeremy Stolle/?
December 2011: Hugh Panaro - Jeremy Stolle/?
August 2012: Hugh Panaro - Paul Schaefer/Jeremy Stolle


Broadway usually have several understudies for the Phantom and for Christine, I've only listed the ones I know of, and without listing who was 1st and 2nd cover. If you have a more accurate list, or any other understudies to add, feel free! Also, if you know of other limited cover Phantoms (like Gary Mauer and John Cudia), do tell! Also, good pictures of understudies is also welcome.





Michael Crawford, Timothy Nolen, Cris Groenendaal, Steve Barton.



Kevin Gray, Mark Jacoby, Marcus Lovett, Davis Gaines.



Thomas James O'Leary, Hugh Panaro, Howard McGillin, Gary Mauer, John Cudia.

RAOULS

January 1988: Steve Barton
Summer 1988: Steve Barton
December 1988: Steve Barton
Early 1989: Steve Barton
Later in 1989: Steve Barton
Summer 1989: Steve Barton
Spring 1990: Davis Gaines
November 1990: Hugh Panaro
March 1991: Hugh Panaro
July 1991: Hugh Panaro
April 1992: Hugh Panaro
June 1992: Hugh Panaro
May 1993: Hugh Panaro
November 1993: Ciarán Sheehan
July 1994: Ciarán Sheehan
February 1995: Brad Little
January 1996: Gary Mauer
November 1996: Gary Mauer
August 1998: Lawrence Anderson
September 1998: Gary Mauer
February 1999: Ciarán Sheehan
June 1999: Gary Mauer
January 2000: Gary Mauer
June 2001: Jim Weitzer
April 2002: Michael Shawn Lewis
December 2002: John Cudia
October 2003: John Cudia
December 2004: John Cudia
May 2005: Tim Martin Gleason
January 2006: Tim Martin Gleason
April 2006: Michael Shawn Lewis
December 2006: Michael Shawn Lewis
Early 2007: Michael Shawn Lewis
December 2007: Tim Martin Gleason
August 2008: Tim Martin Gleason
June 2009: Ryan Silverman
September 2010: Ryan Siverman
December 2010: Sean McLaughlin
June 2011: Kyle Barisich
December 2011: Kyle Barisich
August 2012: Kyle Barisich


What surprises me the most here is how early Hugh Panaro took over the role of Raoul, how long he played Raoul, and also that he was principal Phantom before Howard McGilling. For some reason I still think of him as new-ish in Phantom, and he's definitely not!

Not that these lists doesn't necessarily say when someone started out in the role, just when they first appear in souvenir programmes or playbills I've had access too. There might be some months difference between when they started and when the new programme came out.



Steve Barton, Davis Gaines, Hugh Panaro, Ciarán Sheehan.



Brad Little, Gary Mauer, Lawrence Anderson, Jim Weitzer, Michael Shawn Lewis.



John Cudia, Tim Martin Gleason, Ryan Silverman, Sean McLaughlin, Kyle Barisich.

(the Ryan Silverman picture is from Las Vegas)

CARLOTTAS

January 1988: Judy Kaye
Summer 1988: Judy Kaye
Early 1989: Marilyn Caskey
Later in 1989: Marilyn Caskey
Summer 1989: Marilyn Caskey
Spring 1990: Marilyn Caskey
November 1990: Marilyn Caskey
March 1991: Marilyn Caskey
July 1991: Marilyn Caskey
April 1992: Marilyn Caskey
June 1992: Marilyn Caskey
May 1993: Elena Jeanne Batman
November 1993: Elena Jeanne Batman
July 1994: Elena Jeanne Batman
February 1995: Elena Jeanne Batman
January 1996: Patricia Hurd
November 1996: Elena Jeanne Batman
August 1998: Patricia Hurd
September 1998: Leigh Munro
February 1999: Leigh Munro
June 1999: Liz McCartney
January 2000: Liz McCartney
June 2001: Rebecca Eischenberger
April 2002: Rebecca Eischenberger
December 2002: Rebecca Eischenberger
October 2003: Patricia Phillips
December 2004: Anne Runolfsson
May 2005: Anne Runolfsson
January 2006: Anne Runolfsson
April 2006: Anne Runolfsson
December 2006: Patricia Phillips
December 2007: Anne Runolfsson
March-May 2008: Kim Stengel
May 2008: Patricia Phillips
June 2009: Patricia Phillips
September 2010: Liz McCartney
June 2011: Michele McConnell
December 2011: Michele McConnell
August 2012: Michele McConnell

Understudies: Jan Horvath, Satomi Hofman, Kris Koop, Kimilee Bryant plus many, many more...


For some reason I was very surprised to see Marilyn Caskey was Broadway's second Carlotta, and that she played the role for several years. I always thought her Carlotta run was short and... I dunno, secondary? But it definitely wasn't.



Judy Kaye, Marilyn Caskey, Jan Horvath (u/s).



Elena Jeanne Batman, Patricia Hurd, Leigh Munro, Liz McCartney, Rebecca Eischenberger.



Patricia Phillips, Anne Runolfsson, Kim Stengel.



Michele McConnell, Kimilee Bryant (u/s)

For Raoul, you forgot Sean MacLaughlin between Ryan Silverman and Kyle Barisich.

Paula74 wrote:For Raoul, you forgot Sean MacLaughlin between Ryan Silverman and Kyle Barisich.

Thank you! He's now added.

In 2011, Kimilee Bryant was a Christine cover.

During the initial years, there was only one Christine cover...don't know when they started having a second.

eta: In 2003, Susan Owens was first cover Christine, Kris Koop second cover.

your photo for Jim Weitzer is actually Cudia again

and you left off Ginna Jeffres from the list of carlottas, she was in it in 97 when O'Leary was phantom (she also went on to share the role when Vegas popened

There's also Jeff Keller who was an interim Phantom covering the role as an understudy for extended period...early 90s, but I can't remember the exact year off the top of my head.

I've got Playbills from 1990, 1992, 2005, and 2011, so I can help when I get home. I know Raissa Katona was a Christine understudy in 1990. Also, in October 2005, Cudia was no longer in the production. Tim Martin Gleason was Raoul and Phantom understudy, along with James Romick and Stephen Buntrock and possibly one other person. Jeff Keller was a Phantom understudy from the beginning, I believe. I think Cris Groenendaal was also one in the first company, though I don't have a Playbill to confirm.

Laurie Gayle Stephenson(sp?) was Tracy Shayne's alternate in the mid 90s. Jeff Keller was the Phantom during the period something like 5/24/94-7/3/94, between Marcus Lovett and Davis Gaines. Say what you want about whether or not he should be counted. In my mind he counts despite the fact that it was some sort of temporary contract.

OK, turns out I only have the Playbills from 1992 and 2011 here at my house. The other two must be in storage at my parents' house.

October 1992:

Phantom: Mark Jacoby; u/s: Gary Barker (Reyer), Jeff Keller
Christine: Karen Culliver; alt. (Mon./Wed. evenings): Brigid Brady; u/s: Raissa Katona (Princess)
Raoul: Hugh Panaro; u/s: Gary Lindemann (Porter/Marksman), James Romick (swing)
Carlotta: Marilyn Caskey; u/s: Elena Jeanne Batman (Page), Rebecca Eichenberger (Innkeeper's Wife), Suzanne Ishee (swing), Dawn Leigh Stone (Mme. Firmin)
Firmin: George Lee Andrews; u/s: Paul Laureano (swing), Richard Warren Pugh (Auctioneer)
Andre: Jeff Keller; u/s: George Lee Andrews, Gary Barker, James Romick
Mme. Giry: Leila Martin; u/s: Suzanne Ishee, Patrice Pickering (Page), Mary Leigh Stahl (Wardrobe Mistress/Confidante)
Piangi: Gary Rideout; u/s: Maurizio Corbino (Porter/Fireman); Richard Warren Pugh
Meg: Catherine Ulissey; u/s: Tener Brown, Cherylyn Jones, Lori MacPherson

I believe Romick started understudying the Phantom around '94, so for a few years, you were guaranteed an awesome Phantom, no matter who went on--the principal Davis Gaines or the understudies Romick or Keller, probably both in my top 15 Phantoms, threatening to creep into my top 10.

July 2011:

Phantom: Hugh Panaro; u/s: James Romick (swing), Paul A. Schaefer (Marksman), Jeremy Stolle (Passarino)
Christine: Sara Jean Ford; alt. (Mon./Thurs.): Marni Raab; u/s: Kimilee Bryant (Spanish Lady/Carlotta), Susan Owen (Page), Elizabeth Welch (Princess)
Raoul: Kyle Barisich; u/s: Greg Mills (swing), James Romick, Paul A. Schaefer, Jeremy Stolle
Carlotta: Janet Saia (swing)/Kimilee Bryant (Spanish Lady)/Satomi Hofmann (Wardrobe Mistress/Confidante); u/s: Bryant, Hofmann, Kris Koop (Mme. Firmin), Saia
Firmin: David Cryer; u/s: Kenneth Kantor (Lefevre/Firechief), John Kuether (Auctioneer/Don Attilio), James Romick
Andre: George Lee Andrews; u/s: Frank Mastrone (Jeweler), Scott Mikita (swing), Greg Mills, Richard Poole (Buquet), James Romick
Mme. Giry: Marilyn Caskey; u/s: Kimilee Bryant, Satomi Hofmann, Mary Illes (Innkeeper's Wife), Kris Koop, Janet Saia
Piangi: Evan Harrington; u/s: Chris Bohannon (Porter/Fireman), Frank Mastrone, Jeremy Stolle
Meg: Jessica Bishop; u/s: Paloma Garcia-Lee, Carly Blake Sebouhian

Awesome, I will make the necessary updates as soon as I have the time. Keep it coming!

Here are the carlotta pics for you that you missed


November 97



July 2004

justin-from-barbados wrote:Here are the carlotta pics for you that you missed

https://2img.net/h/i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/Justin-D/10_zpsc2e2a23d.jpg
November 97

https://2img.net/h/i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/Justin-D/10_zps67d6f194.jpg
July 2004

Thank you! I do have pictures of them, I just didn't have any souvenir brochures or playbills listing them, so they don't appear in my chronology above. Hence no picture of them in the list. But really, all contributions are highly valued.

Madame Giry list next. 't is short!

Yes, Mme. Giry's list would be short.
Lelia Martin for most of it, Loved her Giry

Aha! Rebecca Pitcher was the Christine understudy during 1999! She was there, for sure, with the Panaro/Joseph combination.

For original opening understudies, refer to this link from Playbill.com. As a general note, operfantomet, from whichever year it was Romick became a Phantom cover until this past summer, he can be listed as an understudy for the role. Additionally, Tim Martin Gleason was Raoul on Broadway from Autumn 2005-March 2006, and then Summer 2007-May 2009. During those times, he'd have, of course, understudied the Phantom.
January 1988: Michael Crawford - Jeff Keller
October 2003: Hugh Panaro - John Cudia/David Gaschen/James Romick/Jeff Keller
August 2009: John Cudia - James Romick/Jeremy Stolle/Stephen Tewksbury
January 2011: Hugh Panaro- James Romick/Paul Schaefer/Jeremy Stolle
August 2011: Hugh Panaro - James Romick/Paul Schaefer/Jeremy Stolle
---
January 1988: Sarah Brightman - Patti Cohenour - Rebecca Luker
Summer 1988: Patti Cohenour - Dale Kristien - Rebecca Luker, (Dodie Petitte may have understudied the role in NY, too?)
October 2003: Sandra Joseph - Julie Hanson - Susan Owen/Kris Koop
December 2004: Sandra Joseph - Julie Hanson - Susan Owen/Kris Koop
June 2009: Jennifer Hope Wills - Marni Raab - Susan Owen/Kimilee Bryant
January 2011: Sara Jean Ford - Marni Raab - Elizabeth Welch/Susan Owen
August 2011: Sara Jean Ford - Marni Raab - Elizabeth Welch/Susan Owen/Kimilee Bryant
December 2011: Trista Moldovan - Marni Raab - Elizabeth Welch/Susan Owen
August 2012: Trista Moldova - Marni Raab - Elizabeth Welch/Susan Owen

I'd forgotten Olga Talyn was in the original cast, or maybe I never knew. Also, Dodie Pettit must've been a great Meg.

Raissa katonia was the Christine understudy in summer 1988, she replaced Luker pretty early on as the hannibal princess.

Did Rebecca Luker leave the show before returning as alternate, then?

Looking at my info, I think Katonia did the run a little later in the 90's so think Luker could still be understudy?

Based on information from the past, it would seem that Luker stayed with the show as Princess until promoted to alternate at the end of 1988 when Kristien left for LA.

Yeah, I'm not sure where you're getting the info about Katona, but I don't remember seeing her name until cast lists around 1990 or, at the earliest, 1989. Wish we still had that Phantom on Broadway site that used to be on Geocities and which was managed by a former POL/PFN board member back in the day.

Yes I'm aware now, I misread the information that was all. She was princess in the 1990s and standby in the us tour in 1999.