Matt_G
Broadway LegendJoined: 5/1/04
#0Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 12:25am
Has anyone seen it recently? I'm one of the few who adored the film and now I want to see it live again but I'm hoping it's not as tired as LES MIS was towards the end.
"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."
NativeNewYorker
Broadway LegendJoined: 7/29/03
#1re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 12:33am
I saw it about a year and a half ago and thought Hugh Panaro (is he still the Phantom?) was absolutely wonderful...I admit, the show DOES drag on in places, but you really cannot beat that music.
TGIF
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Broadway LegendJoined: 9/25/04
#2re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 12:34am
I saw it last spring and loved it. Hugh Panaro is an excellent Phantom and want to see him before he goes (whenever that may be). The Christine that I saw was decent. I am not sure how to put it but her voice seemed like it has yet to mature. Its beautiful but there was something about it that i couldnt quite pin down. I have no complaints as far as the rest of the cast goes and thought the show was brilliant. It was my first time seeing the show but it did not seem tired at all.
Matt I thoroughly enjoyed the movie too. *Shrugs*
I want to write music. I want to sit down right now at my piano and write a song that people will listen to and remember and do the same thing every morning...for the rest of my life. - Jonathan Larson. Tick, Tick...BOOM!
magruder
Broadway LegendJoined: 5/15/03
#3re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 12:37am
Went back in February for the first time since seeing the original cast, and the show is in very fine shape. A little broadly performed in spots, but fine. Panaro, who is still the Phantom, is also very much worth catching. He produces a richer, more sonorous voice than I've ever heard from him.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
jjdude2000
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Broadway StarJoined: 12/1/04
#4re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 12:42am
I saw it last week... and it is really great. yes, hugh panaro is still the phantom ( he's out for the next week or so i think tho)...and he is just fantastic
Grace: I just gave a quarter to a homeless man. I think it was Johnny Depp.
zepka102
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Broadway LegendJoined: 5/26/04
#5re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 12:45am
i saw it in july and i loved it. it was probably the best cast i've seen. i don't have much more to say than whats been said except for the stuff about christine. i had Sandra Joseph who has a very mature voice... she did an amazing job. i have heard the current cast was the best and i believe it personally.
::bust a move::
TGIF
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Broadway LegendJoined: 9/25/04
#6re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 12:47am
I have to check my playbill, I did not see Sandra.
I want to write music. I want to sit down right now at my piano and write a song that people will listen to and remember and do the same thing every morning...for the rest of my life. - Jonathan Larson. Tick, Tick...BOOM!
zepka102
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Broadway LegendJoined: 5/26/04
#7re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 12:49am
could have been Julie Hanson (i believe thats her name)
::bust a move::
TGIF
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Broadway LegendJoined: 9/25/04
#8re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 12:51am
Yes! It seems like she had a beautiful voice but was holding back. Maybe someone else who has seen her can back me up or help clarify what I am trying to say.
I want to write music. I want to sit down right now at my piano and write a song that people will listen to and remember and do the same thing every morning...for the rest of my life. - Jonathan Larson. Tick, Tick...BOOM!
Broadway LegendJoined: 12/31/69
#9re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 2:14am
POTO is doing wonderfully on stage! Yes, and if anything...go to see it because of Hugh Panaro. :)
~Rosalynn
jrb_actor
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Broadway LegendJoined: 5/16/03
#10re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 2:39am
I need to see Hugh in the role. I did a concert with him in Houston a couple of years ago--he is extremely nice and extremely handsome!! His rendition of "It Only Takes A Moment" was not only sublime, it made me MOIST! 
CATSNYrevival
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Broadway LegendJoined: 3/1/04
Broadway LegendJoined: 12/31/69
#12re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 3:38am
jrb_actor: LOL! What a great comment about Hugh! And I know what you mean about his rendition of "It Only Takes a Moment". It's one of my favorite tracks from him. That and "Way You Look Tonight"! Pure heaven! :)
~Rosalynn
Broadway LegendJoined: 12/31/69
#13re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 9:47am
Hugh Panaro is amazing. (I enjoyed his performance more than Howard McGillam's). It was right up there with Davis Gaines!
I also enjoyed Thomas J. O'Leary's performance. So-------go back and see it----it's still a wonderful show with incredible music! PS- (I thought Julie Hanson(sp?) looked about 12 but she has a very good voice.)
Kelly
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Stand-byJoined: 5/11/03
#14re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 2:00pm
James Romick will be covering for Hugh January 3-8. I happen to think Jim is excellent so don't let that stop you from seeing the show :)
Perfect love, perfect sin...there is no perfect anything.
TheQuibbler
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Broadway LegendJoined: 9/11/03
#15re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 2:07pm
I just saw it earlier this month. It's in excellent shape. Hugh Panaro is fantastic, Sandra Joseph is wonderful, and the production itself is still gorgeous. I'm not a huge fan of the show, but I had an amazing time that night at the theatre.
WhereAmIGoingTo
UnderstudyJoined: 12/30/04
#16re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 2:11pm
I saw it on the 11th, I think, and it was BRILLIANT. Easily the best production I have ever seen of The Phantom of the Opera (I saw the tour twice last year, and everything that was supposed to be visually stunning was somewhat cheesy... its not so cheesy on Broadway). The three leads are all amazing. Hugh Panaro IS The Phantom, and its worth going to just for him. Sandra Joseph was excellent as Christine, though, and John Cudia is easily my favorite Raoul (though, I must admit, I love Patrick Wilson in the movie... especially when he was tied to the portcullis, *drools*). Its aged, but I wouldn't call it tired at all. Go see it! You'll have an amazing time!
But now we have come almost to the end. One last step. And then, when I take power, they will be pulled down and ground into dirt for what they did to you. And what they did in so contemptuously underestimating me.
defy_gravity
Stand-byJoined: 9/12/04
#17re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 2:12pm
Last time I saw it, in November, it was fabulous! I really hated the movie, but the stage version is as incredible as ever!
We can't all come and go by bubble...
Amneris
Broadway LegendJoined: 5/16/03
#18re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 2:13pm
I saw POTO last month again and it was pure perfection. Tight cast , tight everything. John,Julie and Hugh were incredible. I hear though that the most wonderful phantom cover ever David G. is playing phantom now?
jjdude2000
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Broadway StarJoined: 12/1/04
#19re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 2:35pm
yes, Hugh is on vacation for the next week and i think david ( dk last name) is on
Grace: I just gave a quarter to a homeless man. I think it was Johnny Depp.
Johnnytoc
Broadway StarJoined: 12/19/04
#20re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 2:39pm
I Hugh Panaro really worth seeing the show again?
Im just wondering because a friend of mien wants to see it and Im not sure if we should go now or wait until he comes back.
Broadway StarJoined: 12/31/69
#21re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 2:41pm
Hugh is fantastic-----don't know about the stand-in.
jjdude2000
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Broadway StarJoined: 12/1/04
#22re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 2:42pm
He is definately worth it...but I've never seen his understudy ( I'm sure hes great too)so I dont really know. sorry. has anyone seen the understudy?
Grace: I just gave a quarter to a homeless man. I think it was Johnny Depp.
Johnnytoc
Broadway StarJoined: 12/19/04
#23re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 2:44pm
Thanks for saying he's worth it. My vocal coach went to school with him so perhaps Ill try to go down and see it with him after I go with my friend.
Thanks again!
Amneris
Broadway LegendJoined: 5/16/03
#24re: Current State of PHANTOM on Stage?
Posted: 12/31/04 at 3:31pm
DAVID GASCHEN
is his name (the phantom) who is in for hugh. I saw him in concert singing songs from POTO.. he's played over 6,000 performances AS the phantom all over the world. This man IS the phantom. I suggest if you can't see the all mighty hugh god , go see this top 1st.
