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wheel-of-fish · 1 year

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Do you have a compilation of the best cape swishes?

I've gotten this request enough times that I finally decided to stop being lazy and make one!

Scott Davies, London

Jeremy Stolle, Broadway

Greg Mills, Broadway

Laird Mackintosh, Broadway

John Cudia, U.S. Tour

Davis Gaines, Los Angeles

Anthony Crivello, Las Vegas

Earl Carpenter, London

(I did look at a bunch of international productions, but they're apparently just not as showy.)

#phantom of the opera #gifset #edit #scott davies #jeremy stolle #greg mills #laird mackintosh #john cudia #davis gaines #anthony crivello #earl carpenter #(in)box five #by request

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opera-ghost · 1 year

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"but christine..."

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operafantomet · 2 months

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...just follow the lantern...

Rob Pitcher, Hamburg

Ben Crawford and Emilie Kouatchou, Broadway

John Cudia, US Tour

Peter Karrie, Toronto

Glenda Balkan and Peter Karrie, Toronto

Peter Karrie, Toronto

Hugh Panaro and Sam Hill, Broadway

Norm Lewis and Mary Michael Patterson, Broadway

Valerie Link and Mathias Edenborn, Hamburg

#phantom of the opera #descend to the lair #travelator #title song #rob pitcher #ben crawford #emilie kouatchou #john cudia #peter karrie #glenda balkan #hugh panaro #samantha hill #norm lewis #mary michael patterson #valerie link #mathias edenborn #the toronto ones though

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meilas · 9 months

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Just a collection of unintentionally funny moments, featuring: 1) David Arnsperger and his smooth af caress 2) Cooper Grodin going "ew get off me" 3) Cooper Grodin going "don't trip don't trip don't trip" 4) John Cudia falling off the organ 5) John Cudia whipping a poor partygoer 6) Peter Joback doing his best impression of "Hello, My Baby" 7) Peter Karrie's self-caress 8) Michael Crawford throwing a tantrum 9) Thiago Arancam thinking he's going to get laid

Credit for most of the gifs goes to @glassprism and @wheel-of-fish

#phantom of the opera #poto #david arnsperger #cooper grodin #john cudia #peter joback #peter karrie #michael crawford #thiago arancam #poto gifset

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box5intern · 1 year

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throwing this baby back out into the wild

#phantom of the opera #Jeremy Stolle #John Owen Jones #bronson norris murphy #John Cudia #ivan ozhogin #love never dies #backstreetsback

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theres-music-in-you · 1 year

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The Four Phantoms In Concert (10/29/22)

AKA the night that I absolutely lost my mind in the best possible way. Long post under the cut. Buckle up.

I arrived at the venue early because my dad (who I somehow dragged along) and I are huge comic book nerds and wanted to check out a local comic store before the show. So we’re taking a shortcut through this dark alleyway next to the theatre to get to the comic store, and who do we walk by but CIARAN SHEEHAN. I froze like a deer in headlights. But he was on his phone and I was shy and a tad starstruck, and so I let him pass by. I kicked myself afterwards. Little did I know what was to come.

We get into the theatre and start to look at the merchandise. I see a mask signed by the four guys and Kaley (!!) and knew I needed to have it. We talked to the woman running the merchandise stand and I casually mention that I’m just a little obsessed with Phantom and tonight is basically a dream come true for me. She says, “I could get your mask personalized for you and you could pick it up at intermission.” I DIED. DEAD. I tried to maintain my cool but I am losing. My. Mind. Again, little did I know what was to come.

The first act of the show was incredible, as expected. John Cudia (one of my favorite Phantoms!!) sang Til I Hear You Sing and I wept. He put a hand up to cover half of his face at the line “I’ll always feel no more than halfway real” and I wept more. All of the guys were incredible. The lights come up for intermission and we book it down to the lobby to get my mask. It has my name on it. Kaley has drawn cute little stars on it. I have ascended from this astral plane. And then the merchandise stand woman says it: “I talked to some people. Since you’re such a big fan of the show, you’re going to get to go the afterparty and meet them all and take pictures with them.”

...WHAT. I am in shock. I am in tears. I thank her profusely and try not to have a heart attack as I go to sit back down for act 2.

Act 2 was even better. Kaley came out for a Phantom medley and I wept. Again. They closed the show with Music of the Night, and I noticed all four of them were subtly doing some hand/arm motions from the actual blocking. It felt like they didn’t even realize they were doing it. Very cool and also not emotional for me At All.

And then. The after-show. I’m only slightly panicking. What do I say to these people? Hi, you shaped my life and I love you? I spoke to Brent Barrett first, who was incredibly kind. And then Kaley!! I had to tell her she was one of my favorite Christines and I was so incredibly excited to be meeting her. She was so gracious and kind. I mention I’ve seen Phantom on tour and she asks if I saw Julia (Udine, I presume.) “No, I saw...” I blank. THE Kaley Ann Voorhees is asking me a Phantom-related question and I have suddenly forgotten everything I know. Eventually I remembered Emma Grimsley and Derrick Davis after what was probably only two seconds but felt like a lifetime. We take a group photo. I thank them all again and stand off to the side, looking at my picture and trying not to lose my mind. I didn’t get the chance to talk to the other three guys, namely John Cudia, and I’m trying not to be bummed by this.

AS IF SENSING THIS SOMEHOW, John Cudia suddenly turns right to me and comes up to talk to me. I somehow manage to get out how much of a fan of his I am, and he asks if I would like a photo of just us two!!

The afterparty was mainly richer people who were sponsors of the show, and my dad and I feel a tad out of place and mostly people-watch at a table by ourselves. I’m feeling like we should probably just go when JOHN CUDIA once again appears and sits down to talk to us again. He remembered me from downstairs and said it was nice to see me again!! He asks if I do theatre myself, and I tell him I have absolutely no talent and but just really love theatre. He tells us a really sweet story about his daughters starting to get into theatre, and then thanks us again for coming.

And that was it! What I thought was just going to be a concert turned into one of the greatest nights ever. Photos below (though I have blurred out my face).

The mask! How will I display it? I don’t know.

Me next to Christine!! Love Brent Barrett peeping over my head.

AAAHHHH (also hi Franc D’Ambrosio) (also think it’s humorous that my phone screen is lit up and you can just barely see my lockscreen of Killian and Lucy).

#phantom of the opera #four phantoms #four phantoms in concert #John Cudia #Kaley Ann Voorhees #Franc D’Ambrosio #Ciaran Sheehan #Brent Barrett

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marybeatriceofmodena · 1 year

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Think of me, think of me fondly...

In honor of the Phantom of the Opera Broadway production closing, here are a few gifts: audios and one video.

(As per usual, if you're the master of one of these and you want me to remove the link, please let me know.)

Audios

Michael Crawford, Patti Cohenour, Steve Barton, Judy Kaye, Nicholas Wyman, Cris Groenendaal, Leila Martin, Elisa Heinsohn, David Romano April 30, 1988 https://www.mediafire.com/file/aybwjye3k647bfy/POTO+Broadway+30-04-1988+-+Crawford,+Cohenour,+Barton.rar/file

Hugh Panaro, Lisa Vroman, John Cudia, Patricia Phillips, Jeff Keller, George Lee Andrews (u/s), Marilyn Caskey, Joelle Gates, Larry Wayne Morbitt May 10, 2003 https://www.mediafire.com/file/834a4sqxgjmsows/POTO+Broadway+10-05-2003+-+Panaro,+Vroman,+Cudia.rar/file

Gary Mauer, Jennifer Hope Wills, Michael Shawn Lewis, Janet Saia (u/s), George Lee Andrews, David Cryer, Marilyn Caskey, Jimmy Smagula (u/s) May 15, 2007 https://www.mediafire.com/file/70690zs3dpyb3dj/POTO+Broadway+15-05-2007+-+Mauer,+Wills,+Lewis.rar/file

Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Samantha Hill, Greg Mills (u/s), Michele McConnell, Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Kara Klein, Christian Sebek March 9, 2013 Matinee performance. https://www.mediafire.com/file/zfln9bh0thrg8dx/POTO+Broadway+09-03-2013+-+Stolle,+Hill,+Mills.rar/file

Norm Lewis, Mary Michael Patterson (alt.), Greg Mills (u/s) July 7, 2014 The real 11,000th performance (not the celebration, which was done the next day). https://www.mediafire.com/file/jei306ekuy0usjj/POTO+Broadway+07-07-2014+-+Lewis,+Patterson,+Hays.rar/file

Laird Mackintosh (u/s), Mary Michael Patterson, Jeremy Hays, Michelle MConnell, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek December 13, 2014 Mary Michael Patterson and Ellen Harvey's last matinee performance. https://www.mediafire.com/file/kt79nevlbc3yexn/POTO+Broadway+13-12-2014+-+Mackintosh,+Patterson,+Hays.rar/file

Ben Crawford, Meghan Picerno, John Riddle, Raquel Suarez Groen, Bradley Dean, Craig Bennett, Maree Johnson, Sara Esty, Carlton Moe October 22, 2021 Re-opening performance on Broadway. https://www.mediafire.com/file/d4dcjwf9n40yseu/Phantom+of+The+Opera+Broadway+October+22nd+2021+Reopening.mp3/file

Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Kanisha Marie Feliciano (u/s), John Riddle September 17, 2022 https://www.mediafire.com/file/8elrbfv5bsgbfqq/POTO+Broadway+17-09-2022+-+Stolle,+Feliciano,+Riddle.rar/file

Video

Hugh Panaro, Mary Michael Patterson, Jeremy Hays May 3, 2014 Hugh Panaro's last performance, with speeches. https://mega.nz/folder/L6xDgahT#054peSCr8ADIj6aat2MNnA

#phantom of the opera #phantom broadway #audio gift #video gift #too many people to tag #musical trading

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glassprism · 9 months

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I don't know if you've answered this question before, but do you have favorite Phantom/Christine pairings?

I have answered it before, but not too recently, so maybe it's time to make a big ole updated masterpost of all my favorites as of now!

Keep in mind that if a name isn't on here, it doesn't mean they're not a favorite or whatever, it might just mean I never saw them with a Phantom or Christine I particularly liked (e.g. Gina Beck is an all-time favorite but she's not on here because I never really saw her opposite a Phantom I also really enjoyed) or I preferred a slightly different pairing (e.g. I really liked Franc D'Ambrosio with Lisa Vroman but I slightly preferred the latter with Brad Little). And there may be one or two where I could not decide at all (e.g. do I prefer Kelly Mathieson with David Thaxton or Josh Piterman? I can't tell!). Anyway, here they are:

Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman - The OG cast. It can't be helped, they both had such unique takes on the role and it makes them one of the most memorable pairings for me.

Dave Willetts/Jan Hartley Morris - His rougher take on the mold that Crawford left vs. Jan Hartley Morris's old-school, classical Christine is a winner.

Mikael Samuelson/Elisabeth Berg - I love Samuelson's slightly harsher vocals compared to Berg's operatic tones.

Alexander Goebel/Luzia Nistler - Goebel is eerie, ghostly, and unhinged at the end; Nistler has a lovely classical voice and a scared, slightly naive take on her Christine. It fits well.

Davis Gaines/Tracy Shayne - Gaines is commanding, sensual, elegant; Shayne is innocent but with a touch of maturity that brings a certain uniqueness to the role.

Saulo Vasconcelos/Irasema Terrazas - Hands! I think both were allowed a lot of freedom in the role and it's great.

Hans Peter Janssens/Ineke van Klinken - Janssens is both very nuts and very sad while van Klinken is a reserved yet steely-willed Christine who is more than a match for him.

Ian Jon Bourg/Alison Kelly - Bourg is good with so many Christines, but I loved Alison Kelly's feistiness.

Michael Nicholson/Olivia Safe - Just a fascinating pairing, and they were both understudies!

Yoon Young Seok/Hye Kyoung Lee - It didn't matter that both were speaking Korean, they were so emotional that I felt like I understood every aspect of their performance.

Brad Little/Lisa Vroman - Kind of mentioned above, but I love how well these two act together.

Hugh Panaro/Julie Hanson - Hugh Panaro is a sarcastic jokester of a man and it makes you really feel for Julie Hanson's child-like Christine at the end of the show.

Gary Mauer/Elizabeth Southard - A real-life married E/C couple brings all the chemistry!

Earl Carpenter/Rachel Barrell - Barrell is also really good with JOJ, and more spirited around him, but I love Earl Carpenter more.

John Cudia/Jennifer Hope Wills - Oh the sparks these two brought to the role! Cudia was scary and dominating but JHW was absolutely able to hold her own against him.

Simon Pryce/Julie Goodwin - The voices of these two!

Marcus Lovett/Anna O'Byrne - Leroux-accuracy heaven.

Jeremy Stolle/Samantha Hill - Again, I've seen these two give fantastic performances with multiple performers, but I really do love what they bring to the show together.

Tomas Ambt Kofod/Sibylle Glosted - Very detailed, nuanced performances in a production that was full of it.

Jonathan Roxmouth/Meghan Picerno - There was fire between these two! Roxmouth was intent on bending Christine to his will but Picerno was so fiercely independent that you knew he could never succeed.

Jeon Dong Seok/Son Ji-soo - JDS is a swoon-worthy Phantom while SJS brought lovely expressions to the role.

And I'm sure there are many others...

#GP gets asks #your-average-phan

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apileofpans · 7 months

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Birthday audio/video gifts!

It is my hecking birthday this month, y’all! To celebrate I am giving away videos and audios from Phantom of the Opera that positively ruined me (AKA some of my faves) !

NOTE: the links will work until November 6th, 10 AM CEST! After that they won’t work anymore :) If any of the masters want me to remove their master, let me know and I will!

Everything, including cast info, is under the cut!

Video

US Tour - Dallas, April 6, 2006 Evening Gary Mauer, Elizabeth Southard, Jim Weitzer, Kim Stengel, John Jellison, DC Anderson, Patti Davidson-Gorbea, John Whitney, Kate Wray https://ln5.sync.com/dl/b833dd740/gvnusjtv-a7wywsjy-98mvkiid-nsa6ksqp

Las Vegas Spectacular - August 8, 2008 (SunsetBlvd79) Anthony Crivello, Kristi Holden, Andrew Ragone, Geena Jeffries Mattox, John Leslie Wolfe, Lawson Skala, Tina Walsh, Larry Wayne Morbitt, Brianne Kelly Morgan https://ln5.sync.com/dl/f4b151790/79fc7xe8-emk99ug5-va2ndite-vrapb47x

Broadway - May 12, 2014 (inallyorufantasies, turnofthescorpion) Norm Lewis, Sierra Boggess, Jeremy Hays, Michele McConnell, Tim Jerome, Laird Mackintosh, Ellen Harvey, Christian Šebek https://ln5.sync.com/dl/9dbe75640/89h6694u-db6i4y53-ker76kab-xtm9qbj3

Boadway - May 20, 2003 Hugh Panaro, Lisa Vroman, John Cudia, Julie Schmidt (u/s), Jeff Keller, George Lee Andrews , Marilyn Caskey, Larry Wayne Morbitt, Joelle Gates https://ln5.sync.com/dl/04cef73f0/watx9j5t-s2amh9zy-hmxqchav-2h2sf3ra

West End - August, 2018 Ben Lewis, Amy Manford, Jeremy Taylor https://ln5.sync.com/dl/8a1ae4700/ys5mbar9-yas2ewaq-rrnk4sye-wt5pgdtb

Trieste, Italy - July 15, 2023 (Filthybonnet) Ramin Karimloo, Amelia Milo, Bradley Jaden, Earl Carpenter, Ian Mowat, Anna Corvino, Gian Luca Pasolini, Alice Mistroni, Zoe Nochi https://ln5.sync.com/dl/f916fe200/6dw52cqj-usu7pimm-zbgk2gdg-9qixj3d4

Audios

Broadway - September 26, 1990 Steve Barton, Rebecca Luker, Gary Lindemenn (u/s), Marilyn Caskey, Jeff Keller, George Lee Andrews, Leila Martin https://ln5.sync.com/dl/21e8e2db0/wsqmti8i-4d4vukku-xs8fvh3y-85kjak3h

Broadway - May 10, 2003 Hugh Panaro, Lisa Vroman, John Cudia, Patricia Phillips, Jeff Keller, George Lee Andrews (u/s), Marilyn Caskey, Joelle Gates, Larry Wayne Morbitt https://ln5.sync.com/dl/5640398d0/3d5axeix-ie6cpr3t-4j7fbew7-5q8mjcqq

Broadway - August 19, 2014 (Oogie Boogie) Norm Lewis, Sierra Boggess, Jeremy Hays https://ln5.sync.com/dl/59b8c8720/hzpmzgq7-5hx5xqx9-4e6h4qt2-ynn5dmw6

Broadway - April 6, 2023 (phantomygoodness) Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Julia Udine (alt.), John Riddle, Nehal Joshi, Craig Bennett, Raquel Suarez Groen, Maree Johnson, Carlton Moe, Sara Etsy https://ln5.sync.com/dl/dfa420090/i2m495z9-zwdgyka9-r2k9njdn-tu9hwt9m

Las Vegas Spectacular - September 2, 2012 Anthony Crivello, Kristi Holden, Andrew Ragone, Joan Sobel, Lawson Skala, John Leslie Wolfe, Tina Walsh, Larry Wayne Morbitt, Brianne Kelly Morgan https://ln5.sync.com/dl/882621a90/2kz2ajn8-nkre4uhw-5y7vesm6-gmk3pv7v

West End- October 27, 2017 Ben Lewis, Amy Manford (alt), Jeremy Taylor, Una Reynolds (u/s), Siôn Lloyd, Mark Oxtoby, Jacinta Mulcahy, Paul Ettore Tabone, Lily Howes (u/s) https://ln5.sync.com/dl/d6fa41cb0/axfwkn8z-66dpfim8-7uekxefw-aahsqs8x

West End - September 1, 2018 Evening (Winschi) Ben Lewis, Kelly Mathieson, Jeremy Taylor, Lara Martins, Siôn Lloyd, Mark Oxtoby, Jacinta Mulcahy, Paul Ettore Tabone, Georgia Ware https://ln5.sync.com/dl/99b982430/9dpb2hez-rex5y3nn-z9e963m3-wm57qfu2

West End - November 13, 2021 Evening (starprincess) Killian Donnelly, Lucy St Louis, Rhys Whitfield, Saori Oda, Tim Morgan, Adam Linstead, Francesca Ellis, Greg Castiglioni, Ellie Young https://ln5.sync.com/dl/fcffc67e0/7362xu65-tefiqt8x-9z3njksk-353iuqjk

West End -March 4, 2023 (verytheatricaltrades) Earl Carpenter (t/r), Holly-Anne Hull, Matt Blaker, Matt Harrop, Adam Linstead, Kelly Glyptis, Greg Castiglioni, Francesca Ellis, Ellie Young https://ln5.sync.com/dl/f142d9230/5ngjfdrx-fhjmc9wf-x2yhme8h-z4exy8cf

#phantom of the opera #the phantom of the opera #poto audio #audio gift #video gift

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symphony-in-a · 1 year

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#poto #phantom of the opera #my polls #phantom #alw musical #the phantom of the opera

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wheel-of-fish · 2 years

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Gifset of the most chaotic Phantom moments?

Uhhh so this response is two months late, but better than never? I actually had to halve my choices because of Tumblr's image limit (but if anyone really wanted a part two...).

Masachika Ichimura when the mannequin got caught on the throne:

Paul A. Schaefer's athletic noose-cutting maneuver:

Peter Karrie faceplanting on the organ (which continued long beyond this gif):

Eiji Akutagawa and a good 30 seconds of self-groping:

Uwe Kröger and...this:

Norm Lewis' horsey dance:

John Cudia whipping partygoers with his cape:

Josh Robson's "Masquerade" entrance in the recent Sydney Harbour production:

And Josh Robson performing "Point of No Return" with Georgina Hopson in the rain:

#phantom of the opera #gifset #(in)box five #by request #masachika ichimura #paul schaefer #peter karrie #eiji akutagawa #uwe kröger #beatrix reiterer #norm lewis #john cudia #josh robson #georgina hopson

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jennyfair7 · 2 years

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audio gift

In light of the recent sad news, I decided to gift an old, previously-unreleased Broadway audio of mine. Enjoy!

Phantom of the Opera Broadway - August 30, 2010 John Cudia, Kimilee Bryant (u/s), Ryan Silverman, David Cryer, George Lee Andrews, Michelle McConnell (u/s), Cristin J. Hubbard, Chris Bohannon (u/s), Heather McFadden

My master. Share freely but please don’t repost on other platforms. If you list this, please mark as a gift and regift upon request!

#poto #poto broadway #audio gift #mine #if you saw me post this like three times no you didn't #lol #i forgot shift+enter and was using cntrl+enter which apparently posts :P #some of my old faves from the tour #plus some broadway vets

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operafantomet · 2 years

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Trista Moldovan as principal Christine Daae in the US Tour (2008-2010) and on Broadway (2011-2012).

#trista moldovan #phantom of the opera #hugh panaro #kyle barisich #john cudia #sean maclaughlin #poto broadway #poto us tour

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meilas · 9 months

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Socks' Ultimate Phantoms list, part two

PART ONE

Phantoms, continued:

David Thaxton - Had this moment in Final Lair where it looked like he’d had a heart attack, and then Christine put her hands over his on his heart and just—🥺 David Arnsperger - Had a wild self-caress right before MOTN where he rocked backward. That's it, that's all I remember. John Cudia - I remember actively not liking his Phantom the first time I saw him, but I changed my mind at his Final Lair because it was so good. Jonathan Roxmouth - Has a slightly nasally tone and a slightly deeper voice than a lot of Phantoms. He did not have good pants. Actually the worst pants I’ve ever seen. Looks like a cinnamon roll, is not afraid to burn you if you’ve wronged him. I also don’t like how his wig looks like thinning hair at the very front. Tim Martin Gleason - Don't ask me why, I just like him okay. James Romick - Really like his voice. Does an excellent sad. Derrick Davis - Fantastic voice. Brought a touch of humanity to that awful restaged show and made it worth watching. Wish we could have seen him in Real POTO. Great ass. Brent Barrett - I remember liking him. Thomas James O’Leary - Good acting, good voice.

Jon Robyns - Makes excellent noises during the Final Lair. Good voice. James Gant - Works best with Eva Shanu-Wilson. Okay acting, but nothing else really going on. Occasional good moments.

Christines: Lisa Vroman - An "older" Christine. Great chemistry with Franc D'Ambrosio. Initiated a gentle hand-holding during the ring return with him which was an excellent choice that I don’t often see. Made some other excellent choices throughout the show in reacting to what was happening around her. Looks like she could kill you, is a cinnamon roll except when she’s going to kill you. Elizabeth Southard - Another "older" Christine. Love her. The best chemistry with Gary Mauer, her irl husband. Also had great chemistry with Jim Weitzer, who was her Raoul. Very, very good actor. Looks like a cinnamon roll, is a cinnamon roll but only for her husband, otherwise she can and will kill. Luzia Nistler - Love her voice. Austrian. (Like German, but elegant.) Emilie Kouatchou - I wanted to like her. But she has a ton of vibrato and she sounds like a child. I also don't care for her acting. She looked like she was only doing what she was told, rather than reacting to things happening around her. Meghan Picerno - I don't remember anything about her. I saw her live right after the reopening. Celinde Schoenmaker - I've only heard audio of her but I remember liking her. Kanisha Feliciano - Good Wishing. Looks fabulous in the blue dress. I love her wigs more than any other Christine. Hers doesn’t look like a frizzy mess. Lucy St Louis - She played a very sympathetic Christine, and has such a beautiful voice. Lily Kerhoas - fierce. Loved the anger she had in Final Lair. Holly Anne-Hull - too much vibrato Paige Blankson - too much vibrato

Raouls: Christopher Carl - Didn't get to see much of him owing to the fact that the boots he's in are Phantom-centered highlights. The little I have seen of him has been excellent though. Ciaran Sheehan - I like him better as Raoul than as the Phantom. He was ready to throw hands. Has a very stilted way of singing that reminds me of the few clips of Colm Wilkinson, but sounds better than Colm. Willing to troll his associates irl. Bronson Norris Murphy - A. Dorable. The best. Looks like a cinnamon roll, is a cinnamon roll. Could probably do a murder if pushed far enough. Have heard audio and now seen a boot and he’s a protective Raoul. Hands down my favourite Raoul. John Riddle - Saw him live right after the reopening. I don't remember anything specific about him. Paul Schaefer - Nice chest. Matt Blaker - meh

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twistedtummies2 · 1 year

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Top 15 Portrayals of Raoul (ALW’s Phantom)

“The Phantom of the Opera” closes in two days on Broadway, and I’m still here to give my second favorite musical the honor it deserves! I’m counting down my favorite performers who have played the three key roles of the show. Yesterday, I presented my favorite people who have played Christine Daae. Today, I move on to the next major part: Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny.

Raoul is a character who, even more than Christine, I feel gets a bad rap. He’s the least popular and well-respected of the three main characters; his goals, motivations, and personality are the most simple and altruistic of the three, and as a result he’s often perceived as the least interesting. People tend to gravitate more towards Christine’s many dilemmas, or the tortured and haunting darkness of the Phantom himself, than the seemingly more whitebread Raoul. It’s telling that in the sequel to Phantom, “Love Never Dies” (by the way, I’ve ONLY been considering the first show, not that one, too, in my choices here, at least as much as possible), Raoul is actually changed into one of the main VILLAINS of the story…which, in my opinion, is both nonsensical and a total show of unwarranted contempt for his character. While it is true that Raoul is the least layered character of the three, I think he works because he serves as an interesting counterpoint to the Phantom. Like the Phantom, Raoul is deeply in love with Christine and admires her voice. But while the Phantom has lived a life of torment in the shadows, Raoul has effectively been raised with a silver spoon: he’s a generally optimistic, outgoing, wealthy young man. In fact, at times it seems Raoul is a bit…slow, shall we say? I wouldn’t say he’s stupid, outright, but I feel that part of the character a lot of people don’t realize is that he’s not necessarily the brightest bulb in the bunch, certainly not when compared to the Phantom. But what makes Raoul so wonderful is that, while the Phantom represents all sorts of complexities and tragedies and decadent possibilities…Raoul represents something simple: pure and wholesome goodness. His love for Christine seems absolutely honest and untainted, and the fact he’s rich never really seems to be something he lords over anybody. He doesn’t try to bribe people, he doesn’t try to use his money as something to flaunt, it just…exists. He’s someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, and he’s still willing to take risks and go to great lengths to help those he cares about most. There’s nothing WRONG with Raoul, at the end of the day; he only seems to be “less interesting” because the other characters have so much else going on. Raoul’s motivations and goals are simple: all he wants is to help and protect Christine. He loves her, and he is willing to go to any length to keep her safe and make her happy. There is nothing selfish or self-righteous in his soul. Something interesting about a lot of the actors who have played Raoul best over the years is that they often seem to “graduate” to playing the Phantom later down the line. This isn’t ALWAYS the case, but you will see several examples of that between this list and the one for the Phantom, which shall be done tomorrow. This isn’t always the case, however; what makes a great Raoul doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the Phantom, they simply have to be people who understand who he really is and why he is such a good character in this tale. Once again, this will be a description-less list (just names and pictures). With that said, here are My Top 15 Portrayals of Raoul from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera!

15. Byron Nease.