Musical supervision and direction is by David Caddick and orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . Fun fact: Did you know that this exact theater has been home to The Phantom of the Opera since 1988? Logan Culwell-Block Only this is a slightly dangerous one. And a revamped Broadway version of the composers musical Cinderella at the Imperial Theatre will be announced as soon as next week. Choose Your Favorites for the 2023 Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards. The leads of New York, New York tell us how starring in Broadways newest Kander and Ebb musical was a chance to learn from some of the greats of the American theatre. FollowNBCBLKonFacebook,TwitterandInstagram. Broadway's 'Phantom of the Opera' plots a cautious return The terrifically fun London Palladium revival of his Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has New York in its sights after it plays Torontos Princess of Wales Theatre this winter. 'The Phantom of the Opera' extends Broadway run due to demand - CNN May 1, 2023, By Read Klooks guide on each one here. The 'Phantom' and its famous chandelier are packing it in Please consider supporting us bywhitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.Thank you! Josh Gad. I still give notes to the actors, to the orchestra. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. INTO THE WOODS & More Lead 2023 Drama League Award Nominations. The Majestic Theatre, the best musical house on Broadway, has finally been freed up after nearly four decades. The longest-running Broadway show of all time, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will play its final New York performance at The Majestic Theatre today, Sunday, April 16 at 5PM, after a record-breaking 35 years and 13,981 performances to 20 million people. Copyright 1991-2023 Playbill Inc. All Rights Reserved. Phantom first opened on Broadway with its original London stars, Michael Crawford as the masked romantic and Sarah Brightman as his beloved soprano Christine. The musical is the longest-running show on Broadway, celebrating 34 years last month. "I got the gig of a lifetime. Dylan Parent Ticket prices range from $29-$169, with Premium tickets also available. Kouatchou still remembers the first time she hit the stage playing Christine as an understudy in October 2021. She said it can be difficult to assume a historic role people are familiar with, while still making it feel like its hers. The Ensemble features Giselle O. Alvarez, Polly Baird, Janinah Burnett, Xiaoxiao Cao, Kanisha Marie Feliciano, David Michael Garry, Chris Georgetti, Kelly Jeanne Grant, Satomi Hofmann, Ayaka Kamei, Ted Keegan, Kfir, Kelly Loughran, Scott Mikita, Greg Mills, Trista Moldovan, Justin Peck, Richard Poole, Lindsay Roberts, Janet Saia, Paul Adam Schaefer, Carly Blake Sebouhian, Jeremy Stolle, Carrington Vilmont, Jim Weitzer, Elizabeth Welch and Erica Wong. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group, The Phantom of the Opera has been the longest-running show in Broadway history for well over a decade, and its astounding longevity in New York and around the world is unprecedented. "I was very keen to write something which was a high romance at the time, having done Evita and having done Cats and various things, which didn't let me go in that direction at all," Lloyd Webber recalled in 2013, for the show's 25th anniversary on Broadway. Stage Actor. No matter whats going on during my day if I had a bad day or if I feel like Im not doing my best on stage or whatever I just know that me being on stage is bigger than what is necessarily going on with me, she said. Leah Putnam Natan Zamansky The Phantom of the Opera, for those who've never seen it, is the story of a disfigured genius who haunts the Paris Opera House, pining away for a young soprano, Christine, who's in love with a dashing count. Broadway's longest-running musical took a significant, if long overdue, step toward diversifying its cast this week in conjunction with its 34th anniversary. As Christines star rises, and a handsome suitor from her past enters the picture, the Phantom grows mad, terrorizing the opera house owners and company with his murderous ways. May 1, 2023, By Kouatchou said just thinking of all the trailblazing Black women that were overlooked for the role but who nonetheless made it possible for her to play Christine makes her emotional. VIDEO: Ben Crawford Gives a Speech at THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA's 34th And holy moly, I've been there 33 and a half years." They also reflect a time gone by. Were in a period of intense change in this industry, and Im just happy that I could be a part of that change.. May 1, 2023, By The Phantom of the Opera's running time is 150 minutes long (or roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes) with an intermission between both acts so you . Since opening on January 26, 1988, the New York production has played an unheard of nearly 14,000 performances to over 20 million people at The Majestic Theatre (245 West 44th Street). "At the moment, it's about maintaining what we have: keeping the show vibrant. The Phantom of the Opera, - Broadway.com Stage Actor. The couple announced their engagement via tandem Instagram posts. Meet Emilie Kouatchou, Broadway's 1st Black Christine in 'Phantom of The Phantom, a mysterious character who inhabits the rafters, sabotages the ongoing operato get what he wants from the new owners. The flagship London production, which celebrated its 36th anniversary on October 9, continues to play stronger than ever post-Covid, with no end in sight. "This has been his home away from home," she says. hide caption, Musician Joyce Hammann has been at the show even longer than Poole: "I'm concertmaster at Phantom of the Opera, which is first violin. Bring home some of the magic from Disneyland California! Review Roundup: Sean Hayes Stars In GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR On Broadway! Cowboys O-Line Target Steve Avila of TCU Drafted by Rams The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega hit musical, is closing after more than 35 years. I still find the way his voice completely changed to sounding like a completely different person fascinating, and I mean none of that in a negative way as both are entirely valid vocal approaches to the role. Get Tickets to THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: https://www.broadway.com/shows/the-phantom-of-the-opera/Watch Ben Crawford as he lends his heavenly vocals to the ic. Based on Gaston Lerouxs 1910 novel, The Phantom of the Opera, the musical follows the story of The Phantom, a mysterious composer who haunts the Paris Opera House, and his muse, up-and-coming opera-star Christine Daa. Kenneth Ferrone directs the country-themed musical following a Nashville-bound mother and daughter. Musical staging and choreography is by the late Gillian Lynne. To our regret, he's required to take a little more time." PHANTOM is also currently playing in Japan, Greece and Sweden, and has productions opening this month in South Korea and Prague, as well as its highly anticipated premiere in Italy this July. So, last September, he and Andrew Lloyd Webber announced a final date. If he is listed as a cast or swing member on the website then he is likely the current understudy. Photos: Ben Crawford, Emilie Kouatchou and More Star in THE PHANTOM OF As with many other shows, ticket sales for "Phantom" lagged when Broadway reopened after COVID-19. The right show could be grossing $3 million a week there, rather than $1 million from Phantom.. Im learning to take things as they come and realize that my journey is going to happen when it needs to happen. Here's how to book your Disneyland tickets! Kouatchou opens up about taking over a historic role and the significance of Black representation on Broadway. Celebrate Disneys 100 years of magic with 100 different types of Disney merchandise! It follows a deformed composer who haunts the grand Paris Opera House. This Epic 5-Day Road Trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles Should Be Your Next Adventure, See Californias most iconic sights while driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles with this road trip guide! We will look to maintain every element of the production through to the very last note.". The production won seven Tony Awards, including Best Actor for Crawford and Best Musical. Seamlessly booking your Phantom of the Opera tickets on, Christine Daa is played by Emilie Kouatchou, Monsieur Firmin is played by Craig Bennet, Carlotta Guidicell is played by Raquel Suarez Groen, The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway is currently showing at the Majestic Theater on 247 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. He had the pleasure of sitting backstage during Saturday matinees sometimes when I wasn't able to get a babysitter.". Planning to go to Disneyland Resort California for your next holiday? . Here are 14 spots to stop by during your Los Angeles to San Diego road trip. His Broadway credits includeCharlie and the Chocolate Factory(Mr. Salt), the titular character in Shrek The Musical, Big Fish (Edward Bloom u/s, Don Price), Les Misrables (Javert/Valjean u/s) and On the Twentieth Century (Bruce Granit u/s). The Phantom of the Operawas nominated for 10 Tony Awards in 1988 and took home seven, includingBest Musical. | Blocking belongson the stage,not on websites. Broadways second-longest-running show, the revival of John Kander and Fred Ebbs Chicago, is well behind in the race, having been running 25 years and playing 10,090 performances. And, you know, I think people's memory now is back with people saying Phantom of the Opera is one of the great successes of all time, which is what one always prays when a great show finishes. . Previews on Broadway began January 9, 1988, with an official opening January 26. Emilie Kouatchou (left) and Ben Crawford (right) performing the title song in "Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway. Due to the expansive nature of Off-Broadway, this list is not comprehensive. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has played to over 145 million people in 41 countries and 183 cities in 17 languages. We've received your submission. Sara Esty joins the company as Meg Giry. In the New York production alone, an estimated 6,500 people (including 450 actors) have been employed during its more than three decades run. | The entertainment industry at large has struggled with diversity and representation, especially Broadway. Jay Armstrong Johnson and Kaley Ann Voorhees, By Sheltered from the outside world in an underground cavern, the lonely, romantic man tutors and composes operas for Christine, a gorgeous young soprano star-to-be. In 2023, PHANTOM will be playing across a total of 15 countries, in 8 languages and 4 continents. After three decades at the Majestic Theatre, The Phantom of the Opera still runs like a well-oiled machineincluding its . On Sunday night, April 16, the curtain will fall on the longest-running show in Broadway history. Michael Patrick Smith CBE (born 19 January 1942), known professionally as Michael Crawford, is an English actor, comedian, and singer.. Crawford is best known for playing both the hapless Frank Spencer in the sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musical The Phantom of the Opera.His acclaimed performance in the latter earned him both the Laurence Olivier Award for Best . This combination has long left audiences wondering if any of the singing is prerecorded. 10 Best Theme Parks In Orlando To Visit For An Action-Packed Holiday. People I look up to in the industry. I want to take care of myself, but its so important that audiences see someone who looks like me playing Christine.. He made his Broadway debut in 2006 in Les Misrables as the understudy for Jean Valjean and Javert. Ben has also starred in over twenty regional theatre productions ranging from Che in Evita (Studio Tenn), Starbuck in 110 in the Shade (Fords Theatre), Luther Billis in South Pacific (Ogunquit Playhouse), Frederick Barrett in Titanic (MUNY) and Jud Fry in Oklahoma! 100 Reasons Why You Should Visit Disneyland Resort California This Year. But Black representation on Broadway has recently increased. | Ben Crawford currently plays the Phantom and Emilie Kouatchou is Christine Daa. "It's given me the ability to have security, to plan ahead," says Poole. If the performance guests choose to attend is less than 14 days after their childs (age 5-11) first vaccine dose, they must also provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. I try and bring myself to her as much as I can even in just the inflection of my voice, something as simple as that. The production also features musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne, scenic and costume design by Maria Bjrnson, lighting design by Andrew Bridge, and sound design by Martin Levan with Caddick as music director. When he read Gaston Leroux's novel, he found the vehicle and collaborated with Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart on the adaptation, directed by Hal Prince. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The Phantom Of The Opera takes place in the decadent Paris Opera House where the Phantom - a man ashamed of his physical appearance - hides from the real world in the darkness of the theatre. Watch the complete curtain call fromtoday's final curtain call of The Phantom of the Opera. She said what trailblazers have sacrificed for her makes her want to pay it forward by always doing her best. The Phantom of the Opera's running time is 150 minutes long (or roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes) with an intermission between both acts so you can stretch your legs, or grab some snacks! This year is the musical's 34th anniversary on Broadway. It looks as if the cast has stayed the same as before but Im going crazy trying to find info on Bens understudy. This is a remake of a video that I made and posted a couple of months back comparing the way Ben Crawford sounded in 2018 vs. 2023.This time around I used th. In October 2021, seven plays by Black playwrights with predominately Black casts debuted. Guests under the age of 18 may present their school ID. . Hear From Ben Crawford, Wayne Cilento and More on, Odds & Ends: Michael Luwoye to Play Nelson Mandela in, See Footage of Emilie Kouatchou as Christine Daa in, (Ben Crawford "They saw that I had dinosaurs in my room," he says, "because when I play with my kids on FaceTime, my son loves dinosaurs, so they 3D printed this velociraptor that's, like, in a tuxedo with a phantom mask. . The Phantom of the Opera has production design by the late Maria Bjrnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound by Mick Potter with original sound by Martin Levan. The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega hit musical, is closing after . Also joining the production in her Broadway debut is Emilie Kouatchou, who plays the role of Christine Daa at certain performances. [UPDATED] Your Trusty Guide for Travel Requirements, Rules, and Reminders for Your Next Trip to Mainland US. Ben Crawford as The Phantom - 2nd Performance vs. Final - YouTube May 1, 2023, By Ben Crawford Out Of Final Broadway Performance of PHANTOM; Laird 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1. But yeah, it was a wonderful night.. The Phantom of the Opera, Broadways longest-running show, will close this winter, multiple sources told The Post. Check out a portrait of the final cast, crew, orchestra, and staff here! Im hoping to set a date for the exciting post covid experience of seeing phantom in November. | A 2019 reportby the Actors Equity Association found that just 8% of Broadways nearly 52,000 actors and stage managers are Black. During its New York run, PHANTOM shattered every possible record for advance sales, capitalization, total gross, total attendance and longevity. He will give his final performance on Saturday night his 9,382nd. 5% off your 1st booking with code BetterOnApp, Earn Klook credits to save on future bookings, Nearly half a million activities - just taps away. On Broadway, saying goodbye to 'Phantom' - csmonitor.com Jeff Keller played a limited replacement engagement, Ted Keegan played a limited replacement engagement, Brad Little played a limited replacement engagement, Gary Mauer played a limited replacement engagement. The Broadway staging of the London-originated show won seven 1988 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Crawford has been out of the show since April 1st. Oh, gosh. Music supervisor and conductor David Caddick has been around since the very beginning he was music director for a staged reading on Andrew Lloyd Webber's estate back in 1984. / Photo courtesy of The Publicity Office), You Pick the Nominees! Former cast member Laird Mackintosh has a long history with the show, stretching back to the Toronto production from 1993 for 5 years (3 of them as Raoul and covering The Phantom). A favorite of theatre fans and industry members alike, the restaurant is sounding the call for positive reviews on Google. Let your fantasies unwind because The Phantom of the Opera is officially back on the Broadway. Sign up for reopening news, announcements, and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows! 'Phantom of the Opera' to close after 35 years on Broadway: sources John Riddle as "Raoul", Ben Crawford as "The Phantom" and Emilie Kouatchou as "Christine" take the curtain call at The 34th Anniversary Performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of The Opera . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Seth Sklar-Heyn (our production . Davis' Death of a Salesman co-star Wendell Pierce hosted a screening and talkback for the new film. Checking In With London The Phantom of the Opera Star Lucy St. Louis. The final performance will be on Sunday, April 16. Based on Gaston Lerouxs 1910 novel, Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a love triangle that blossoms after two businessmen take ownership of a haunted opera house. Avery Brunkus. Based on the classic novel Le Fantme de L'Opra by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera, has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Ben Crawford (Stage Actor) - Age, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays Or who was his understudy before the pandemic. And it came to my dressing room in a box with, like, holes in it so it could breathe. Watch THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Star Ben Crawford Sing "The - YouTube 'Phantom of the Opera' closes after 35 years, and nearly 14,000 - NPR . The long-running musical resumes performances at the Majestic Theatre on October 22, marking its first show since the theater shutdown in March 2020. Were going on a long scenic drive from Las Vegas to Phoenix, Arizona! Christine a young soprano starts the musical with a small role in the show within the show, but becomes the Phantoms love interest and he uses his influence to get her the lead role by any means possible. The Phantom of the Opera stars Ben Crawford and Kelsey Connolly have announced their engagement! . Honestly, this was the perfect time for something like this to happen, even though it had been quite a long time. Following the performance, the current Phantom, Ben Crawford, gave a speech honoring the show. The ensemble includes Giselle Alvarez, Polly Baird, Janinah Burnett, Xiaoxiao Cao, David Michael Garry, Chris Georgetti, Kelly Jeanne Grant, Katharine Heaton, Satomi Hofmann, Ted Keegan, Kfir, Kelly Loughran, Scott Mikita, Greg Mills, Justin Peck, Patricia Phillips, Richard Poole, Jessica Radetsky, Lindsay Roberts, Janet Saia, Paul A. Schaefer, Carly Blake Sebouhian, Jeremy Stolle, Carrington Vilmont, Jim Weitzer, Elizabeth Welch, and Erica Wong. On Monday, it will all be over. Ben Crawford and Kelsey Connolly Announce Engagement, Photo Courtesy Matthew Murphy/ Kelsey Connolly, Take a Look at Emilie Kouatchous Historic Performance in the Phantom of the Opera, Go Inside the Broadway Return of The Phantom of the Opera, A Look at The Phantom of the Opera in London Starring Killian Donnelly and Lucy St. Louis, Broadway Eatery Glass House Tavern Targeted With Negative Reviews Following Dispute With Pedicab Drivers, Gold House's A100 List Announces Honorees Stephanie Hsu, Lea Salonga, More, Jessica Phillips, Analise Scarpaci, Jennifer Fouch, More Cast in Reading of New Musical, Gideon Glick and David Alvarez to Star in Prime Video's, Playbill Celebrates Broadway's May Birthdays, What Anna Uzele and Colton Ryan Learned From Working with John Kander. All you need to know about The Phantom Of The Opera In London Ben Crawford (born May 22, 1982) is an American singer and stage actor from Tucson, Arizona. In fact, Shubert chair Bob Wankel wanted the Majestic for the upcoming musical Some Like It Hot, but was reluctant to give Phantom the boot. hide caption. He's played The Phantom over 200 times in New York, with his last performance in early March. 'Phantom of the Opera' closes on Broadway with Andrew Lloyd Webber PHANTOM currently plays Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at 8pm and Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7pm, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm. Emilie Kouatchou is making her Broadway debut as an alternate for the role of Christine, which makes her the first Black performerto play the part on Broadway. Phantom marks Bens sixth Broadway show and he is beyond grateful to be able to jump into this iconic role. Among the judges are Olivier winner Amber Riley and Frozen star Samantha Barks. The series, from Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, has been given a two-season order. Youre not going to get the same cookie-cutter character and I think thats the exciting part of Phantom, too. The Phantom of the Opera has been performed in 15 languages and was the first musical to gross over $6 billion. For now, though, its time to pack up the chandelier. Michael Crawford - Wikipedia The cast is led by Ben Crawford as The Phantom, Meghan Picerno as Christine and John Riddle as Raoul . Fun fact: Did you know that this exact theater has been home to The Phantom of the Opera since 1988? Ben Crawford (singer) - Wikipedia And whatever problems they have out on the street and in their daily lives, they come in here and it's like a little kid tripping on a fairy tale or something. She has toured the country with An American in Paris and Phantom. The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway: Everything You Need to Know - Klook Our website is made possible bydisplaying online advertisements to our visitors. This is a remake of a video that I made and posted a couple of months back comparing the way Ben Crawford sounded in 2018 vs. 2023.This time around I used the earliest recording of Ben that is currently circulating, which comes from his second ever performance in the role on April 17, 2018 - and comparing it to the most recent recording of Ben from his final performance on the evening of April 1, 2023.The audio quality of the 2018 recording is cleaner this time around - all the same moments that were compared in the previous video are used here. The high notes particularly in the title song can be hard to sustain throughout the two and a half hour long show. Ben Crawford plays the Phantom and Emilie Kouatchou plays Christine in "The Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway.