Best Phantom

[Theatre_Lover]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:08pm

I have never seen the real thing (my best friend "put it on" in her basement last summer, which was good for a basement run and I was wondering who everyone thought the best Phantom was, recorded or not. I personally hate Micheal Crawford -- he's voice drives me nuts! I love love love Colm Wilkenson's version, and Anthony Warlow is pretty awesome too, although Colm is totally my fav! No one can sing like him.

I've heard Brad Little was excellent -- best friend saw him.

Opinons?

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:14pm

Ooh let's see. I really dislike Colm on the Canadian recording. He'll always be Valjean in my mind, but his voice as the Phantom strikes me as wrong. As far as the best singer to play the role, easily Anthony Warlow. But for the best Phantom in overall performance:

FRANC D'AMBROSIO- cornerstone of the San Francisco production and longest running Phantom ever

A close 2nd would be his predecessor- DAVIS GAINES

[Theatre_Lover]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:16pm

I know a lot of people who think that about Colm as Phantom. I just love it when he says "Make your choice" -- sends chills up and down my spine!

[TheGirlinTheFrock]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:21pm

I think Michael Crawford IS the Phantom. He played the part for years on Broadway and in London and is amazing on the CD. Is the the best? i dont know. To me he embodies the character. I saw Hugh Panaro recently and loved him in the part.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:24pm

I like Yeston's Phantom best.

[Juliette Capulet]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:26pm

Michael Crawford and Brad Little are tied for me.

Tendres Baisers,
Juliette Capulet

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:26pm

I think Michael Crawford, and that's just from what I heard on the recording. Otherwise, Howard McGillin---he was pretty amazing.

[TheGirlinTheFrock]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:31pm

If you watch that PBS thing ( i think it was called "broadway's greatest love songs - correct me if im wrong) Michael was amazing and he was close to 60 when he sang it? can only image what he was like about 25 yrs ago

[Phantess]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:34pm

Hugh Panaro. Then I'd have to say John Owen Jones but he's in London.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:34pm

Lon Cheney, followed very closely at second place by Paul Williams.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:41pm

I'm with you Namo (I even own a copy of Phantom of the Paradise), though I think I'll go with Claude Rains.

[Janki]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 8:15pm

The current London Phantom John Owen Jones is amazing...and he was a brill Valjean to....catch him if you can...:)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:03pm

I've seen about 6 different Phantoms, and I would have to say that it's a tie between Brad Little and Hugh Panaro. Brad tends to be a more violent Phantom, while Hugh's performance is more heart-wrenching. But you really can't go wrong with either. Amazing set of voices those guys have too! :)

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:20pm

wondering when you would jump on this one, sweetie! I will e-mail you in a few days!

Oh and add... Mind if I add Kevin Gray to your list with Brad & Hugh. Shhhhh don't tell Schulman.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:25pm

I LOVE Billy Batson. And I enjoyed Brad Little and the sequel, Brad Little 2, with Nathan Lane.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:29pm

Cris Groenendall. If he's not your favorite, you didn't see him. Wrenching performance that outshone the material all night.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:35pm

John, I'm sure you are right about Cris! I didn't see his Phantom. But the job he did in the "Three Phantoms Concert" sent me over the top. He has a stellar voice!

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:36pm

Howard McGillin, definitely. He just put so much emotion into the role without overdoing it, and his voice is wobderful. I did enjoy Hugh Panaro and Brad Little too (Hugh is gorgeous, my god).

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:38pm

I'd like to be over the top if the top is Craig Schulman, speaking of Three Phantoms.

[secret-soul]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:51pm

HUGH PANARO!!!!
and jeff keller wasn't bad either. the guy on the tour (Gary Mauer) was a bit iffy...

[CherylA928]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 10:52pm

I wish I had seen Michael Crawford as the Phantom but it was not meant to be.

That said, my favorite out of all the Phantoms I have seen perform is still Jim Romick, swing at the Majestic Theater, NYC. He’s fantastic and I see him every chance I get.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 11:00pm

anyone see Jeff Hyslop?

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 11:11pm

I don't think anyone is in the position to fairly say who the BEST Phantom was unless they have seen every single person who's ever performed the role.

Which means, no one.

[secret-soul]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 11:13pm

betcha harold and andrew have seen all of them. Oh- and Jeff Keller and George Lee Andrews have seen all of them.
Never say no one.

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 5/25/04 at 11:15pm

"Oh- and Jeff Keller and George Lee Andrews have seen all of them."

Maybe all the ones who were on Broadway.

But in my post, I was referring to every single production in the world, from Hamburg to Tokyo to Toronto and all points in between.