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Best Phantom

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secret-soul
#25re: Best Phantom
Posted: 5/25/04 at 11:21pm

well thank you for clarifying. In that case, andrew's my only candidate.


Plince! Plince! Nein! T-Rex!!

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Marc Shaiman
#26re: Best Phantom
Posted: 5/25/04 at 11:24pm

well, you're ALL wrong..the best Phantom is definitely...PHANTOM 2!!

MargoChanning
#27re: Best Phantom
Posted: 5/25/04 at 11:54pm

Well, there's always the Phantom Menace, "Mesa day startin pretty okee-day with a brisky morning munchy, then BOOM! Gettin very scared and grabbin that Jedi and POW! Mesa here! Mesa gettin' very very scared!"


"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

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shlamdiddly
#28re: Best Phantom
Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:18am

Hugh Panaro was amazing!...we were all crying by the end. I've also seen howard McGillin...he was great, but didn't seem to put as much into it. I saw Hugh cry onstage...McGillin never did that. And it gelps that we nicknamed Hugh Panaro "Hott Hugh"


You aren't feeling overwhelmed are you?

FindingNamo
#29re: Best Phantom
Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:20am

That gelps a lott, actually.


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Updated On: 5/26/04 at 12:20 AM

#30re: Best Phantom
Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:36am


i'll have to agree with marc on this.

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Phantom2
#31re: Best Phantom
Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:39am

Mistress- You like me? You really like me?!!


"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer

"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher

#32re: Best Phantom
Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:41am


sometimes...

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Phantom2
#33re: Best Phantom
Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:41am

I knew there was a but!


"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer

"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher

#34re: Best Phantom
Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:42am


im sure you have a nice one too.

etoile
#35Welcome Eddie Varley
Posted: 5/26/04 at 3:30am

I can't believe people have forgotten to welcome Eddie Varley to the lair.


Rest in peace, Iflitifloat.

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bob8rich
#36Welcome Eddie Varley
Posted: 5/26/04 at 4:12am

Firstly, I have to agree with Son_of_a_gunn_25 - I prefer the score of Maury Yeston's "Phantom" to the ALW version, though I have never seen that version on stage.

As for the "best" Phantom performance, I think it's impossible to be totally objective about it - and no one can possibly have seen every actor/singer who has played the role. Apparently there was a world-wide poll held a few years ago in which Peter Karrie was voted the "best ever Phantom". He played the role in London, Toronto & Vancouver. He has also played Valjean and Che Guevara in the West End - and played the lead in the ill-fated and short-lived "Shogun" on Broadway. (I don't know how many people remember anything about that show. I've heard a few songs from it which are very good - "One Candle" in particular is a fantastic song.)


THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***

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Musetta1957
#37Welcome Eddie Varley
Posted: 5/26/04 at 4:29am

"...and no one can possibly have seen every actor/singer who has played the role."

You're my hero!

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scooter38432
#38Welcome Eddie Varley
Posted: 5/26/04 at 7:12am

I've seen 5 or 6 Phantoms, which amazes me because I HATE the show so much. (I've had lots of friends in the cast...)

By far the weakest is Hugh Panaro, followed by Michael Crawford, whose voice is like nails on a chalkboard.

Easily the best sung and acted performance, in my book, goes to the underrated Howard McGillin. Golden vocal chords.

Cris Gronendaal and Kevin Gray were also strong, but no one beats Howard.


Itty Bitty Geisha? Toyland? Gypsy Pasadoble? Just a few popular favorites...

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redhotinnyc2
#39Welcome Eddie Varley
Posted: 5/26/04 at 8:41am

I have to agree with son_of_A_Gun_25 (god that's hard to type!)
the Kopit and Yeston Phantom is the ONLY one.


"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!" Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!

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EddieVarley
#40I've seen all the NYC Phantoms and several others in the tours and London..
Posted: 5/26/04 at 9:14am

And my favorite hands down is/was/always Anthony Warlow...THRILLING!

But really Michael Crawford in London, in previews was THE Phantom...fun that so many actors have worn the mask..it's a tough role to play, you are first in and last out, but it helps with the character...

When I performed in the Ken Hill version people would yell out,
"Sing, Music of the Night already!"...haha

Chrysanthemum62001
#41I've seen all the NYC Phantoms and several others in the tours and London..
Posted: 5/26/04 at 11:16am

Hugh was the best Phantom I have ever seen.


"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL

Lori
#42I've seen all the NYC Phantoms and several others in the tours and London..
Posted: 5/26/04 at 11:30am

I'm glad to hear Kevin Gray get a couple of mentions. He was the first actor I ever saw play the Phantom (in Boston in the National Touring Company). Saw him twice and thought he was fantastic. I've seen Phantom several more times since then on Tour and in NYC and he's still my favorite!


"Take Care! When I am thwarted I am very terrible!"

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ChristineDaae
#43best Phantom!!
Posted: 5/26/04 at 3:22pm

The best Phantom on a recording definetly has to be Michael Crawford.
Since I've only seen 5 different Phantoms on Broadway, I would say that it's either between Howard McGillin & Hugh Panaro. They're both awsome.


"Life will be frozen peaches and cream. Baby, dream Your Dream" ~ SC

broadwaysweetheart
#44best Phantom!!
Posted: 5/26/04 at 8:48pm

Saulo Vasconcelos!!! and the best Christines are LOLITA CORTES and CLAUDIA COTA!

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Theatre_Lover
#45best Phantom!!
Posted: 5/26/04 at 9:20pm

Speaking of Christine, I HATE Sarah Brightmen -- she drives me nuts! Love Rebecca Caine, though. Hee hee, I just love the Canadian recording.


Greens, greens, and nothing but greens! Parsley, peppers, cabbages, and celery!

broadwaysweetheart
#46best Phantom!!
Posted: 5/26/04 at 9:24pm

Theatre_Lover, have you ever heard the Mexican one?

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NYCbabe3789
#47best Phantom!!
Posted: 5/26/04 at 9:27pm

Hugh Panaro brought me to tears...he was just amazing...

And I hate Sarah Brightman too, at least in that role. Michael Crawford too.

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Musetta1957
#48best Phantom!!
Posted: 5/26/04 at 10:42pm

"And I hate Sarah Brightman too, at least in that role. Michael Crawford too."

Echoing you here!

Best Phantom I've ever seen was Brad Little. Second favorite is Joseph Dellger. I wish I could've seen David Gaschen as the Phantom, although I did see him as Piangi 2 1/2 times. :)

Annabel Lee
#49best Phantom!!
Posted: 5/26/04 at 10:50pm

Anyone who has seen James Romick will agree: He is fantastic!!! If you are lucky enough to catch him performing, you will see what we mean! He is the best!!!!!!!!


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