Best Phantom — Page 2

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

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"

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i'll have to agree with marc on this.

sometimes...

im sure you have a nice one too.

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.)

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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.

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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

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!

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

Theatre_Lover, have you ever heard the Mexican one?

"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. :)