Fairfield, OH high school chosen to perform ALW's Phantom

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 1:02am

April 11, 2008.

Oh my.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070731/NEWS01/707310388/1058/NEWS01

Updated On: 8/1/07 at 01:02 AM

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 1:13am

Oh god.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 1:16am

WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHYYYY????????

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 1:18am

Aren't Broadway and London enough?

[altoid06]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 1:35am

I attend college around 45 minutes from Fairfield so I'll have to go check out the show. Traditionally, they have a very solid music program with a lot of talented students. Of course, "Phantom" will be hard for any high school to put on, especially with some of the special effects this show requires.

Like I said, I'll have to go check it out next year. On a side note, what other schools were chosen to perform the show?

[americanboy99]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 1:37am

I know Elon University in North Carolina (or is it South Carolina?) has also been chosen and will be performing it in the spring.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 1:42am

IMO, a high school student, no matter how talented, should not be singing the PotO cadenza. That's heavy, heavy singing.

[tourboi]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 1:49am

I'm afraid.

I love PHANTOM and make it no secret. But this show has no place being performed in high schools. The score is too intense.

[harris007]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 2:07am

they picked them out of all the high schools in america, they must be doing SOMETHING right,

[fnyboi88]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 2:12am

Well bring on those cardboard chandeliers....

[tourboi]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 2:32am

I'm sure they're doing something right. they're probably great kids! But high schoolers singing STARLIGHT well is one thing. PHANTOM requires really trained voices in a specific style of music.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 2:42am

Phantom is kitchy enough that it will work great for high schools.

It's already incredibly overdone. When I saw it last week, the Carlotta, Phantom, and Mme. Giry were so over the top, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

[TheaterBoy7777]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 2:55am

I actually saw their Starlight Express when I was in Ohio and the costumes were amazing and they had a few really talented kids, good for a high school production. Im sure they will be able to pull of the spectacle part of it but the vocal parts may be too challenging.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 9:36am

If they chose any high school, it shoukd have been LaGuardia, the "Fame" School, from which I just graduated. We at least have a program particularly devoted to opera and all of our singers are classically trained.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 10:26am

"but the vocal parts may be too challenging."

Do you people REALLY think that there won't be adjustments to the vocals so that high school students can sing it? Even Broadway companies change scores to adjust to new singers. Get over yourselves.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 10:29am

Taken from the article:

"'It's a collaboration. This is the same script and score that is performed at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. It's the exact same as what's playing on Broadway.'"

[TheaterBoy7777]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 10:53am

I wasn't saying they couldn't do it I saw there last production and it wasn't the most vocally strong production I have seen but they are in high school so what should we expect! Of course it could be too difficult because they are in high school...I hope it isnt though I hope its wonderful. Hopefully they will change the score because I don't know how many high school kids could sing Christine or the Phantom I couldnt when I was in high school. But I will start the process of getting over myself...

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 11:04am

I'm sure the reason they aren't trying this out at LaGuardia or a similar performing arts school is that they want to figure out how to make Phantom workable for high schools through out the country, not just a few elite institutions. The orchestrations are also very demanding. I wonder how those kids will like playing in 15/16?

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 11:05am

Our local HS did Les Miserables a couple of years ago, and I was shocked at how good it was! I had seen several productions in prior years and had been impressed, but I had no idea just how deep the talent was that they could pull it off.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 11:14am

Les Miz is not quiiiiiite the same...

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 11:19am

the thing that scares me the most, is that Phantom DOES rely a quite a bit on fabulous scenic effects and such. Even high schools with huge budgets may not be able to pull it off correctly. But we'll see.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 11:26am

Brain-
That's what I said about "Beauty and the Beast" and I've seen some amazing productions with VERY modest budgets...you'd be amazed what you can figure out on small budget.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 11:27am

I only wonder about the chandelier...

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 11:32am

"Taken from the article:

'It's a collaboration. This is the same script and score that is performed at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. It's the exact same as what's playing on Broadway.'"

That's what they say, but it's very unlikely going to be true. Besides, Phantom is hardly the most difficult score...and I find it rather amusing that people are expecting to see Broadway quality productions at the high school and college levels. You people need to get a grip.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 11:38am

Actually, NYCO's production of La Traviata uses cardboard chandeliers that look quite real from the audience. I've also seen a chandelier made from a garbage can that looked really good. Regarding the elaborate sets and special effecs, you'd be surprised how far a little lighting can go. Even on Broadway, it has been said that the sets aren't as fancy as they look- they just make good use of empty space and curtains. I actually think the score would be much easier to sing if they lowered the whole thing a whole step.