First Black Christine in Phantom

[RW3]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 7:52pm

Saw that nobody had posted about this yet but when the London production of Phantom reopens this summer it will be with the first Black Christine in any production of POTO.

WhatsonStage Article: https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/lucy-st-louis-to-play-christine-phantom-opera_53902.html

'Wishing' YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_q92LavXwY

'All I Ask of You' YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCD04vqtbH0

[NameGreg]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 8:08pm

That’s extremely surprising. I know it took a long time for a black actor (believe Norm Lewis was the first), but I seem to recall there was some hesitance to cast a black man in the role of a predatory figure due to the potentially unfortunate implications. I never really thought about the ethnicity of Christine’s actresses, but you’d think when a show’s been running for decades this would’ve happened by now. Especially since Christine is rarely a big name.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 8:28pm

NameGreg said: "(believe Norm Lewis was the first)"

 

Lewis was the first on Broadway, but the late Robert Guillaume was the first.

But yes, I agree it's surprising, and sad, that it hasn't happened until now. 


 

Updated On: 4/28/21 at 08:28 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 8:36pm

I didn’t want to give the show any money after the changes they announced but now I’ll definitely go see it this summer.

[starlightlocamotion]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 9:35pm

Wow. She is just lovely. Can she transfer over to Broadway after her run on the west end please?!

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 9:47pm

If wicked doesn’t bump her, phantom on Broadway should offer Christine to Brittney Johnson

[Globefan]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 10:08pm

It's about time a Black woman was cast as Christine! 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 10:11pm

I wonder who will be the first black Christine on B'way...?

[Globefan]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 10:25pm

Harolyn Blackwell could've been a great Christine back in the day 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 11:03pm

She is absolutely stunning. I went to Phantom for the first time since I was like 6 when Norm Lewis was cast. He, of course, was a brilliant Phantom. I look forward to a Black Christine on Broadway, it's like 30 years overdue. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 11:15pm

I've watched Lucy St. Louis' "Wishing" at least three times since yesterday. It's so overdue (and it's a shame this is with the reduced orchestra) but I'm thrilled it's happening! Also notable: one of the new Raoul understudies, Jemal Felix, will be the first Black performer (or one of the first?) to play Raoul in London.

https://twitter.com/JustJem/status/1386990339614027779

I haven't seen the show since the end of Norm Lewis' run, so I'll be intrigued to see who it reopens here with.

[Joshua Rosenthal]

Posted: 4/29/21 at 12:30am

Jordan Catalano said: "I didn’t want to give the show any money after the changes they announced but now I’ll definitely go see it this summer. "

Which changes?

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/29/21 at 12:37am

Joshua Rosenthal said: "Jordan Catalano said: "I didn’t want to give the show any money after the changes they announced but now I’ll definitely go see it this summer. "

Which changes?"

The west end production is downsizing the orchestra and set amongst other things.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/29/21 at 12:58am

Joshua Rosenthal said: "Jordan Catalano said: "I didn’t want to give the show any money after the changes they announced but now I’ll definitely go see it this summer. "

Which changes?"

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/cameron-mackintosh-phantom-opera-not-civil-service-creating/

 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 4/29/21 at 8:30am

Joshua, there has been a thread about Phantom's changes since last summer, take a look: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1122765