I've always thought that the Phantom should be a baritone, because I think a deeper voice goes better with the character's dark nature. ALW may be coming to that conclusion, as well, since James Barbour is the second baritone in a row to be cast in the role.
I'm always fascinated by the number of performers who have played both the Phantom and Jean Valjean. Norm Lewis is NOT one of them -- with his incredible baritone voice and his credentials as Javert, I can't imagine that he'd even want to try. However, I read somewhere that he'd like to play the role and will take singing lessons to attempt to hit that nightmare of a note in "Bring Him Home." Sounds like Norm's successor as the Phantom won't be playing JVJ any time soon either, but maybe Javert is in his future.
Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.
