Is Howard McGillin leaving Phantom??

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 10:53am

Does anyone know if Howard McGillin is leaving Phantom? And if so when?? Thanks

Updated On: 9/18/06 at 10:53 AM

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 10:56am

proabaly never.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 10:59am

Is Hugh Panaro coming back to Phantom? I'd totally go back to see him.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 10:59am

And when he does, he'll be back. Like a lizard's tail.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 11:46am

Aren't there others who can play this role? It's time for some "new blood" and I don't mean Hugh (or Howard for that matter). It's time for someone new to play the Phantom!

[KQuill]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 12:06pm

I know what your saying, but some of us love these guys like Howard and Hugh enough to keep going back just to see them.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 12:40pm

Aren't there others who can play this role? It's time for some "new blood" and I don't mean Hugh (or Howard for that matter). It's time for someone new to play the Phantom!

People have been saying that for a long time; I agree. The Phantom recycling phenomenon is almost as bad as Rent's at this point.

[Justin D]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 2:18pm

I totally agree, back when howard was first cast in 1999 i was like, yeah great, someone with NO CONNECTIONS to the show, but now it really needs a good change.

Same for the US Tour.

Maype they will send one of the Vegas phantoms to broadway to replace him eventually.

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 2:21pm

Is the Vegas Phantom going to last long enough to have replacements?

[livelife]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 2:55pm

^^^ Hopefully....its cost enough!

I think a new Phantom will be a great step for the Broadway production. The new Christine proved successful!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 2:58pm

No. Howard has just renewed his contract for another six months. So you can see him up until at least April. :)

~Roz

[Producer2]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 4:03pm

the vegas phantoms can now come here!

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 5:26pm

YAY, I am so glad he is staying. Thanks!!!

[alliez92092]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 6:39pm

Rent's recycling is bad? Well, maybe it used to be, I don't think it's as bad anymore. You wanna talk about recycling, then talk about a show with witches.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 7:57pm

Has Jennifer Hope Wills returned to the Broadway company yet?

[NJRae]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 8:25pm

Oh good, I for one am glad he isn't leaving just yet. I want to see him again. :)

[Becky2]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 8:54pm

Yes, I believe Jennifer Hope Wills has returned from the US tour back to the Broadway company.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 6:20pm

Why do you think that the Vegas production isn't going to last long? I wonder what the tickets sales are like, I thought it was doing well but I could be wrong. $140 for a 90 minute show is a lot more than I think most people are willing to pay.

I hope it stays for a while, it wouls be sad after all the like, 70 batrillion dollars they put into that technicolor crashing chandelier. But I would like to see Crivello back on Broadway soon.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 6:24pm

Allie, Wicked is not that bad compared to Rent and Phantom, where people who were basically cast in the mid 90's are playing the same roles, like Christine.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 6:29pm

i think PHANTOM has the worst "recycling" compared to RENT and WICKED
those PHANTOM people stay with the show for AGES! :P thats cool though

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 10:02pm

Wills has returned to the Broadway company as the alternate Christine. Rebecca Pitcher is the primary Christine.

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 10:29pm

As much as I'd like to see the Phantom cast to be changed up more often than it is (and as much as I resent the fact that they simply pulled McGillin back rather than looking for new blood), I really can't get annoyed about the cast's state of pseudo-paralysis without feeling like a selfish theatre brat.

First off, the actors themselves have been really quite good for a few years now, but more importantly, these people and their families have to eat. The reason people tend to stay with Phantom so long (and you still see OBC members like George Lee Andrews sticking with the longest-running show in Broadway history) is because it's easily the most stable production to be a part of. In the forever-and-a-half years it's been running it hasn't gone away and it likely won't for a good number of years. Unlike cast members of other long runs (i.e. Rent) and other shows that will easily become long runs (i.e. Wicked), Phantom cast members are typically older and have families to provide for. Many of them have said a number of times that Phantom put their kids through college. If they still want to perform in Phantom and it's best for their families to boot, more power to them. As long as the cast doesn't get stale (which luckily it hasn't been lately) I'll be happy if they stick with it as long as they want.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 9:47pm

Despite recycling, POTO's current Broadway casts have been its best in years starting in 2003.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 9:50pm

I was speaking to Howard just the other day and he mentioned that he's staying with POTO for the rest of his life.

[Anthony3]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 10:01pm

i'm so glad hes staying longer!