Is the role of Christine Daae in Phantom considered above the title casting?

Updated On: 5/7/09 at 11:26 PM

Idina and Chenoweth had above the title billing on the window cards and playbills.

To actually answer your question though no one has above the tile billing in The Phantom of the Opera. The star of the show is the show itself. Tourists don't care who's playing the leads.

This is a technical problem that would be answered by Actors Equity and has a baring on how the Tony awards are classified.

I have a winbdow card on my wall from PHANTOM the I got at the time it opened. No one is listed above the title. Michael Crawford is listed first, in slightly smaller letters is Sarah Brightman then Steve Barton followed by 5 others in smaller letters, then Judy Kaye in letters the size of Brightman's
finally very small letters read "at certain performances" then in medium size lerrers "Patti Cohenour" and under her name "plays the role of Christine". Even Andrew Lloyd Webber is not above the title, but is toward the bottom uncer the mask logo.

Unfortunately Patti Cohenhour was not elegible for Tony consideration as the committee ruled that she did not originale the role. It is a puzzeling technicality.

Sometimes the authors have a stipulation and no one can be billed over the title no matter how large their roles. If you look at the requirements for billing in the front of scripts from places like Samuel French who license productions, they state how the billings are to appear and what size the type must be.

Updated On: 2/22/08 at 11:54 PM

"Unfortunately Patti Cohenhour was not elegible for Tony consideration as the committee ruled that she did not originale the role."

But she didn't. She was the alternate.

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"I was just wondering because her name is the biggest name on the poster does that mean above the title billing? In other words, if she isn't there ( during her scheduled time to be there) and Elizabeth goes on can you get a refund? "

Yes... me, too - curious.

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"Above the title" means literally above the title, not the size of the name.

In regards to your post about Wicked, on the signs outside of the theatre and on the window cards, Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, and Joel Grey were all listed above the title, as you can (barely) see in the terribly small picture in the link I posted.
Original Wicked poster

Whoever performs a role on opening night is generally the person considered eligable for the Tony Award.

New question.


Jennifer's schedule as to when she is to be going on as Christine is posted on her website. That being said. If I went to the show got a ticket and prior to it being scanned I saw on the understudy board that she is out when it is normally a performance she goes on for. Can I go to the box office and either ask for a refund/exchange for a new date etc because she is scheduled to be on that night? Or will I have to sit back relax and enjoy Elizabeth's performance? ( As if that were such a Shanda)

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No. She is not above the title. No refunds.

Is there a reason you are so opposed to seeing the alternate or an understudy?

I have nothing against seeing her understudy/alternate go on. I saw the understudy go on on tuesday (A day that Jennifer would normally be on) and ended up seeing the understudy go on. I am a fan of Jennifer's work and I wanted to see her perform before my vacation was over.

I am going to the theatre tonight with hopes of trying to catch her in the role again. I know she has been out sick but I was sort of crossing my fingers that she would have been back by now.

That was until I read the post about someone seeing the understudy board at Phantom and saying that all the understudies were on for the leads.

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