PHANTOM PHESTIVITIES!!!- Page 2

[EugLoven]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 11:50pm

Wow. On top of you lucky folk who got to see it, I'm just thinking of who else packed the Majestic tonight. What famous stars and talent were in those seats?

This sounds like one amazing magical evening.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 11:56pm

NO WAY IN HELL was this a Letdown! I just got back from this special theatrical event and it was by far one of the most exciting evenings I have speant in the theatre since Bernadettes Final performance in GYPSY & Donna Murphy in PASSION!

I can only echo what was already said - the cast was perfect, the treats (mask, program, champagne, etc) were well appriciated gifts and the closing number was incredibly touching and momentous. WONDERFUL WONDERFUL EVENING! BRAVO! Now THAT was what this industry is all about...not crappy-ass jukebox blunders!

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 11:59pm

Damn you California for trapping me here!

[phenom]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 12:36am

Just got back as well. What a freakin night. Can't say anything more about the details as everyone else pretty much nailed all the facts. It was just the excitement of the evening that was so awe inspiring. Starting with all the pre-show buzzing, where I literally bumped into ALW and Crawford. Nice little autograph to go with that one.

The show had a magic to it tonight which will surely never be matched. The audience was fantastic and just fed off the performers as the performers did off the audience.

SFRP mentioned the applause stopping the show early on, which really did happen. It was such a great moment at the arrival of the managers, the audience just really let go and you could tell the cast was almost surprised, but so humbled by the admiration. Really a great moment.

However, the most memorable point of the night (even surpassing the raising of the chandelier, the crashing of the chandelier, and the very finale) was the beginning of Masquarade. When the staircase is revealed, they had filled it to capacity with performers. Instead of the usual dummy fill-ins, it seems they brought in a whole other company to pack the number out. There were at least 8-10 performers off to the side of the stage as well. You could hear the gasps of the audience.

The ending ceremony was fantastic. (But was it just me, or did the CATS dancer seem extremely nervous? Though I caught her shaking) The audience really loved it. The speeches were nice, but when the whole group danced to Masquarade again, it was a real riot.

Of course Crawford teased us, kinda seemed like he was going to sing. But I was just pleased to hear him go into "Phantom voice" for his final command of "GO!" to start the confetti and balloons. Disappointed he didn't sing, but hearing him in that voice gave me chills and kind of reminded me what a historic event it was.

Great night all around. Lucky guy I am.

[onbroadwy]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 12:43am

Hi All!

Just back from the show as well. It was my first time and I loved it. The energy in the audience and amongst the cast was great. I love the program that they gave us, and the special playbill is neat too. I was also able to get a phantom balloon which was dropped.
In the lobby in before the show I saw: John Lithgow, Lauren Bacall, Maria Friedman (who stood next to me for a long time and she looks great), Micahel Crawford (who signed my ticket!) and Andrew Lloyd Webber (who was I was so close to getting to sign my ticket) and Renee Flemming. Overall it was a really great night.

[AnotherDay46]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 12:46am

I loved Crawford as well. What a magical night tonight was - so happy I was there. ^__^

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 1:26am

CATS has always surpassed Les Miz...Les Miz opened AFTER Cats. Cats surpassed A Chorus Line.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 3:01am

Okay, well...I got back a little while ago but just finished reading the special playbill and program.

I mean, like others before me, can't really add more about the performance or night--though I probably will repeat stuff because I like to write too much, but yeah...it was just amazing. I got there a bit before 6:30, would have liked to be earlier, but even going in, there were paparazzi outside w/ lots of cameras, though of course no one cared about me lol, it still felt cool to walk past them going in.

The show...just...wow. I've seen this whole cast before but really enjoyed them. What a feeling to be surrounded by the enthusiastic audience, everyone mentioned them cheering and it all felt so special. I put on my mask during Masquerade a bit and also noticed with the exception of a couple at the very top of the stairs, they had people, no dummies. After reading the playbill, I believe, though not positive, that they were the entire company of the current National Tour of Phantom, the playbill says...in the first note under the big 7,486 that begins welcome to a very special evening..."We acknowledge the thousands of people that worked on the three national tours in every capacity, all of whom are represented here tonight by the current cast of The Musix Box Company, joining us direct from the road." So I read that, and thought it made sense for them to be the Masqueraders.

As mentioned, the cast was obviously very inspired by the night and audience to put so much effort and energy into the show, and it showed. I felt like it was the funniest performance I've ever seen, in that the comedic parts were just really comedic and well done. Howard McGillin was wonderful as expected, and his last "music of the night" in the show was simply eargasmic.

After the show, obviously as soon as the ensemble came out, everyone was standing, very nice to see. The masqueraders/tour cast came out last in the back. Then...the Cats event happened before everyone came out right? Or maybe not. Well either before or after the Cats thing, first all of the past Raouls came out, then all of the Christines, then all of the Phantoms each donning their own custom-made mask from when they did the show, and then other assorted past actors dressed as different characters they played. So like people said with the Cats thing, Howard as the Phantom went over to down stage left and stood with a light on him, and we were just left with the ballet dancers, who danced a little to reveal...the Cat! She danced a little to the Cats theme...the instrumental end of Memory basically...and then she danced over from center to stage to the Phantom and like stated they kind of did a dance, and then he made some kind of shoo motion and she began to walk/dance away, and with each step away, the Phantom and the whole company came forward to watch her leave, and then she motioned to them, passing the torch. It was very well done I thought.

And then yeah, the speeches. None were really two long, Cameron mentioned being very grateful for his profitable relationship w/ Andrew...and yeah, Michael was last and got very choked up...thanked everyone who had spoke before him for giving him the part that changed his life. And then confetti and balloons fell. I was in rear mezz so nothing fell on me, though I was even w/ the balloons and saw them released, that was kind of cool. I went down to the orchestra before I left and grabbed a couple of souvenir confetti, pretty long pieces and a Phantom balloon

Okay and now for recognizable people there...::paging Beacon:: Beacs, I think you somehow possessed me tonight. Well not quite, since I wouldn't go up to anyone I saw talking in the lobby, feel totally out of place, so just watched but still...as soon as I walked in, the lobby was pretty scarce, show was almost starting, but immediately I was into look-for-famous-people mode...and Mr. Wilson was right there in front of me, first person I spotted! For the record, I mentioned I thought he was tall but being so short everyone is tall, but now I could verify he is actually quite tall, was easy to spot b/c his head rose above the people he was talking to. Anyway, so that was cool, then intermission, I came back down to the orchestra lobby...again, Patrick was the first person I saw/recognized...stood there a couple of minutes, then went down the stairs to the bathroom...and again...Mr. Wilson, first person I see on that level...was still there and first person I saw when I came out of the bathroom. Think I saw him one more time w/ a crowd going back into the theatre. So yes. You told me I should look out for him, and...I barely had to look

Other recognizable faces...John Lithgow, Maria Friedman, Simon Woods(Mr. Bingley from the recent P&P film), Erin Dilly, Jeff Marx & Robert Lopez, and a host of others who basically...he/she looks so familiar, they've been in something, god what is it?? Hopefully will see some of them in pictures tomorrow.

So yeah. Pretty much amazing night. I'm so glad I was such a nag and kept checking telecharge to get the tickets. The view from the rear mezz was fine. And nice meeting some of you lurkers at the stage door. Actually, if any of you have sns, PM me, I have a question for you.

Updated On: 1/10/06 at 03:01 AM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 3:06am

I just got home from the dinner party and ball at the Waldorf Astoria. The show was really fun, the house wasn't warm--it was hot! What a loving audience. The cast very much enjoyed it.

They had a touring company come in and mix with them, I think they said from Philly, so that's why there was such a crowd of dancers and masquers onstage. And I think they beefed up the orchestra as well.

I met a bunch of people from the Phantom casts, including other Phantoms, and they were all very friendly. The party at the Waldorf was huge, filling not only the ballroom but siderooms and halls and two surrounding levels upstairs that overlok the ballroom. While everyone was given feathered masks at the show and many people had brought even fancier ones, few people actually wore them.

The food at the Waldorf ballroom was its usual nondescript. Dance music in the ballroom was loud, lots of dancing, varied music. There were other rooms, and one large one across a couple halls from the ballroom just had lovely jazz piano music and an entirely different atmosphere. Nice way to celebrate Phantom's becoming the longest running show.


Updated On: 1/10/06 at 03:06 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 3:10am

They had a touring company come in and mix with them

The only tour right now is in Pennsylvania, so it wasn't too far for them to go.
http://themauersonline.com/gary-sch.php

[Plum]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 4:37am

Frank Lloyd Wright

Um...what?

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 4:44am

Updated On: 1/10/06 at 04:44 AM

[leeinlondon]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 4:50am

Frank Lloyd Wirght has been dead since 1959

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 4:52am

Updated On: 1/10/06 at 04:52 AM

[EugLoven]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 5:24am

I've a feeling she made a brain-fart and mistyped Andrew Lloyd Webber. I mean the three-name middle-Lloyd can be tricky!

Same reason I get tater tots and brussel sprouts mixed up! Not the food, but the words!

That's so awesome, thanks for your long and fun synopsis of the event.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 6:02am

Does anyone have a Playbill they wouldn't mind sending me?

[Rebekah]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 7:59am

"I met a bunch of people from the Phantom casts, including other Phantoms, and they were all very friendly."

So does that mean you were one of the Phantoms???

[kelzama]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 8:51am

"The only tour right now is in Pennsylvania, so it wasn't too far for them to go. "

Oh, LizzieCurry, please tell me you're not one of the masses who considers Pittsburgh a suburb of Philadelphia? It's at least a 5 hour drive from city to city, and a 7+ hour drive from Pittsburgh to NYC.

Mackintosh flew members of the Music Box company from Pittsburgh to New York on Monday morning, and they're flying back in time for a Tuesday night show.

[beacon1]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 9:41am

wickedqrent...

It is marvelous that you got to go. What an experience.

And how cool is it that you kept seeing Mister Wilson in all his tall glory. His news agency pics look fabulous!

I stalk only the best.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 9:44am

Yay Pittsburgh for Representin'!

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 10:43am

There are some pics on the NY Times site here:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/l.cfm?id=98663

I would love a playbill too if anyone has on to give. I can trade for a final Les Mis playbill. :) PM me if interested.
Updated On: 1/10/06 at 10:43 AM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 10:47am

"Frank Lloyd Wirght has been dead since 1959"

He must have REALLY wanted to see this show!

[ghostlight]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 10:50am

Just my two cents about the phabulous evening...

We had a wonderful time!! So many faces that I "knew" but couldn't put names to. I'm very anxious to see some press photos to id all the folks. We walked in behind Renee Fleming -so many cameras were clicking. I felt like a star, myself! Before the show and during intermission, I meandered around the "beautiful people" downstairs. I rubbed shoulders with ALW, Michael Crawford, and many others already mentioned. Also saw Roger Rees and I believe Mark Platt. Anyone else see him? Masquerade was absolutely breathtaking. I'd seen the show many times before, but this performance really stood out. It was obvious they put in extra effort to make this night shine above all others. I am kicking myself for not spotting Patrick Wilson!!!!

After the show, we went to the Waldorf, sat in the lobby and had a great time watching everyone come in for the ball. Does anyone know, were they actually checking those black tickets or names at the ballroom? We weren't invited to that part, and I didn't feel it appropriate to crash - but I'm just curious. The "ushers" at the hotel, seeing us in formal dress with Phantom booklets and playbills, automatically directed us to the appropriate elevators to go to the ball. I was tempted, but just didn't do it.

All in all - it was a night I'll never forget!

[sadiem100]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 11:53am

Does anyone have an extra playbill that they're willing to sell to me?

Updated On: 1/10/06 at 11:53 AM

[beacon1]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 1:23pm

I saw the photo coverage...was that Patrick Wilson on stage with the other Raouls???