Phantom Broadway 30th? — Page 8

The whole post-show performance is on the Phantom twitter linked above. I didn't watch the whole thing, but Sarah Brightman sounds pretty good for 57. However, I still don't get the appeal of Peter Joback, whose brassy, chorus boy voice is completely wrong for the Phantom.

I know the celebration for the 30th Anniversary was on Wed, but was just wondering if they did anything special for the performances yesterday, on the actual anniversary day? Special Playbills?

Marway44 said: "Being there were no pictures and the like, I doubt they did anything special on Friday the 26th. I also don't think they made special Playbills as they made them for the 24th.

On a side note, the after show on the 24th was quite a spectacle!"

They basically just made an announcement at curtain call with the 3 leads just making a small comment about how Phantom opened 30 years ago and wished the show a happy birthday. Nothing grand or super special, but at least they acknowledged it.



PanaroFan111 said "When my wife and I first heard that Peter Joback would be leading the 30th Anniversary cast we where very disappointed. After hearing different clips we where not impressed by his voice at all. So a friend of ours told us listen its different when you see him in person"

Seconded. I was not thrilled or impressed with some of the clips I'd heard, so I went in with low expectations, ready to wait it out to see who will be the new Phantom after he leaves in March. Well, joke is on me- I saw it on both Wednesday and Friday, and I was blown away. Highly recommend giving Joback a chance, he knocked it out of the park, especially with his mannerisms. His voice is different than I'm used to, but I found it had essences of Michael Crawford's higher tone. I'm already planning another trip or two to see it again with him because I loved it so much. Again, I'm not sure if he was helped by the fact that I found Barbour to be passable at best, but Peter really brought his A game. Cannot stop recommending him.

I attended both the evening performance on the 24th and the matinee on the 26th. I had originally purchased mezzanine tickets for the 24th, but then learned on Monday afternoon that my husband's sweepstakes entry had been selected as a winner (they sure waited a long time to notify winners). I called the PR rep at the number in the notification email and she was very nice; she had Telecharge cancel and refund the tickets I had purchased and informed me that a pair of front row, right orchestra tickets would be waiting for us at the box office.

The ambiance at the Majestic on Wednesday evening was bristling with energy and excitement. The lobby was a mob scene, with people clamoring to get pictures and video of past stars (e.g., Howard McGillin, Rebecca Luker, Norm Lewis, et al.), along with Hal Prince, Cameron Mackintosh, and Andrew Lloyd Webber, all of whom were interviewed by Imogen Lloyd Webber and Sierra Boggess. The house staff had difficulty getting people to actually take their seats so that the show could begin.

I had seen Peter Joback at the 25th anniversary performance, so I knew what his voice was like. I feel that he's not quite powerful enough to meet the vocal demands of the role, but his acting choices are interesting and generally effective. Unfortunately, and perhaps due to nerves on such a momentous, glitterati-filled occasion, he didn't really deliver on the big notes in "Music of the Night" (i.e., "Close your eyes, let your spirit start to SOAR", "Let your soul take you where you long to BE", and the final "Help me make the music of the NIGHT" ). While the first two weren't sustained as long as they should've been, the latter was almost a complete miss. I believe he also came in too early on "Why So Silent...", and I felt bad for him when the candle failed to spark during the final lair, when he freed Raoul from the lasso.

The Friday matinee was marked by a very different atmosphere, a very different audience, and a much stronger performance by Mr. Joback (he hit all the notes in "Music of the Night" and managed respectable sustain). While Wednesday was very much about the media, the Friday matinee felt like an industry performance. The audience included a number of performers from other shows; I believe the entire company of Once on this Island was in attendance (except for Norm Lewis, who was at the Wednesday show), and all of the leads were interviewed on camera in the lobby before and after the first act.

Updated On: 1/29/18 at 11:34 AM

labellaragazza1 said: "I wonder if he was ill or nervous."

If I was him, I certainly would've been nervous on Wednesday evening. A house packed with people who have done this before you, brimming with high expectations, press and media everywhere, and Hal Prince, Cameron Mackintosh, and Andrew Lloyd Webber watching on top of that. I'd have had a nervous breakdown.

CATSNYrevival said: "That’s a lot of pressure for anyone let alone someone who’s only recently rejoined the show and probably still settling in."

AND for whom English is not his first language.

mozgrrl said: "I went on Thursday night and caught Laird and Kaley, they were awesome except there was a weird "fart" noise at one point...not sure what was going on with the sound system. LOLI was lucky that night to catch Kristen Blodgette conducting...that was fun! Didn't see David Lai at any of the performances."

Laird and Kaley did the Thursday (Jan 25) night show?!? Damn, I wish I'd known that.

I believe David Lai conducted the Friday matinee.

ThirstyThersites said: "Lot666 said: "CATSNYrevival said: "That’s a lot of pressure for anyone let alone someone who’s only recently rejoined the show and probably still settling in."

AND for whom English is not his first language."

So the reason MOTN got a golfclap on the 24th was because the language barrier somehow short-circuited his ability to hold out a note longer than 5 seconds?"

You've selectively edited my comments to justify a bitchy retort. I indicated that I felt nerves impacted Mr. Joback's performance on the 24th, but I also made both of the following statements:

"I feel that he's not quite powerful enough to meet the vocal demands of the role"

"The Friday matinee was marked by...a much stronger performance by Mr. Joback (he hit all the notes in 'Music of the Night' and managed respectable sustain)"

CT2NYC said: "For anyone interested, tonight's episode of JEOPARDY is featuring some sort of tribute to PHANTOM's 30th."

I saw that - it's in the DVR!

Phantom4ever said: "Can't think of a better place to ask this since all of the the biggest Phantom phans read this thread. For the last week in August/first weekend in September, Phantom is cancelling its Wednesday evening and Thursday matinee performances and adding a Sunday afternoon and evening show. That is Labor Day weekend but Phantom never changes its schedule for holidays other than Christmas/July 4th. Is there something special going on?"

Phantom on a Sunday?!? Preposterous!!

But seriously, I've heard nothing relevant, so I assume you must have been digging around in the Telecharge calendar.

mozgrrl said: "Has anyone heard rumors or have guesseson who will be the next Phantom after Peter? His last performance is March 31st, I think..."

I keep wondering too...I would love to see Chris Mann or Derrick Davis go to the Broadway production but they seem to have other projects in the coming months .

I keep wondering if Katie Travis is a vacation swing .She's posted about being in two different tracks (Mirror Bride and Madame Firmin,which are usually the Christine cover tracks ) and Elizabeth does seem to be back.Rachel Gold started out in the Firmin track before being promoted to alt. I wouldn't be surprised if Kaley leaves eventually and Katie replaces her.

Lot666 said: "mozgrrl said: "Has anyone heard rumors or have guesseson who will be the next Phantom after Peter? His last performance is March 31st, I think..."

If I believed in god, I would be praying that they don't mine anyone from the tour.

Please, please, no young pretty boys! Please get someone who looks old enough to be Christine's father, and more importantly, someone who can actually sing!"

I agree about the age thing. Honestly, the Phantom should be in his 40's, right? It was so weird seeing LND, which takes place 10 years later and seeing Bronson in the role (baby face)....loved him, but sheesh they should cast a 50 year old guy (or at least something close to that age) in LND IMHO.

PanaroFan111 said: "I saw Hugh Panaro in Sweeney Todd this past weekend, hes still got a tremendous voice and his acting is still amazing. I saw him after the show and I mentioned that Joback is leaving next month how about coming back for a limited run, he laughed at the suggestion. Didn't seem promising lol"

As much as I would love a new face, I would kill to have Hugh back, even just for a bit. His Phantom is just magnificent.