Phantom & Christine Doubles — Page 2

LizzieCurry said: "I was a performance of the tour (the third national, not the current) around 2003 when the overture itself was delayed. The spark went off on the chandelier after "GENTLEMEN!", but the drapery got a bit tangled and the chandelier rose in SILENCE. Or, at least, without an overture. You could hear the motor inside.It made me wonder if the entire organ part is recorded, or maybe most of the beginning, and the entanglement triggered something? I can't even remember how much of the overture ended up being played. It was super awkward but also fascinating."

The first 75 seconds are recorded. The orchestra comes in at that point, when strings are introduced. In the linked clip, they start at 1:17.
https://youtu.be/NhttZz9lmpk?t=78



"Not sure who plays the body double after, I think it might be one of the Phantom understudies"

It's one of the male dancers, either the slave master or the il muto dancer, whichever one hands out the drinks to the leads during Masquerade. He crosses the stage, hands out drinks, and then goes behind the stairs to change.

Sorry, double post

Updated On: 4/23/20 at 04:19 PM

Nowadays I would assume it's all digital and can be layered in individually by each track as opposed to attempting to create all the various permutations that could exist. So part of the top of show presets would be the A1 or the conductor (depending on who has control of the playback) swapping files in and out based on the In/Out sheet they receive from stage management for each performance.

AEA AGMA SM said: "Nowadays I would assume it's all digital and can be layered in individually by each track as opposed to attempting to create all the various permutations that could exist. So part of the top of show presets would be the A1 or the conductor (depending on who has control of the playback) swapping files in and out based on the In/Out sheet they receive from stage management for each performance."

Totally correct. At the Majestic at least, it's the A1 that swaps in the tracks based on who is on for that show.

I have not worked on Phantom, but I know / have worked with many who have.

I am going from recollection, so please forgive me.

Re: Christine alternates: As I recall being told, there was significant debate from AEA about a Christina alternate since Brightman was coming over for the UK and ensuring that the alternate role would be for an American actress as a condition of Brightman's employment. Once a show is open, you can NOT reduce the number of AEA contracts on the show (Unless you halt performances / close long enough to negate contracts)... Hypothetically, they could turn the Christina alternate track into a stand-by track or a swing track, but once something is set, you often don't want to.

Re: Pre-recorded vocals and off-stage vocals: Yes, the recorded tracks are individual and are set as part of the show's pre-set, and there absolutely have been times where the wrong performer's track has been played. With doubles, racing to places backstage, and yes, VERY loud stage mechanics on Phantom, singing live off-stage is not always possible because the sound will be compromised. Can some Christine's hit the Money Note 6-8x a week? ABSOLUTELY, but again, *that* changes the job for a lot of other people during a performance, so you don't. You do that show as set.

Re: The Red Death costume: It is physically impossible to sing in that costume, and the actor has VERY limited vision and their ability to hear is somewhat compromised as well. Even IF the actor could sing in that costume, it would be near impossible to mic cleanly.

Islander_fan said: "But, Phantom is not the only show on Broadway that has to do that. When we hear Nessarose in Wicked moan after As Long as Your Mine, it's a recording of the actress playing the role that performance. They cannot just have a general track."

The “rewind ... I remember that night” portion of Satisfied in Hamilton is also a recording that changes based on who goes on as Angelica each night. I read that on the Hamilton app once in one of those features where cast/crew are interviewed.

Broadwayguy2 to the rescue!!