Phantom Closing?- Page 29

[Lot666]

Posted: 3/9/23 at 1:51pm

Phantom4ever said: "it would be so financially irresponsible but then again I won't be more many, if any, Broadway trips after Phantom closes"

#NoDayButToday

 

[defenses]

Posted: 3/9/23 at 3:19pm

Lot666 said: "Phantom4ever said: "it would be so financially irresponsible but then again I won't be more many, if any, Broadway trips after Phantom closes"

#NoDayButToday"

Yes, agreed! Ticket prices are already ridiculous, and they're just going to get worse as we get to April. In December, I was smart and got tickets for April to "see it again before it closed" (hahaha) at a decent, but not great price. I'm pretty sure most non-premium options are sold out right now.

(But maybe you shouldn't listen to me because I am an enabler haha. "Financially irresponsible" has become my middle name thanks to Phantom. My poor credit card!)

[GoodThingGoing3]

Posted: 3/9/23 at 3:23pm

I went to yesterday's matinee (was able to get a $79 partial view orch seat day of, was in line at the theatre around 9:30) and had a great experience. This was my 5th time at Phantom overall, and likely my last visit before closing. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the cast. This was my second time seeing Ben Crawford (saw him in October of 2021, previously saw Gary Mauer and James Barbour 2X) and I really enjoyed his performance. I was very nervous going in, considering some recent reports, but I thought he did an excellent job. Voice was very strong (I noticed one note that was not necessarily on pitch) and I thought his acting was great. There were a few times that he sounded quite a bit like Brian d'Arcy James as Shrek when he was singing...but BDJ sounds great so I'm not complaining. Ultimately, he did really well!

This was my first time seeing Emilie and I thought she was generally great. I really enjoyed her acting (especially during Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again) and thought her voice was pretty good, but maybe not quite as strong as I'd hoped it would be.

Unfortunately Paul Schaefer as Raoul was not my favorite. I know he's been with the show for a while, but he seemed kind of bored. His voice was good, but he just was not giving much in terms of acting.

Everybody else was great, with a special shoutout to Nehal Joshi. Fantastic job as Andre!

Such a shame that this is closing. The orchestra is truly wonderful, and it was a treat to see David Caddick conducting.

[defenses]

Posted: 3/9/23 at 3:48pm

GoodThingGoing3 said: "I was very nervous going in, considering some recent reports, but I thought he did an excellent job."

Yeah, this is why I am always annoying and put my two cents in. It makes me sad that people might avoid going to the show (or have low expectations) just because a few people here are very against Ben.

GoodThingGoing3 said: "Unfortunately Paul Schaefer as Raoul was not my favorite. I know he's been with the show for a while, but he seemed kind of bored. His voice was good, but he just was not giving much in terms of acting."

When I first saw his Raoul, I thought he was fine but forgettable. Then I saw John, and it was like watching a completely different show. It's really hard for me to go back to Paul. I'm not sure if he gets a "pass" from some people since he's a beloved long-term cast member, but it's so hard to watch when he just doesn't seem happy half the time. I thought he might have shined with Elizabeth Welch last night, but he didn't. Paul seems like a really nice guy, so I wish he would put a little more of himself into his character!

Updated On: 3/9/23 at 03:48 PM

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 3/9/23 at 3:50pm

GoodThingGoing3 said: "I went to yesterday's matinee (was able to get a $79 partial view orch seat day of, was in line at the theatre around 9:30) and had a great experience. This was my 5th time at Phantom overall, and likely my last visit before closing."

How partial was your view?  I might try doing this to squeeze in another performance

[thedrybandit]

Posted: 3/9/23 at 4:50pm

defenses said: "I thought he might have shined with Elizabeth Welch last night, but he didn't. Paul seems like a really nice guy, so I wish he would put a little more of himself into his character!"

Yeah I was hoping last night being her final show would have brought something out in him, but I've seen him three or four times over the years as Raoul and he only gets worse, which is really unfortunate when they have several other cast members who are fantastic Raouls.

On the plus side, Elizabeth really shone last night and I felt really lucky to be there after her long history with the show. 14 years, a decade on Broadway, and a year leading the German production. Pretty dang impressive.

[Lot666]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 10:51am

defenses said: "It's really hard for me to go back to Paul. I'm not sure if he gets a "pass" from some people since he's a beloved long-term cast member, but it's so hard to watch when he just doesn't seem happy half the time. I thought he might have shined with Elizabeth Welch last night, but he didn't. Paul seems like a really nice guy, so I wish he would put a little more of himself into his character!"

Exactly. If you speak with him, he comes across as very happy and grateful to be where he is, but his performance just doesn't reflect that. Someone used the word "bored" and I think that's it. He appears to be mentally checked-out through most of the first act and really doesn't appear engaged until "Masquerade".

[Lot666]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 10:53am

Does anyone else think it curious that the supposed "benefit" performance is now five weeks away and they've still said nothing further about it and sold no tickets for it?

[MimiChika]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 11:06am

Lot666 said: "Does anyone else think it curious that the supposed "benefit" performance is now five weeks away and they've still said nothing further about it and sold no tickets for it?"

I’m hearing another extension is getting announced next Tuesday. 

Update. False alarm. No extension. Sorry. 

Updated On: 3/10/23 at 11:06 AM

[poto19882023]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 11:24am

MimiChika said: "Lot666 said: "Does anyone else think it curious that the supposed "benefit" performance is now five weeks away and they've still said nothing further about it and sold no tickets for it?"

I’m hearing another extension is getting announced next Tuesday."

You’ve got to be ****ting me. The people who paid out the nose for April 15 are going to be (rightfully) furious.

If you can give any slight indication, where are you hearing whispers of this announcement?

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 11:28am

Ugh. Cameron Mackintosh needs to start thinking of our emotional health with these dang extensions. And Mimichika (as a Renthead, I love that name), I sincerely hope that you are speaking with some degree of authority or confirmation when you say that. Various state, local, and international laws strictly govern how and when one may spread Phantom extension gossip. 

That said, if this is true, then I stand an actual chance to get to 100 Phantom performances on Broadway!  But let's not jinx it. I am going to assume that Mimichika is just a pet name spoken via voicemail in a 1996 musical and nothing more.  

[Phantour]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 11:44am

Phantom Invite - this letter made its way on a Phantom facebook group today. I am not sure of its authenticity. 

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 12:18pm

It won’t open. What does the invite  say?

[MimiChika]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 12:49pm

Correction: NO extention

apparently they where trying to figure it out. They couldn’t secure a cast on time. It will close April 15 indeed. 
 

sorry for the fog using. 

[Phantour]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 12:53pm

MimiChika said: "Correction: NO extention

apparently they where trying to figure it out. They couldn’t secure a cast on time. It will close April 15 indeed.


sorry for the fog using."

If only they decided on it/reached out to the cast sooner. I'm sure many have already been auditioning, booked future projects, or taking vacations. It'd been nice to give them more almost a month's notice. 

 

[defenses]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 1:28pm

I knew that invite looked familiar. Here's the invite from Broadway opening night from the show's FB page. Since it is similar, it could be real but it's hard for me to believe it's real.

[bk]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 1:38pm

These threads are amazing and not in a good way. A shame this is closing??? It's been running for thirty-five YEARS. I don't know, maybe it's time to move on and let another show into this wonderful theater? It's closing, it's extending again, false alarm, it's closing, is this invite real, maybe it won't close, and on and on. Let it close.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 2:07pm

BK, you were right about one thing.  You don't know.   

[Lot666]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 3:54pm

bk said: "These threads are amazing and not in a good way. A shame this is closing??? It's been running for thirty-five YEARS. I don't know, maybe it's time to move on and let another show into this wonderful theater? It's closing, it's extending again, false alarm, it's closing, is this invite real, maybe it won't close, and on and on. Let it close."

Why are you here?

[defenses]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 4:25pm

No one is forced to read this thread. If you don't like it, don't open it. No need to make a comment that adds nothing to the discussion.

Anyway, I saw on Reddit that Kanisha went on for Emilie during the second act last night. I hope she's okay!

[poto19882023]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 4:32pm

defenses said: "No one is forced to read this thread. If you don't like it, don't open it. No need to make a comment that adds nothing to the discussion.

Anyway, I saw on Reddit that Kanisha went on for Emilie during the second act last night. I hope she's okay!"

Oh my gosh I’m seeing the show tonight! I adore Emilie but getting the chance to see one of the understudies would be amazing…hopefully they don’t put on Julia instead. Nothing against her at all I’ve just seen her a lot in the role lately

[bk]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 11:11pm

Phantom4ever said: "BK, you were right about one thing. You don't know."

Yeah, I'd expect nothing less from an obviously obsessive type whose moniker is Phantom4ever. Right. Got it. Over and out. What EVER will you poor people do when it does close?

[Phantour]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 7:50am

Emilie was back on as Christine on Friday night. 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 10:19am

bk said: "These threads are amazing and not in a good way. A shame this is closing??? It's been running for thirty-five YEARS. I don't know, maybe it's time to move on and let another show into this wonderful theater? It's closing, it's extending again, false alarm, it's closing, is this invite real, maybe it won't close, and on and on. Let it close."

When Guiding Light went off the air about fifteen years ago, I went through a short period of what you might call grieving. I feel a little embarrassed typing that out now, but I really shouldn't: it was a show that I had been watching since I was a small child, often with my mother, sister, and father, after I came home from school every day. Into my adulthood it remained a small but reliable connection to my past, even if I no longer watched every episode. 

Anyhow, it's the very fact that Phantom has been around for 35 years that has fostered the kind of emotional connection expressed by some in this thread. I'm sure it's not just the show; it's the loved ones they've shared the show with, and the lives lived while revisiting the show over the years. I don't have this kind of connection with Phantom, but I did with a rather silly soap opera, so I get it, and I would never dismiss anyone's real sense of loss.

Updated On: 3/11/23 at 10:19 AM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 10:25am

bk said: "These threads are amazing and not in a good way. A shame this is closing??? It's been running for thirty-five YEARS. I don't know, maybe it's time to move on and let another show into this wonderful theater?"

It's always a shame when people are put out of work because of greed. A new show likely won't be as elaborate, or require as large of a cast or orchestra, so will likely employ fewer people. Wishing for people to be put out of work, even if you're rooting for a smaller group of people to be employed, is a lousy thing to do.