Phantom Tour vs Broadway

[tz0o]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 6:08pm

I'm going to see "The Phantom of the Opera" (on Broadway) with my theatre department at my school, and I my sister and I are kind of upset, as she is unable to come with me and is forced to wait for the tour to come back to the Kennedy center. Which leads to the question: Which is better, the tour at the Kennedy Center, or the show on Broadway? How different would it be? Will she be disappointed.

Updated On: 11/10/05 at 06:08 PM

[Gingersnap]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 6:16pm

I haven't seen the tour personally (not until this coming February), but I have a lot of friends who've seen both and say that any difference (technical stuff related to the theatres the tours plays in) is minor. The current touring Phantom, Gary Mauer, is wonderful according to them.

Based on what I know from my friends...I wouldn't worry.

[tz0o]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 6:18pm

Thanks so much! It's so good to hear that they are both as good as the other.

[tz0o]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 6:28pm

Out of curiosity... does anyone have a different view on the topic?

[wickedfreak]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 6:29pm

I saw the current tour in Houston. The woman who plays Christine is not very good. I would just get a ticket for broadway.

[tz0o]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 6:34pm

So the Phantom is good, the Phantom is bad? It's not worth seeing unless the Phantom AND Christine are good. That's dissapointing...

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 6:34pm

Or buy tickets for a day when the alternate Christine is on, I've heard both are very good though.

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 6:37pm

I saw the Phantom Tour about 3 years ago, and all of the sets were amazing, so I don't think you'll be disappointed there. I can't comment on the current performers, but I think it looks just as good as on Broadway.

[tz0o]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 6:37pm

But BASICALLY it's as good as the broadway version, right?(including singers AND sets)

[tz0o]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 6:39pm

*sees Moo's post* oh. Yay, that makes me happy! All these good reviews! :)

[Fosse76]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 7:11pm

OK let's review:

Broadway tours do not cast actors who are not Broadway-caliber. Just because they aren't doing the role on Broadway doesn't mean they are inferior. That said, we are all going to have different opinions about the quality of a cast based on our prejudices and the actors' talent. As for the current tour Christine, I don't know. The one I saw is on Broadway now. The alternate was far superior (and happens to be the wife of the tour Phantom). I actually liked the tour cast better.

[wickedfreak]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:01pm

My voice teacher said the slternate Christine was AWSOME!!!!!! i thought that the regular was not very good. Bu we were at a saturday afternoon show and she does not usually do those shows so that could have been why she was not very good.

-Wicked Freak.

On a side not: how do i get it so i can get to put something on the bottom of all my posts? everyone else has it, i want it too

[wickedfreak]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:02pm

My voice teacher said the slternate Christine was AWSOME!!!!!! i thought that the regular was not very good. Bu we were at a saturday afternoon show and she does not usually do those shows so that could have been why she was not very good.

-Wicked Freak.

On a side not: how do i get it so i can get to put something on the bottom of all my posts? everyone else has it, i want it too

[tz0o]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:56pm

Do you think that this tour will eventually get to the Kennedy Center in D.C.?

[LilMiZBroADwaY23]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:10pm

Gary Mauer is amazing. I paid to see him four times, and I'll probably see him again another couple of times when he comes to Kalamazoo.

Psychotically excited, I love Gary, he can't be missed.

Ever notice that I respond to all Phantom tour threads?

[tz0o]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:23pm

Out of curiosity, the Kennedy Center is like the broadway but in D.C. right? (as in popularity) So, the tour SHOULD eventually get to the Kennedy Center?

*sorry for asking this twice, i was afraid the topic might and go back to the actors

Updated On: 11/10/05 at 10:23 PM

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 11:16pm

The tour is scaled down for size, but is just as enjoyable as the broadway mounting. I've seen the show in Chicago, Toronto, New York, and Detroit and everytime it was magnificent. The only huge difference that is noticable to me, is that on broadway the opening is so cool because the entire theatre has been decked out to look really old with cool black fabrics etc. Tours have to use what houses they get. Also, I noticed that the pyrotechnics/special FX were different in each production, Always a treat! However, the tour will not disapoint.

[leon1489]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:43am

When I went to see Phantom in Tampa, they actually had decorated the house in the style of the Opera House. I remember walking in and seeing all of the fabric covering the arch and wondering if they were renovating the theatre (I wasn't that familiar with the show visually). I was thoroughly impressed by the touring production. It was absolutely Broadway caliber. My dad had seen the production on Broadway, and he said the only diefferences were the horses and that the staircase for Masquerade was smaller. These really aren't any major changes, and I felt like I was watching it on Broadway. Rebecca Pitcher, who was the Christine at the time, was apparently sort of bad, but we got lucky and got her understudy, who was excellent. I understand that the new cast is better than the previous one, so you're probably well off going to either one.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 3:05am

Leon...If you saw the tour when Rebecca Pitcher was Christine, then you probably saw Kathy Voytko (Eva Peron) who was her alternate at the time, she's fabulous!

In terms of touring differences, they mainly deal with a few set scalings and the orchestra.

...Yes, the chandelier is smaller on tour; a fact that cannot be denied. It will also move a bit slower depending on the theater that the show is housed in. When Phantom is in certain theaters, the chandelier will occasionally move at a snails pace but this is all due to the arc at which it falls. If the slant, or arc, is too steep then the chandelier will usually drop, stop, and then move towards the stage. If the arc is gradual enough, then the piece will just travel down and meet the stage (caught by several stagehands, of course). This is definitely not a major difference, a bit anti-climactic, but still a great effect none the less!

...The orchestra is smaller on the current tour and incorporates several synthesizers, however, the overall sound is still there. You can tell at certain points that brass sections, as well as the strings are being enhanced, but on tour it is difficult to travel with as many musicians as Phantom of the Opera is used to.

The Current Tour -

The current tour is wonderful. Elizabeth Southard is a marvelous Christine and truly shines when she is opposite her husband, the Phantom, Gary Mauer. Gary is quite good as the Phantom, definitely not the best I have seen, but still quite good. Elizabeth Southard is alternate to Marie Danvers, but is far superior in vocally and acting ability. D.C Anderson is my personal favorite, currently on tour, an amazing performer and vocalist. The ensemble as a whole are great and, during masquerade especially, are a true delight to hear. John Cudia has also returned to the tour and does a wonderful job making Raoul a character that we can actually like and take seriously. All in all it is a wonderful production. Of course there are a "few" differences between the Broadway and touring production, but Phantom's production values have not been sacrificed, as is the usual with many tours...Go see it if you can, you won't be disappointed!

Later!

Phantom05

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 3:07am

I drove 350 miles to see Gary Mauer as the Phantom and i'd do it again any time you asked. The tour is in OUTSTANDING shape right now. Hopefully you'll get to see Michael Shawn Lewis (und.) as Raoul and Beth Southard(alt.) as Christine.

I've heard mixed reviews about Howard McGillin's Phantom. He's performed the role over 1,000 times, and from what I hear, it shows.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 3:21am

...Saying the because Howard has performed the role of the Phantom more times than many can count doesn't mean that it shows, lol. He is amazing in the role, and audiences respond to him more than many others that I have seen in the role...I have seen every Phantom on Broadway and on tour, minus three...I think he is wonderful, the best is still in question, but he's still fabulous.

...I will definitely say that the tour is in great shape though, not to be missed!

Phantom05

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 3:24am

I'm only going off of phan reviews I hear.

Maybe we're just being un-fair to him; afterall, he had a VERY big mask to fill.

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 3:24am

stupid double post. Updated On: 11/11/05 at 03:24 AM