Phantom Understudy

[broadwayghost1]

Posted: 1/21/15 at 11:02pm

I have tickets to see Phantom on Broadway next week. I just saw that Norm Lewis will not be performing. Does anyone know who is taking his place?
Thanks

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 1/21/15 at 11:28pm

Laird Macintosh, Paul Schaefer, Jeremy Stolle, and Greg Mills are the covers, per Playbill. Searches on Twitter make It seem that Laird is far and away the first cover. So probably him.

[broadwayghost1]

Posted: 1/21/15 at 11:29pm

Thanks....

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 1/21/15 at 11:55pm

I saw Greg Mills, standing in for Hugh Panaro. Mills was top-notch, and could easily play the Phantom full-time. The only spot in which he seemed a bit unsure was in the graveyard scene -- standing on top of the hedge (or whatever it's supposed to be), he balanced himself by putting his hand out and touching a grave. I can't say I blame him for being slightly off-balance in that scene -- only a cat or a mountain goat could be completely sure of standing without steadying oneself in that scene.

Frankly, I liked his interpretation better than Hugh Panaro's.

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/22/15 at 12:01am

Excited to say I will be on as the Phantom Tues Jan 27 - Thurs Jan 29 all shows. Hope to see you… http://t.co/YhfAfni1dl

&mdash>http://t.co/YhfAfni1dl">http://t.co/YhfAfni1dl

— LAIRD MACKINTOSH (@LairdMackintosh) January>https://twitter.com/LairdMackintosh/status/556538827213639680">January 17, 2015

You can usually find this stuff out on https://twitter.com/understudies

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 1/22/15 at 9:31am

I saw Laird Mackintosh in the Mary Poppins tour. He was great!

Updated On: 2/2/15 at 09:31 AM

[pennydreadful]

Posted: 1/22/15 at 10:22am

I saw Paul Schaefer as the Phantom once, years ago. It was the weirdest, angriest, most incoherent performance I've ever seen. Maybe he was having an off night?

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/22/15 at 10:32am

Interesting... does Letterman even get done taping his show with enough time for Paul to get to the theater?!

[broadwayghost1]

Posted: 1/30/15 at 1:08am

I saw laird mackintosh as phantom tonight. He was ok, but not my favorite. Julia was awesome!

I think my favorite phantom was Thomas James O'Leary.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/30/15 at 8:52am

^I remember liking him a lot back in the 90's! I wonder what ever happened to him?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/30/15 at 9:07am

O'Leary is in LA now. His IMDB page isn't terribly impressive, but he is apparently focusing on teaching and seems to be doing all right.

[broadwayghost1]

Posted: 1/30/15 at 1:31pm

I noticed everyone taking pictures inside the theater. Is this now allowed?

Same thing at Les Miserables last week.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/30/15 at 2:05pm

The ushers don't care if it's before the show or at intermission.

[broadwayghost1]

Posted: 1/30/15 at 7:06pm

I was always screamed at by ushers if I was taking a picture of my playbill

[PanaroFan111]

Posted: 1/31/15 at 2:36pm

I saw Laird as the phantom this past Thursday Matinee, I overall liked his performance, I just thought his final lair was a bit weak. Kaley was great as Christine. I liked Richard Poole as Andre and I think Michelle McConnell is one of the best Carlotta's in recent years. I cant wait to see James Barbour this month I think he's going to be a fantastic Phantom!

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 1/31/15 at 11:29pm

I wish Phantom producers get Ramin Karimloo as the next Phantom after his gig as Les Miz JVJ is done at the end of the summer!! He has played Phantom in the West End! He will make one awesome and respected Phantom (unlike Norm's successor!) In the meantime I am staying away from this show! Just my opinion

Updated On: 1/31/15 at 11:29 PM

[broadwayghost1]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 12:26am

I agree with PanaroFan111. I saw the show Thursday night and I thought Laird was weak during the final lair also. I was 2nd row center. I loved being under the chandelier!!!!

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 4:18am

With apologies to the Andrews sisters:

"Don't sit under the chandelier with anybody else but me, anybody else but me..."

[Smeds2]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 9:20pm

Rob McClure's understudy went on for the first time yesterday, Zachary Prince. His delivery appeared to be far more understate than that of McClure, and considering the fact he only had a couple of days' rehearsal, he did an excellent job in the evening show.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 9:58pm

Ok but what does that have to do with Phantom??

[Smeds2]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 11:11pm

I thought we had verged onto the topic of understudies in general. Whoops