Phantom of the Opera at Baldwin-Wallace College

[miketron]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 2:58am

Tonight I was lucky enough to snag up one ticket to see "Phantom of the Opera" at Baldwin-Wallace. This is the first production of the show outside of the professional productions on Broadway, tour, and across the world. With this being said I wanted to post some thoughts on the production. I have close ties to the school so I will not critique the performances, but I will mention those that were especially of note.

The Phantom (Phil Carroll)- Phenominal. I have worked with Phil before and all I have to say is he was incredible. His emotion in the final scene was just amazing.

Carlotta (Devon Yates)- This girl has an incredible voice on her along with her acting, which was perfect. She definately has a career in theatre ahead of her.

Meg (Hannah DelMonte)- I saw the tour a few years ago and Hannah's performance was leagues above that of the girl I saw on tour. She has already appeared on Broadway in the final cast of the Fiddler on the Roof revival and I can see her going back to the boards soon.


The Overture was phenominal. Instead of the good old "look at the chandelier go up....yay...." there was a very interesting choice made to set up into the next scene. The opening tableu of "Hannibal" was set up behind a scrim and throughout the overture a light would come up to reveal part of the tableu. At the end the scrim flew up to reveal the entire scene.
There were a couple of animals in the show. Instead of having a boat they had a white horse taking Christine and the Phantom down to the lair. Also, Carlotta had some sort of small dog (the size that would fit into a purse) with her during "Prima Donna."

There were many other interesting choices made but I've had a couple drinks and these are what came to my mind at the moment. I would have to say I liked it more than the tour.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 6:47am

Do you happen to know who is the Phantom's understudy?

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 10:28am

miketron~ Very cool. This is obvious the Y/K version of Phantom and not ALW? It's a nice varation. I believe I last saw this at the Walnut theater a number of years ago.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 10:47am

It's the Lloyd Webber version. He bought out the theater one of the nights and attended the show as I understand it.

Updated On: 11/9/07 at 10:47 AM

[RyToast1]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 10:58am

Devon Yates is one of my best friends!

[Fosse76]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 11:15am

"Do you happen to know who is the Phantom's understudy?"

Do college productions have understudies?

[catstagestud]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 11:46am

My program here in Arizona does have understudies. And a good thing too; the lead in our production of Candide is in NYC this weekend for final call-backs of the Spring Awakening tour and we opened Wed. His u/s has gone on the last two performances and will go on tonight. The plays usually have every role covered; our musicals usually have the leads and supporting characters covered. Back to the thread though; that's pretty amazing that this school got to do the show! I would really love to be in Phantom of the Opera sometime.

Cheers,

Christopher

[outovfashion07]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 11:54am

I have not heard any good things about this show. I have heard it was an "over-zealous attempt at musical that was too big to try." And this is coming from someone who has seen the show and is compleatly objective.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 11:56am

VERY interesting to know that POTO has been licenced out now.

I'd love to see this.

Where is Baldwin-Wallace?

[RyToast1]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 12:03pm

BW is in Berea, OH-just outside of Cleveland.

[miketron]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 12:03pm

The production does have understudies....the Phantom's understudy is Dustin Jesberger. BW does have understudies and I know last year during their Side Show one of the Violets (every musical is double cast) got extremely sick and the understudy did a couple of the performances.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 12:20pm

Devon was one of the Side Show understudies last year too I believe.

She'll be on Broadway before you know it!

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 3:22pm

Now you just know I would check out the facts.... well, some one should!
ALW's POTO "test" pilot college run

[wickedfreak]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 3:27pm

I saw the one photo on the college's site...does anyone know if there are any other photos of this production? or any of the other pilot productions?

[EganFan2]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 4:04pm

Yes, the show is NOT being "licensed out". It is a test run, to see if they should.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 5:18pm

R&H would have the other 5 venues. But I doubt it's listed on their site as this is an experimental project. Here's the site link.
R & H Theatricals

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 5:44pm

Hmm... interesting.

However, I also would like to hear a review from an unbiased reviewer.

[caitlinette]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 5:45pm

Emily Leonard looks beautiful as Christine. She actually reminds me somewhat of Sierra Boggess as Ariel.

I wonder if any clips will be up on The Site...

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 6:11pm

On the issue of understudies in college shows, I've never known of a college show, regardless of size, which did not have understudies.

[bonjourdevoe]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 11:01pm

Hey all...just wanted to clear some things up. Yes, of course we have understudies! The show is really demanding, so theres tons of understudies, and Swings, like me. I wish I could say that I could give an unbiased review...but I'm in the cast so I don't think I can! I've been watching the show every night, and I think it looks great, and I think our cast is incredibly talented, and I'm pretty sure that anyone who actually gets the chance to see the show will think so too!

And for all of you who are wondering...the horse is real. So is the Dog. I promise.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 11:15pm

Where are the other 5 test runs?

[sopranobiz]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 12:29pm

"Where is Baldwin-Wallace?"

Baldwin-Wallace is in Cleveland. Broadway actors Jill Paice, Rebecca Pitcher, Steven Trafton, Kyle Post, Hannah Del Monte and "up and comers" Kate Rockwell, Cole Burton and Trista Moldovan went there.

My friend graduated a couple years ago from there and just saw Phantom- she says it was amazing and that the entire run has been sold out for months!
Updated On: 11/10/07 at 12:29 PM

[americanboy99]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 1:18pm

I know Elon College in North Carolina (or is it South?) is slated to do POTO.

[Sally]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 2:13pm

Here are four of the schools:

Elon University , NC

Fairfield High School, Ohio

Baldwin-Wallace College, Ohio

Nyack High School, NY

[munkustrap926]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 3:34pm

I know a bunch of the people in Nyack's cast. Their show should be amazing.

Also, one of my friends was up for Christine at Baldwin-Wallace. She either turned it down or didnt get it or something.... I dont remember the exact story.