Phantom's Hugh Panaro Tapped for Lead in B'way-Bound Lestat

[timote316]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:11pm

Good for Hugh. This also means two things (one bad, one good):

1. Gary Mauer will probably be the new Broadway Phantom (that is the good)
2. Michael Arden won't be reprising his role from the workshop

(and please correct me if I'm wrong about #2)


Phantom's Hugh Panaro Tapped for Lead in B'way-Bound Lestat

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:13pm

Another bad thing: Hugh won't be Phantom.

This is great though!

He's very talented and deserves it.

[wickedbway]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:20pm

I'm so excited for this! I loved Hugh in Phantom (so much that I printed out his picture and taped it to the back of my ipod), and I loved "Interview With a Vampire" (the movie - haven't read any of Rice's books). Anyways, this sounds great and I'll be looking forward to the show!

[sanda]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:40pm

I am a little confused. I remember when Lestat casting, they asked for a big baritone. Panaro is a tenor, isn't he?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:42pm

Lestat is also supposed to be about 23 years old (the age he became a vampire)...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 8:14pm

i'm really happy for him but it's not going to be the same phantom of the opera without him!! this may just be a good enough reason for me to go back to nyc to see him one more time before he leaves!!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 8:19pm

I thought Mr. Arden workshopped the role of Louis.

[QuiteSo]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 8:37pm

The article said he was "in negotiations" - broadway.com has screwed up before with saying that. They said that Roger Bart was being tapped for Renfield in Dracula, but that was completely false (my friend found out upon asking him).

That could just be me hoping that Hugh doesn't leave POTO

[Mattio98]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 8:39pm

"I thought Mr. Arden workshopped the role of Louis."

Yup, DGrant beat me to it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 8:44pm

Well I did post in another Lestat thread that Hugh would be wonderful in this musical...good to know that the producers are considering him. Hope everything works out for the best! I'm so proud of him! :)

~Rosalynn

[sanda]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 9:39pm

In workshop Lestat was created by James Barbour which is exactly matched the casting requirement.

But I don't think Barbour will do Lestat since he will possibly do Sydney Carton in Tale of Two Cities.
Updated On: 6/21/05 at 09:39 PM

[LuvBroadwayHugs]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 9:43pm

I thought Hugh was a fantastic phantom. I'd like to see him in this role.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 9:44pm

Hmmm...

Well Hugh is considered a tenor, but he does have the capability to sing deeper. I believe the man does have about a 3 octave range.

As for age... sure Hugh's 42, but he doesn't look it! I'm sure he can pass for late twenties. LOL!

~Rosalynn

[Kemi]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 10:37pm

Does anyone know when Hugh Panaro's current contract will expire?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 11:21pm

"Thrust into the seductive and sensual world of an immortal vampire, Lestat tries to reconcile his innate sense of good with his primal need to exist."

-- When was this ever a description of Lestat? "Innate sense of good"?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 10:34am

Well, at least he'll get to originate another role if it does happen. I love Hugh Panaro. He needs to do something other than Phantom.

[rock00]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 10:53am

I'm thrilled for Hugh (and hopefully it leads to another cast recording of him), but this show is NOT going to be any good. When will Broadway learn that musicals and vampires don't mix?

[Khashoggi]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 10:57am

Good to see you supporting Broadway, Rock00....
You've seen the show, have you?
Didn't think so.

[arishmoof]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 10:57am

blue wizard- in "lestat" he is a very different character than in "interview" he has the same sort of experience that louis has where he is trying to reconcile his "last shred of humanity" with his new vampire side and his need to survive. he does the same rat-eating thing, and has a lot of qualms with taking human life... oh but he gets the hang of it real quick!!

i cant wait for this im a BIG Rice fan, are we afraid that this is going to be another Dracula? i really hope not, cause it could be really cool if its done well (but who am i kidding its elton john how could it not be good?)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 12:53pm

Does anyone know what the music/book of this musical are like? I would love to hear some clips of the score, etc. Any insiders, please PM me. Thanks! :)

~Rosalynn

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 12:59pm

It's Elton John right? Listen to Aida, I'm sure it's similar.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 12:59pm

BB - not necessarily - I understand BILLY ELLIOTT is very different.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 1:02pm

Not necessarily. From an Elton John interview I read, he said that the Lestat score wouldn't have any modern sounds in it. Which makes me believe that the music would be more classical than pop. Aida leans more on the pop side, so it may not be the best comparison. Either way...any one that's heard anything, please let me know.

~Rosalynn

[ruprecht]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 2:54pm

Is this gonna be good? Or will it suck like all the Anne Rice film adaptations?

[rock00]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 3:36pm

Good to see you supporting Broadway, Rock00....
You've seen the show, have you?
Didn't think so.

Good call. I'm single-handedly bringing down Broadway by having an opinion...