Poto Elon: Uhg...

Here is a slideshow of Phantom Elon:http://special.thetimesnews.com/multimedia/PhantomOfTheOperaSlideshow/Phantom.php

Just some of the highlights:
old raoul has no makeup, as red death
Thin Piangi
Long-haired Raoul
Blonde Christine (dead ringer for Meg)
Phantom looks like he is a woman.
Crappy Mask (or is it a peice of string on his forehead? I can't tell.)
WTF? Masquerade
SWORDFIGHT
MOVIE PONR MASK
IN HANNIBLE, PIANGI RIDES....... A HORSE!!!!!!!!!!


Edit: here are some photos that make it look a tiny bit better:http://www.elon.edu/pendulum/Story.aspx?id=63
Too late though, the other photos show how crappy it really is.

Updated On: 2/14/08 at 08:07 PM

I think you're being a little harsh. It is a college production and though Elon obviously has the talent (let's face they'd need it to pull off this show or else they wouldn't have gotten it in the first place) it is still a little known MT program and doesn't have the funding that schools like CCM and CMU. Also if you read the article they had to really rush the production and it probably didn't get the care and attention it would have with more time to put it together.

And there have been a few blonde Christines on Broadway and the various International/Tour productions. Besides...she was depicted as blonde in the original novel, so they're actually a bit more accurate.

There has been a blonde Christine on Broadway???????

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It's good that they came with their own cocnept.

Erm, but that's the thing...to me, it doesn't look like they did. It comes off as an attempt to emulate Bjornson and Prince (while throwing in movie ideas from Schumacher, Byrne, and Pratt) without the budget to really accomplish it all. It seems less like it was re-imagined for a low budget and more like existing ideas were thrown together and they saw what would stick with the money they had.

Again, that's not to belittle the efforts of this production's creative team. This is clearly an extremely difficult show to pull off visually without a Broadway budget, and any school that tackles it without much precedent needs to be given due credit. The chandelier and (most) costumes, for example, look great. That said, though, this test licensing period is meant to determine if and how low-budget productions of this show can work. It may not be entirely fair, but judging from the photos, I'm just not sure if this one does.

ETA: To be more specific, I think they should have gotten more creative with their scenic design. The all-purpose staircase doesn't really work the way it probably seemed like it would on paper. And I'll throw more praise at the costumes--some of them really look gorgeous. (Aside from the Phantom's costumes and Christine's dressing gown...because if you're going to imitate Bjornson's iconic designs you need to do it exactly, otherwise you'll look like any of the myriad cheap imitations that have popped up at weddings and dinner theaters since the show became popular in the 80s.)

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Updated On: 2/14/08 at 11:32 PM

Ok, well, clearly none of you saw Elon's Production of Phantom because none of you, who have gone out of your way to criticize the pictures of a dress rehearsal, would be tearing this show apart the way you have. Frankly, I think it's sad that people feel they need to pull something beautiful apart...and for what? To prove to the world they know theatre? I think not, the only thing it proves is that they are bitter and discontent with their own careers.

Those who took the time to see Phantom would agree that the show was absolutely stunning. The talent was exquisite along with the look of the show. The set was amazing and the costumes were mind blowing. I believe there were 254 costumes used? The rotating staircase was incredible, transforming the stage over and over again seamlessly. The chandelier was beautiful, although lost a bit of effect because it did not fall.

If you saw the show and did not like it, that is absolutely fine...your entitled to your own opinion. But if you did not see the show and are sitting at home judging the production from a few pictures snapped at a dress rehearsal..Well, then, shame on you. What Elon did with Phantom was amazing; they took the show and made it their own. They do not have the resources that other professional theatres have; they are not a Broadway house and did not try to be. Rather than putting one more crappy attempt at a recreation on stage, they took a beautiful show and made it majestic.

http://talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1530865

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Uh my favorite was the shirtless Indian and Angel.

Hella mad props to them for pulling it OFF! Dude, that HAD to cost them a pretty penny and jeez, their cast is huge! Give them the benefit of the doubt, for goodness sake (we're only looking at photos)... they freakin' staged the thing! And it doesn't look half-bad for a college show. The cast and production crew must be so thrilled to have been part of it and I'll bet they worked their as*es off!

http://www.elon.edu/e-net/Note.aspx?id=927075#

Tons of photos in the gallerys.

Funny Photos from making of phantom:
71
77 & 78 (Help! There is a dancing Ninja in front of my boat!)
82 (Why is a blonde Mme.G strangling Tevya, er... Buquet?)
85 (Wtf is this?)
98 (Oops, wrong musical!)

Was there anyone in the opening night audience under 65?

I am very impressed with what I have seen from Elon in the various pics they have posted. I only wish I had known about the production earlier so I could have traveled up there from Charlotte to see it.

I am happy to see that the theatre program at Elon is trying to go to the next level. Being from NC, I had never really heard much about Elon's program until recently. It seems that they are really putting a lot into their musical theatre program especially. I know that both Jason Robert Brown and Adam Guettel have done master classes there in the past couple of years.

I say bravo to the school, and I wish them continued success. I am all for strengthening the arts programs here in NC.

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There is a new video on youtube of Katie Emerson, who played christine, singing wishing you were somehow here again. It's not a video of the show..it just says she was singing for a info session for prospective students.
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again