I’ve seen “My Fair Lady” in a Broadway revival (with Rex Harrison when he was much too old to play the part), in a City Center revival (with Fritz Weaver and Inga Swenson), at the Kennedy Center (the new production), and an abortive attempt at Arena Stage, where they had to shut the performance down because both Eliza and her cover were down with flu.
I’ve seen “Fiddler on the Roof” more times than “My Fair Lady,” but I’ve lost track of how many times. My latest two were at dinner theaters. Those hardly count, in my opinion, but I have to admit that one of the dinner theater Tevyes was terrific, even though, at 27, he was much too young for the role.
“Phantom” is my personal record: Once at the Kennedy Center (a national tour with John Cudia and Marni Raab), once in Baltimore (a national tour with Tim Martin Gleason and, I think, Trista Mouldovan), twice in Las Vegas (Anthony Crivello both times and, the first time, Sierra Boggess; the second, someone whom I can’t remember), four times on Broadway, including the 25th anniversary (Hugh Panaro each time, with, I think Trista Mouldovan, Samantha Hall, Sierra Boggess at the 25th, and someone else whom I can’t remember, maybe Trista Mouldovan again). As far as the Raouls go, I think I saw Tim Martin Gleason and Andrew Ragone in Las Vegas, Sean MacLachlin in Baltimore and once on Broadway, and Kyle Barisich several times on Broadway. (I’m not sure whom I saw at the Kennedy Center). BTW, I think both Sean MacLachlin and Kyle Barisich would make terrific Phantoms, and I’d love to see one of them get a shot in the new national tour.
You alone can make my song take flight.