Gary Mauer, best hands down. His voice is amazing, and so beautiful. He plays the role of the misunderstood genius so well. He is a treat to see, and I can't wait to see him again.
Of the ones I have seen perform live, I'd have to go with Earl Carpenter.
However, while I never got to see Michael Crawford live in POTO, I did get to see him perform in Mesa. Let me tell you, I have heard Music of the Night performed many times before, but never like he did that night. His stage presence was just hypnotic and the song was mesmerizing. The whole audience was just spellbound, and the response was dramatic. Let me tell you, if he preformed as the Phantom on stage like he performed the songs that wonderful night in Mesa, then I'd have to go with Michael Crawford hands down.
I had the pleasure of bumping to Howard McGillin on the street in Chicago when he was here with the "Peter Pan" tour. He was very nice, and it was great to actually get to meet one of my childhood heroes.
Of the ones I have seen, it's a toss-up between Davis Gaines and Gary Mauer---different but both very good.
I wish I could have seen Michael Crawford. Like a previous poster, I saw him in concert recently, and his "Music of the Night," with the minimum of context a concert allows, was great!
Michael Crawford, hands down. Didn't get to see him do it on Broadway but I've seen him in concert twice, and even without the makeup and mask he WAS the Phantom. What a phenomenon he must have been in that part.
Gary Mauer is also excellent. Saw him recently on tour.
Mine is Gary Mauer (I totally spelled that wrong). I saw him when POTO came to Boston. He was awesome.. the whole plays shook and echoed when he sang. It was great.
<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 2007.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado