I hope everyone is well, and doing good! I had the amazing opportunity this weekend to review the new 25th Anniversary Tour of Phantom of the Opera! I hope you enjoy!
Lloyd Webber's hit longest running show is now on tour once again, and is at the Academy of music for a limited time only! This new production is produced by renown producer Cameron Mackintosh (Les Miserbles) and directed by Laurence Connor (Superstar UK, Saigon UK, and Phantom UK). Webber was quoted as saying "It's wonderful to have a new of Phantom touring America now that the show has celebrated over 25 years on Broadway". Phantom runs at the Academy of Music until April 12th 2014, for tickets and show times visit www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway
I loved this show and production very much, and the cast was phenomenal! I can really see where they put new touches on things, and added a few things! Other then a technical difficulty that stopped the show momentarily, the show was great! Pyrotechnics were used, as well as smoke, and gun shots, as well as the falling chandelier! The costumes were stunning and there are over 1,200 pieces used throughout the entire show! Over 120 wigs travel with the production, and over 50 are used in the show, and all are made from actual human hair except for 5! Here is a little about Phantom for those of you who don't know.
Based on the 1910 horror novel by Gaston Leroux, which has been adapted into countless films,The Phantom of the Opera follows a deformed composer who haunts the grand Paris Opera House. Sheltered from the outside world in an underground cavern, the lonely, romantic man tutors and composes operas for Christine, a gorgeous young soprano star-to-be. As Christine’s star rises, and a handsome suitor from her past enters the picture, the Phantom grows mad, terrorizing the opera house owners and company with his murderous ways. Still, Christine finds herself drawn to the mystery man. Audiences agree—The Phantom of the Opera is Broadway’s longest-running hit. Ever. (Broadway.com)
This cast is absolutely stellar! The casting was spot on, and although the original Phantom was re-casted mid run because of personal reasons, this new one is just as good! Cooper Grodin (Phantom) is awesome! His vocal abilities and range are like non I have ever heard, his rendition of the hit song "Music of the Nigh" was Phantasic, very haunting amd yet charming at the same time. Julia Udine (Christine Daee) who is a Voorhees, New Jersey Native I was truly in awe with! Her voice for only being 2o years old is that of someones voice who is much older! She beautifully belted and sang "All I Ask of You", 'Think of Me", and the tearjerker and beautiful classic "Wishing You Were Somehow Hear Again".You need to hear this girl sing, she has cords of steel! Especially when she is in the Phantom's liar and she has to "keep singing" for him. I could go on for days about this young women, and i truly 100% mean this when I say that she needs to play Christine on Broadway (If your reading Andrew Lloyd Webber CAST HER!) I can also see her in other leading roles on Broadway as well! So proud of her, and she also studies with the same vocal coach that I do! Jaclyn Fontaine (Carlotta Giudicelli) was also fabulous and had a great voice. She was a former Miss California, and Miss America finalist (where she performed opera as her talent), she really has quite the resume! Ben Jacoby (Who's father Peter was the he leading role as "The Phantom" on Broadway a few years back) was also good! Craig Bennett (Monsieur Firmin), Edward Staudenmayer (Monsieur Andre), Linda Balgord (Madame Giry), and Hannah Florence (Meg Giry) were also wickedly talented as well!
You must see this show and all of the new aspects that the show has to offer as well! I will say, if you are VERY picky and you don't like change, this production may bother you, as they have made it very updated and very 2014! Just putting both sides out there!
Enjoy!
xx Rye
Been trying to figure out all week if they used a specially designed scent for the set. I noticed the odors when they "lit the chandelier" in the auction and then didn't smell anything during intermission in the lobby. Later during the second half smelled it again and, outside, on the people leaving the auditorium. I'm the only person of the four I know who attended that caught a whiff of stage scent and we were in second to last row of highest balcony. Would love to know if I'm crazy or they really did use scented smoke.
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