SHUCKED, SOME LIKE IT HOT Lead Nominations for 2023 Drama Desk Awards. It's been very creatively freeing to be able to start with a blank slate in a sense. She said what trailblazers have sacrificed for her makes her want to pay it forward by always doing her best. Photo by Ted McGrath. The Phantom of the Opera has production design by the late Maria Bjrnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound by Mick Potter with original sound by Martin Levan. The musical also changed the landscape for touring across the country - inspiring the renovation of theaters and opera houses across the country to house it and revitalizing the economies of countless U.S. cities. Here are 14 spots to stop by during your Los Angeles to San Diego road trip. Musical staging and choreography is by the late Gillian Lynne. Meet Emilie Kouatchou, Broadway's 1st Black Christine in 'Phantom of Choose Your Favorites for the 2023 Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards. For now, though, its time to pack up the chandelier. / Photo courtesy of The Publicity Office), You Pick the Nominees! The Phantom, a mysterious character who inhabits the rafters, sabotages the ongoing operato get what he wants from the new owners. This Christine feels very much close to me, and I relate a lot to her. Copyright 1991-2023 Playbill Inc. All Rights Reserved. The original Broadway cast featured Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Judy Kaye, and the late Steve Barton. But the point is, I think that they escape from reality for a couple of hours and in a romantic world. Ben Crawford plays the Phantom and Emilie Kouatchou plays Christine in "The Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway. Former cast member Laird Mackintosh has a long history with the show, stretching back to the Toronto production from 1993 for 5 years (3 of them as Raoul and covering The Phantom). He's played The Phantom over 200 times in New York, with his last performance in early March. The longest-running Broadway show of all time, The Phantom of the Opera will play its final New York performance at The Majestic Theatre today, Sunday, April 16 at 5PM, after a record-breaking 35 years and 13,981 performances to 20 million people. Only this is a slightly dangerous one. For now, the Shubert Organization will be pleased. If the performance guests choose to attend is less than 14 days after their childs (age 5-11) first vaccine dose, they must also provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Cameron Mackintosh and Lloyd Webber's The Really Useful Group serve as producers. As much a part of the city landscape as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, The Phantom of the Opera has long been a New York City landmark. I still find the way his voice completely changed to sounding like a completely different person fascinating, and I mean none of that in a negative way as both are entirely valid vocal approaches to the role. But shes at peace with how things unfolded. According to a representative: "Due to a bacterial infection, Ben Crawford has been on vocal rest, per doctor's orders. Were going on a long scenic drive from Las Vegas to Phoenix, Arizona! Following the industry-wide shut down due to the Covid pandemic, the Broadway production reopened on October 22, 2021 with an outdoor block party that made headlines around the world. Longtime Phantom Laird Mackintosh will step into the role this evening. PHANTOM is also currently playing in Japan, Greece and Sweden, and has productions opening this month in South Korea and Prague, as well as its highly anticipated premiere in Italy this July. Stage Actor. When he read Gaston Leroux's novel, he found the vehicle and collaborated with Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart on the adaptation, directed by Hal Prince. But yeah, it was a wonderful night.. Just feeling the weight, but also like I was covered by something bigger than myself.. Leslie Odom Jr. The annual A100 list recognizes 100 Asian Pacific leaders making an impact across several industries. Thanks for contacting us. He was really adamant about making sure that Christine felt like me, and that I didnt have to put on any sort of airs that I thought an ingenue character had to be or a Christine had to be, she said. Kenneth Ferrone directs the country-themed musical following a Nashville-bound mother and daughter. Were in a period of intense change in this industry, and Im just happy that I could be a part of that change.. As The Phantom of the Opera ends its record-breaking run today on Broadway, the original Phantom, Michael Crawford shared a tribute to the show Watch a special, surprise curtain call presentation with leading lady Emilie Kouatchou, joined onstage by three iconic, former Broadway Christines: Sierra Boggess (25th Anniversary), Ali Ewoldt (30th Anniversary) and the original Angel of Music herself: original London and New York star Sarah Brightman. Ben Crawford Out Of Final Broadway Performance of PHANTOM; Laird Broadway Replacement Stars That Left Us Stunned: The Phantom of the Josh Gad. "They saw that I had dinosaurs in my room," he says, "because when I play with my kids on FaceTime, my son loves dinosaurs, so they 3D printed this velociraptor that's, like, in a tuxedo with a phantom mask. The longest-running show on Broadway, The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is a classic and definitely a must-see for any musical-theater fan. And holy moly, I've been there 33 and a half years." But its really cool to compare, you know?Anyway enjoy! He's conducting the final performances on Broadway. In New York, where tourists accounted for 65% of pre-pandemic Broadway audiences, the $1.3 billion grosses for "Phantom" overall have only been surpassed by "Wicked" and "The Lion King . First Name Ben. Lloyd Webber also put on an unsuccessful sequel, called Love Never Dies, in London in 2010 that toured but never made it to Broadway. . New director, slimmer set, more projections. He made his Broadway debut in 2006 in Les Misrables as the understudy for Jean Valjean and Javert. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. They also reflect a time gone by. BEN CRAWFORD was born and raised in Tucson, . Photos: Ben Crawford, Emilie Kouatchou and More Star in THE PHANTOM OF And whatever problems they have out on the street and in their daily lives, they come in here and it's like a little kid tripping on a fairy tale or something. First up, Phantom star Ben Crawford. 10 Best Theme Parks In Orlando To Visit For An Action-Packed Holiday. "At the moment, it's about maintaining what we have: keeping the show vibrant. | In an era when Hollywood actors are dominant on Broadway, preferring strictly limited runs that give them career options and flexibility, 9,382 performances may endure as something more than a world record. Advertisement. The entertainment industry at large has struggled with diversity and representation, especially Broadway. Kouatchou a Chicago native and University of Michigan graduate unsuccessfully auditioned for the musical twice before landing a role as the understudy. There have been so many different Black women thatcouldhave played Christine. The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega hit musical, is closing after . Seamlessly booking your Phantom of the Opera tickets on, Christine Daa is played by Emilie Kouatchou, Monsieur Firmin is played by Craig Bennet, Carlotta Guidicell is played by Raquel Suarez Groen, The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway is currently showing at the Majestic Theater on 247 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. Please note, this sub does not allow any bootleg or sales posts/requests. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group, The Phantom of the Opera has been the longest-running show in Broadway history for well over a decade, and its astounding longevity in New York and around the world is unprecedented. To our regret, he's required to take a little more time." . The right show could be grossing $3 million a week there, rather than $1 million from Phantom.. [UPDATED] Your Trusty Guide for Travel Requirements, Rules, and Reminders for Your Next Trip to Mainland US. . Ben Crawford's Understudy? : r/Broadway - Reddit ThePhantom of the Opera marked Connolly's Broadway debut, but Crawford is a bonafide veteran, having appeared in Shrek The Musical,Les Misrables, Big Fish, On The Twentieth Century, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in addition to his extended tenure as the titular Phantom. I think about it every day. Ben Crawford and Kaley Ann Voorhees Matthew Murphy. Still, Christine finds herself drawn to the mystery man. John Riddle as Raoul, Laird Mackintosh as the Phantom and Emilie Kouatchou as Christine, take a bow at the end of the final performance of the Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theater in New York City on April 16, 2023. Cast The Phantom of the Opera New York Christine is a beloved character in the iconic musical, known for her sweeping ballads Think of Me, All I Ask of You and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again. No longer an understudy, Kouatchou stepped into the role full-time for the shows anniversary on Jan 26, 2022. Thats how Im trying to approach this role. Kouatchou said just thinking of all the trailblazing Black women that were overlooked for the role but who nonetheless made it possible for her to play Christine makes her emotional. "People [here] have watched him grow up. [Ed. Lucy St. Louis recently became the first Black actor to play the role when she reopened the London production of Phantom as Christine in July. The leads of New York, New York tell us how starring in Broadways newest Kander and Ebb musical was a chance to learn from some of the greats of the American theatre. The Phantom Of The Opera takes place in the decadent Paris Opera House where the Phantom - a man ashamed of his physical appearance - hides from the real world in the darkness of the theatre. Some even send him their own artwork. There's no other way to describe it," says Richard Poole, who's been a member of the ensemble, playing small roles, for almost 25 years. Thank you to everyone who has helped celebrate 34 years of #PhantomBroadway ! The stats are absolutely staggering since it opened on Broadway in January of 1988, Phantom has played almost 14,000 performances to audiences of over 20 million, grossing over $1.3 billion. The production has grossed a staggering $1.3 billion. Ben Crawford: Credits, Bio, News & More | Broadway World I still give notes to the actors, to the orchestra. Sara Esty takeson the role of Meg Giry. May 1, 2023, By As a full recovery is expected in the coming days, Ben and The Phantom Company had hoped he'd be able to return for the closing performance. A place to discuss all things Broadway as well as other plays and musicals! During its New York run, PHANTOM shattered every possible record for advance sales, capitalization, total gross, total attendance and longevity. The Phantom of the Opera. The Phantom of the Opera has been performed in 15 languages and was the first musical to gross over $6 billion. Disney is celebrating its 100th anniversary this 2023, so here are 100 reasons why you absolutely have to go to Disneyland Resort California this year! ", "The Phantom being misunderstood, I think is a big symbol for a lot of people," says Ben Crawford, who now has the distinction of being the last Phantom to haunt the Majestic Theatre on Broadway. We will look to maintain every element of the production through to the very last note.". This story has been shared 185,893 times. Essential MoMA: Klooks Guide to New Yorks Famed Museum of Modern Art. | All guests must wear a mask at all times except when eating or drinking in the designated areas. Based on Gaston Lerouxs 1910 novel, The Phantom of the Opera, the musical follows the story of The Phantom, a mysterious composer who haunts the Paris Opera House, and his muse, up-and-coming opera-star Christine Daa. Ben Crawford (Stage Actor): his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. Mesmerized by the talents and beauty of the young soprano Christine, The Phantom lures her as his protg and falls fiercely in love with her. While Broadway prepares to bid farewell, The Phantom of the Opera continues to play around the world. I remember feeling a lot of support from the audience. 14 Places to Visit During Your Los Angeles to San Diego Road Trip. If you're a thrill-seeker at heart, you'll fall head over heels in love with Orlando's most famous theme parks. 40 Year Olds. 'Phantom of the Opera' to close after 35 years on Broadway: sources "So, I have a very enviable spot in my life in the fact that I had something to go to, which was nothing!" Among the judges are Olivier winner Amber Riley and Frozen star Samantha Barks. Mackintosh pulled the same maneuver with Londons Les Misrables at whats now the Sondheim Theatre. Randi Richardson reports for TODAY Digital and NBC BLK from New York. Davis' Death of a Salesman co-star Wendell Pierce hosted a screening and talkback for the new film. November 09, 2019. ", Steve Barton (from left), Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman during the curtain call at the end of the premiere performance of The Phantom of the Opera on Jan. 26, 1988 at New York's Majestic Theatre. The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega hit musical, is closing after more than 35 years. He played the lead role of The Phantom in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera for five years.. This is a remake of a video that I made and posted a couple of months back comparing the way Ben Crawford sounded in 2018 vs. 2023.This time around I used the earliest recording of Ben that is currently circulating, which comes from his second ever performance in the role on April 17, 2018 - and comparing it to the most recent recording of Ben from his final performance on the evening of April 1, 2023.The audio quality of the 2018 recording is cleaner this time around - all the same moments that were compared in the previous video are used here. The final performance will be on Sunday, April 16. Broadways groundbreaking musical Phantom of the Opera has once again made history. On Monday, it will all be over. Ben Crawford and Kelsey Connolly Announce Engagement Logan Culwell-Block The ensemble includes Giselle Alvarez, Polly Baird, Janinah Burnett, Xiaoxiao Cao, David Michael Garry, Chris Georgetti, Kelly Jeanne Grant, Katharine Heaton, Satomi Hofmann, Ted Keegan, Kfir, Kelly Loughran, Scott Mikita, Greg Mills, Justin Peck, Patricia Phillips, Richard Poole, Jessica Radetsky, Lindsay Roberts, Janet Saia, Paul A. Schaefer, Carly Blake Sebouhian, Jeremy Stolle, Carrington Vilmont, Jim Weitzer, Elizabeth Welch, and Erica Wong. On Sunday night, April 16, the curtain will fall on the longest-running show in Broadway history. People die, a chandelier crashes to the stage, but love kinda triumphs all set to a sweeping romantic score. Honestly, this was the perfect time for something like this to happen, even though it had been quite a long time. 100 of the Best Disney Souvenirs To Complement Your Mickey Mouse Ears. Kouatchou is the first Black actor to play the role of Christine in the Broadway production. May 1, 2023. If you caught the travel bug but you don't know where to go, here's a list of countries open for travel now to help you determine where your next adventure will take place! The Phantom is played by Ben Crawford. Our website is made possible bydisplaying online advertisements to our visitors. Christine a young soprano starts the musical with a small role in the show within the show, but becomes the Phantoms love interest and he uses his influence to get her the lead role by any means possible. The New York production currently stars Ben Crawford as 'The Phantom,' Emilie Kouatchou as 'Christine,' Paul Adam Schaefer as 'Raoul' (John Riddle returns to the role on April 3), Nehal Joshi as 'Monsieur Andr,' Craig Bennett as 'Monsieur Firmin,' Raquel Suarez Groen as 'Carlotta Giudicelli,' Maree Johnson as 'Madame Giry,' Carlton Moe as 'Ubaldo Piangi' and Sara Esty as 'Meg Giry.' But Black representation on Broadway has recently increased. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images First up, Phantom star Ben Crawford. Youre trying to get me to spill some Phantom secrets, she coyly responded. They cheered when I first came on stage, the 25-year-old actor told TODAY via Zoom. His Broadway credits includeCharlie and the Chocolate Factory(Mr. Salt), the titular character in Shrek The Musical, Big Fish (Edward Bloom u/s, Don Price), Les Misrables (Javert/Valjean u/s) and On the Twentieth Century (Bruce Granit u/s). It tells the tale of a disfigured musical genius known only as 'The Phantom' who haunts the depths of The Paris Opera House. It is directed by the late Harold Prince. Sara Esty joins the company as Meg Giry. Following the performance, the current Phantom, Ben Crawford, gave a speech honoring the show. Musical supervision and direction is by David Caddick and orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Actors Ben Crawford and Meghan Picerno stand on the stage with fellow cast members after performing on the re-opening night of "Phantom of the Opera" at the Majestic Theater in New York City . "It's given me the ability to have security, to plan ahead," says Poole. 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. "I got the gig of a lifetime. May 1, 2023, By The Ensemble features Giselle O. Alvarez, Polly Baird, Janinah Burnett, Xiaoxiao Cao, Kanisha Marie Feliciano, David Michael Garry, Chris Georgetti, Kelly Jeanne Grant, Satomi Hofmann, Ayaka Kamei, Ted Keegan, Kfir, Kelly Loughran, Scott Mikita, Greg Mills, Trista Moldovan, Justin Peck, Richard Poole, Lindsay Roberts, Janet Saia, Paul Adam Schaefer, Carly Blake Sebouhian, Jeremy Stolle, Carrington Vilmont, Jim Weitzer, Elizabeth Welch and Erica Wong. If he is listed as a cast or swing member on the website then he is likely the current understudy. The production also features musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne, scenic and costume design by Maria Bjrnson, lighting design by Andrew Bridge, and sound design by Martin Levan with Caddick as music director. . The Broadway staging of the London-originated show won seven 1988 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Guests ages 18+ must present a valid government-issued ID. The couple announced their engagement via tandem Instagram posts. hide caption, 25 Years Strong, 'Phantom Of The Opera' Kills And Kills Again, Not My Job: We Quiz T-Pain On 'The Phantom Of The Opera'. VIDEO: Ben Crawford Gives a Speech at THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA's 34th PHANTOM currently plays Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at 8pm and Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7pm, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm. Oh, gosh. And not to mention the iconic chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the theater you wont get another experience like this on Broadway. . Crawford currently stars as The Phantom, and Connolly previously played Meg Giryin the long-running Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. This story has been shared 400,553 times. People I look up to in the industry. Andrew Lloyd Webber's romantic, haunting and soaring score includes "The Music of the Night," "All I Ask of You," "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again," "Masquerade" and the iconic title song.