Profile for AHLiebross

I definitely agree with Rebecca and Love Never Dies. In addition, I wish Yeston & Kopit's "Phantom" had made it to Broadway. It's a lovely show, with a lovely score. The success of POTO might help the Y&K version if they were running at the same time. Phans like me would be in 7th Heaven if we could see versions on Broadway at the same time!

I'm looking for information on the Frankenstein off-Broadway musical by Eric Sirota that is currently running on a limited engagement. Broadway World's reviewer loved it. I'm writing a paper on why most horror novel adaptations don't do very well (with the obvious exception of "The Phantom of the Opera". I'm curious if anyone has seen this new "Frankenstein," and, if so, what you think of it.

Thanks!

Wilson, Fayetteville is an atypical venue for a tour -- they don't have a lot of theaters, to say the least! However, I just got back from there and heard about the Coliseum for the first time. Their Web site is http://www.crowncomplexnc.com . 

I haven't been on this board in probably two years, and quickly logged on when I read about "Carousel's" demise. I saw a revival about 50 years ago and adored the show. However, if they started chopping scenes and numbers, it's unsurprising that the show didn't last. I hope "My Fair Lady" has a solid run -- it's another show that I'm hoping to see when I make it back to NYC, probably next year. At least "Hamilton" will still be running -- I assume -- and, hopefully, the original POTO production. I've seen the POTO tour four times now, and I just can't warm up to it, even with Derrick Davis's extraordinary performance about a year ago. I suspect that directors of new productions sometimes make changes just to make changes, and not because they really improve the show. That, IMO, is the flaw in the Phantom tour, and it sounds like it may also be the problem in Carousel.

JimmyCurry01, Raoul does not pull Christine back now. He calls to her from upstage, where he is searching for the echo, which, of course is no echo at all, but really the Phantom.

Lot666, you say that "Chris Mann was easily the worst - and most ridiculous - Phantom [you'd] ever seen/heard." For me, he's only the second worst. The dubious honor of worst has to go to Peter Joback, whom I saw only in the final, post-show number at the Broadway 25th anniversary. That was enough to convince me that he wasn't a good choice for the role. Next in line is Hugh Panaro, who lacked energy by the time I saw him on Broadway. I saw him play the role four times, and the only time he really shone was in the 25th anniversary show, where he seemed to have gotten his mojo back, at least for that performance. I wasn't too enamored of Tony Crivello (from the 95-minute Las Vegas Spectacular). I saw Ramin Karimloo in the London 25th anniversary video, and I didn't much like his acting performance. As a result, I didn't expect much when I saw him live in Les Mis a few years later, but he was superb as JVJ. Gerard Butler's singing was obviously not, ahem, of Broadway quality, but I think his acting performance in the movie was great. He would have been a much better choice for the role of Javert in the Les Miz movie than Russell Crowe, in my opinion.

As far as the best Phantoms I've seen, Norm Lewis is at the top, but everyone I've seen other than the ones I mentioned above has also been excellent, including two covers, Greg Mills (on Broadway) and Allan Snyder (early in the tour). The others are John Cudia (whom I saw on tour in 200, Tim Martin Gleason (on tour in, I think 2010), and James Barbour (Broadway).

Lot666, the powers-that-be have used their brains in casting Derrick Davis. He is younger than most Phantoms, but he has major Broadway credentials (e.g., Mufasa and Scar, in TLK). Here are some links:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/national-tours/article/BWW-Interview-Derrick-Davis-as-Phantom-in-THE-PHANTOM-OF-THE-OPERA-on-Tour-20170417

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McN0-wWBdh4

(He's actually better in person than in this YouTube video).

Audrey

I originally posted this in the thread on decline in quality, but it seems to have killed the thread. Since I really do hope to get some information from the numerous experts on this Board, I thought I would give the post its own thread.

A few days ago, I saw the touring version of Phantom in Las Vegas. Not only was I blown away (in a positive sense) by Derrick Davis's performance, but I noticed that there have been major changes in the staging of the touring version since I last saw it at the Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa. These changes, in my opinion, vastly improve the show, to the point that it is now every bit as wonderful as the original.

I am about to review the touring version of POTO for my Palm Springs area Broadway World readers. I realized that I should write about these massive changes because many people have read reviews saying that the touring version is darker than the original and that it isn't quite as good. Does anyone on this board know:

1) What (or who) triggered these major changes?

2) Is there a list available of all or most of them?

3) When did the changes take place?

Thanks for any help members of this board can give. 

Audrey Liebross (Phantom maniac)

MCFan2, if you've got a fanfic story in you about Eliza, HH, and the ring from Brighton, go ahead and write it. I'm sure you'd find a bunch of willing readers on this board who will be happy to critique it. Just make sure to tune out the snarky comments and consider the helpful ones. I find that critiques and revision are what turns good writing into great writing. Don't sell yourself short!

I volunteer to be a helpful reader.

Audrey

I thought of a few that I don't think have been mentioned:

1) Whistle While You Work -- Snow White

2) When You Wish Upon a Star -- Pinocchio

3) Beauty and the Beast -- Beauty and the Beast

4) Spoonful of Sugar, Supercalifragil etc., Let's Go Fly a Kite --  Mary Poppins

Audrey

We're a year late for its 60th anniversary, but I'd love to see a revival of My Fair Lady (premier: March 15, 1956, at the Mark Hellinger Theater). I would want a youngish, charismatic actor to play Higgins, rather than the old geezers that have been cast lately.

Audrey Liebross

After seeing the Tony awards and watching "A Musical," I decided I HAD to see the show when I went to New York. I laughed my head off. My favorite piece of silliness (other than "A Musical" and Shakespeare's song about how difficult it is to be him) was Shylock's comment about how Shakespeare already promised to use his name in a play, and would make his character a "nice Jew." I hope to write a musical version of "The Merchant of Venice" from Shylock's point of view (a la "Wicked", and found this line hilarious.

Happy New Year everyone!

I haven't heard anything about "Amelie" other than what I've read on this board. However, I have my doubts that it will work if it closely follows the movie. While I enjoyed the movie, and thought it was sweet, I didn't like the gimmick of the narrator, and I thought the reason that she stopped and then started aging again to be lame. I just don't think there was enough "there" there to support a musical. Hopefully, I'll turn out to be wrong.