To get there, you can take the subway to the Times Square 42nd Street Metro Station. Following the performance, the current Phantom, Ben Crawford, gave a speech honoring the show. 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 th. This story has been shared 400,553 times. Kouatchou is the first Black actor to play the role of Christine in the Broadway production. Phantom first opened on Broadway with its original London stars, Michael Crawford as the masked romantic and Sarah Brightman as his beloved soprano Christine. Fun fact: Did you know that this exact theater has been home to The Phantom of the Opera since 1988? Musical supervision and direction is by David Caddick and orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Blocking belongson the stage,not on websites. 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.' SHUCKED, SOME LIKE IT HOT Lead Nominations for 2023 Drama Desk Awards. 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. For more information, please see our This story has been shared 114,619 times. See All the Masked Men of Broadway's Phantom of the Opera - Playbill Davis' Death of a Salesman co-star Wendell Pierce hosted a screening and talkback for the new film. Musical staging and choreography is by the late Gillian Lynne. 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. 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). Kouatchou a Chicago native and University of Michigan graduate unsuccessfully auditioned for the musical twice before landing a role as the understudy. Ben Crawford and Kelsey Connolly Announce Engagement Logan Culwell-Block Producer Cameron Mackintosh says Phantom was losing money, even before the pandemic. 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. The production value, the set pieces, and the costumes are truly magnificent! A 2019 reportby the Actors Equity Association found that just 8% of Broadways nearly 52,000 actors and stage managers are Black. 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 . Can't decide where to bike? The cast is led by Ben Crawford as The Phantom, Meghan Picerno as Christine and John Riddle as Raoul . The Phantom of the Opera. 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. People I look up to in the industry. Guests ages 18+ must present a valid government-issued ID. As with many other shows, ticket sales for "Phantom" lagged when Broadway reopened after COVID-19. 'Phantom of the Opera' closes after 35 years, and nearly 14,000 - NPR Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images 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. "It gives me discipline and structure in my life, and it gives me a constant way to maintain my craft. Thats one of the reasons why its stood the test of time.. 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. It's been very creatively freeing to be able to start with a blank slate in a sense. An estimated 6,500 people have been employed by the production including over 400 actors and it takes a cast, orchestra and crew of 125 to put on the show. Ben Crawford stars with Meghan Picerno as Christine and John Riddle as Raoul. Learn how to book a Klook car rental and enjoy driving abroad through this short guide! 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. Cast The Phantom of the Opera New York The Phantom of the Opera has been performed in 15 languages and was the first musical to gross over $6 billion. Longtime Phantom Laid Mackintosh will step into the role this evening. 'Funny Girl' review: Lea Michele lifts Broadway show out Woman has 'loud, full body orgasm' in the middle of LA concert, Bride killed, groom seriously hurt by drunk driver just minutes after leaving reception, Red carpet live updates and star-studded highlightsfrom the Karl Lagerfeld-themed Met Gala, Jennifer Lopez pairs a fascinator with bold dress on the 2023 Met Gala red carpet, Jared Leto dresses as Karl Lagerfelds cat Choupette on Met Gala red carpet, Cara Delevingne honors Karl Lagerfelds hair, iconic white shirt at Met Gala 2023, Elon Musk Tells Bill Maher Woke Mind Virus Is Dangerous On Real Time, Met Gala red carpet: Live updates of all the celebrity outfits. 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. The PHANTOM Orchestra - Broadway's largest, with 27 members - performs under the musical supervision of David Caddick. I still give notes to the actors, to the orchestra. Photos: Ben Crawford, Emilie Kouatchou and More Star in THE PHANTOM OF And not to mention the iconic chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the theater you wont get another experience like this on Broadway. Regional: Kennedy Center, Long Wharf Theatre, Goodspeed, PCLO, Casa Maana, MUNY. Meet Emilie Kouatchou, Broadway's 1st Black Christine in 'Phantom of He had the pleasure of sitting backstage during Saturday matinees sometimes when I wasn't able to get a babysitter.". On Broadway, saying goodbye to 'Phantom' - csmonitor.com "I was very keen to write something which was a high romance at the time, having done Evita and having done Cats and various things, which didn't let me go in that direction at all," Lloyd Webber recalled in 2013, for the show's 25th anniversary on Broadway. Celebrate Disneys 100 years of magic with 100 different types of Disney merchandise! Josh Gad. I will saythat.. Also joining the production in her Broadway debut is Emilie Kouatchou, who plays the role of Christine Daa at certain performances. Michael Patrick Smith CBE (born 19 January 1942), known professionally as Michael Crawford, is an English actor, comedian, and singer.. Crawford is best known for playing both the hapless Frank Spencer in the sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musical The Phantom of the Opera.His acclaimed performance in the latter earned him both the Laurence Olivier Award for Best . Note: Laird Mackintosh played the Phantom at the final performance on Sunday, April 16, filling in for Crawford who was ill.] Like other Phantoms before him, he has a special relationship with the Phans who've visited the show over and over. A flop movie version, starring Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum, was released in 2004. It looks as if the cast has stayed the same as before but Im going crazy trying to find info on Bens understudy. The castalso featuresBradley Deanas Monsieur Andr,Craig Bennettas Monsieur Firmin,Raquel Suarez Groenas Carlotta Giudicelli,Maree Johnsonas Madame Giry andCarlton Moeas Ubaldo Piangi. The production won seven Tony Awards, including Best Actor for Crawford and Best Musical. Find out which is the perfect one for you! Ben Crawford currently plays the Phantom and Emilie Kouatchou is Christine Daa. / Photo courtesy of The Publicity Office), You Pick the Nominees! Im learning to take things as they come and realize that my journey is going to happen when it needs to happen. Kouatchou still remembers the first time she hit the stage playing Christine as an understudy in October 2021. Stage Actor. 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! 14 Places to Visit During Your Los Angeles to San Diego Road Trip. Celebrating 35 years on Broadway, watch as the production's lead cast members Ben Crawford (The . Sign up for reopening news, announcements, and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows! 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. Watch THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Star Ben Crawford Sing "The - YouTube Guests under the age of 18 may present their school ID. Ben has also starred in over twenty regional theatre productions ranging from Che in Evita (Studio Tenn), Starbuck in 110 in the Shade (Fords Theatre), Luther Billis in South Pacific (Ogunquit Playhouse), Frederick Barrett in Titanic (MUNY) and Jud Fry in Oklahoma! IE 11 is not supported. She said what trailblazers have sacrificed for her makes her want to pay it forward by always doing her best. Oh, gosh. The Phantom of the Opera, Broadways longest-running show, will close this winter, multiple sources told The Post. Seth Sklar-Heyn (our production . ", So, Phantom is going out with a bang it's been selling out again. 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. John Riddle as "Raoul", Ben Crawford as "The Phantom" and Emilie Kouatchou as "Christine" take the curtain call at The 34th Anniversary Performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of The Opera . In our new photo and interview series, BroadwayBox spotlights 10 of Broadway's most spectacular replacement stars. Just make sure to allow enough time to get back to your seat before Act II! 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. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. May 1, 2023, By In celebration of Black history, Kouatchou sat down with TODAY to discuss disrupting an industry set in its ways and the significance of Black representation on Broadway, especially in predominately white musicals and plays. . Planning to go to Disneyland Resort California for your next holiday? Just feeling the weight, but also like I was covered by something bigger than myself.. He's played The Phantom over 200 times in New York, with his last performance in early March. The couple announced their engagement via tandem Instagram posts. In the New York production alone, an estimated 6,500 people (including 450 actors) have been employed during its more than three decades run. But the musical got a massive box-office boost when Mackintosh and Webber announced its closing . And a revamped Broadway version of the composers musical Cinderella at the Imperial Theatre will be announced as soon as next week. The Phantom of the Opera has music by Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe), and a book by Stilgoe and Lloyd Webber. Ticket prices range from $29-$169, with Premium tickets also available. ", 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. INTO THE WOODS & More Lead 2023 Drama League Award Nominations. The Phantom of the Opera's running time is 150 minutes long (or roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes) with an intermission between both acts so you . It became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006 - when it surpassed the nearly 18-year run of Cats - another Andrew Llyod Webber musical, also produced by Cameron Mackintosh -and has since almost doubled that figure. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Emilie Kouatchou (left) and Ben Crawford (right) performing the title song in "Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway. . 100 Reasons Why You Should Visit Disneyland Resort California This Year. 10 Best Theme Parks In Orlando To Visit For An Action-Packed Holiday. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Ben Crawford (Stage Actor) - Age, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays California dreamin? That could be a clue to the musicals future. "So, I have a very enviable spot in my life in the fact that I had something to go to, which was nothing!" The production has grossed a staggering $1.3 billion. Privacy Policy. Hop in! Ben Crawford (Stage Actor): his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. "The following week, we were profitable for the first time," Mackintosh said in a phone interview from London. Blocking belongson the stage,not on websites. 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. Youre trying to get me to spill some Phantom secrets, she coyly responded. Sign up for reopening news, announcements, and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows! Any clue as to who it might be? Broadway's longest-running show ever, The Phantom of the Opera, took its final Broadway bow today, April 16, 2023 after an unprecedented 35-year run and 13,981 performances. The ensemblefeatures 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, Janet Saia, Paul A. Schaefer, Carly Blake Sebouhian, Jeremy Stolle, Carrington Vilmont, Jim Weitzer, Elizabeth Welch and Erica Wong. The terrifically fun London Palladium revival of his Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has New York in its sights after it plays Torontos Princess of Wales Theatre this winter. Choose Your Favorites for the 2023 Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards. 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. This Christine feels very much close to me, and I relate a lot to her. Current Phantom of the Opera star Ben Crawford will be out of the show for the final Broadway performance. Review Roundup: Sean Hayes Stars In GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR On Broadway! The Majestic Theatre, the best musical house on Broadway, has finally been freed up after nearly four decades. So, last September, he and Andrew Lloyd Webber announced a final date. It marked the milestone by debuting its first Black Christine on Broadway, played by Emilie Kouatchou. I remember feeling like, OK, no matter what happens, the people out there have me and the people backstage have me and are supporting me. I remember it being a whirlwind and being extremely tired by the end, ready to drop. Heres a List of Countries Open for Travel Now! He played the lead role of The Phantom in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera for five years.. 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. Still, Christine finds herself drawn to the mystery man. There have been so many different Black women thatcouldhave played Christine. This year is the musical's 34th anniversary on Broadway. Based on the classic novel Le Fantme de L'Opra by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera, has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. | She said it can be difficult to assume a historic role people are familiar with, while still making it feel like its hers. Cameron Mackintosh and Lloyd Webber's The Really Useful Group serve as producers. Please consider supporting us bywhitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.Thank you! On Sunday night, April 16, the curtain will fall on the longest-running show in Broadway history. He later spent six years with the Broadway Company from 2013 (as Monsieur Andr and covering the Phantom). Previews on Broadway began January 9, 1988, with an official opening January 26. Cameron Mackintosh's other reimagined production of The Phantom of the Opera has broken box office records across the UK and the U.S., most recently at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, and will open in Vienna in 2024. Stage Actors. The right show could be grossing $3 million a week there, rather than $1 million from Phantom.. The original Broadway cast featured Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Judy Kaye, and the late Steve Barton.

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