The Phantom Of The Opera
Anyone who knows me knows that Phantom has been one of my all time favorite shows since age 5. I grew up listening to it, singing it, and adoring it. It is simply one of the most entrancing shows to ever come to Broadway.
Externally a show about a man who falls in love with a young, beautiful chorus girl, the show has come to teach us all many things.
1. To the world you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world
2. Sometimes you have to break down someone's walls and take off their mask to see who they truly are
3. Listen to the Music of the Night
4. Those who speak of what they know, find too late that prudent silence is wise.
5. Always leave Box 5 open
6. Don't believe the voice coming from behind your mirror when he tells you he's an angel
7. Let daylight dry your tears
8. Outcasts need love too
9. We're past the point of no return
10. When attracted to darkness, the senses abandon their defenses
11. Be wary of falling chandeliers
12. Someone who may seem cruel, and a monster, may just be dying for the smallest bit of sympathy and love
13. Keep your hand at the level of your eyes
14. After too many years fighting back tears, sometimes the past won't die
15. The Phantom Of The Opera is there inside my mind
Some people tend to believe that you can just watch the movie and appreciate the show entirely, and to this I strongly disagree. If you physically cannot get to see the show, you can find the 25th Anniversary with Sierra which is positively fantastic.
Phantom is by far one of the intricate shows on Broadway right now (and is also the longest running show on broadway). Some people fail to realize that Mr. Webber wrote the show around a book from all the way back by Leroux called Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, which was written about the strange events that came to pass in the Paris Opera house in the 1880s (which in itself is a maze of passageways.)
I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Jeremy Stolle (Who performed as The Phantom, and is typically Passarino, as well as the u/s for Raoul, Phantom AND Piangi), Jeremy Hays (who performed as Raoul) and Mary Michaela Patterson (Christine) before they performed the hits "The Phantom Of The Opera," "All I Ask Of You," and "Music Of The Night." (Which just so happen to be my favorite songs from the show.)
PRTC: Describe your overall experience working on Phantom.
Mary Patterson: Amazing. It's been one of the greatest years of my life.
Jeremy Stolle: [Laughter] Epic. It's hard. It's a dream. It's really cool to do every night.
Jeremy Hays: Ah! It has been absolutely fantastic. It is a building full of very talented people and we have a great time every night.
PRTC: What has been your favorite moment spent with your cast mates?
Mary Patterson: I love our preshow. Jeremy always comes in to chat before the show to just catch up and be people off the stage and that's one of my favorite moments.
Jeremy Stolle: Definitely backstage, doing social media shenanigans, it's a sweet time.
Jeremy Hays: I would say every time we get together for a birthday or for someone... We always have a blast. It's always a good show
PRTC: What is your favorite scene to perform?
Mary Patterson: Right now it's Don Juan
Jeremy Stolle: Final Lair
Jeremy Hays: Final Lair is definitely my favorite scene
PRTC: What's the hardest song to perform?
Mary Patterson: Think Of Me
Jeremy Stolle: Music Of The Night
Jeremy Hays: Oooo, the Final Lair
PRTC: Does Christine belong with Raoul or Erik?
Mary Patterson: She belongs with Raoul, because that's, ya know, the way it's written and that's the way it's supposed to be, but there would be an argument for her being with the Phantom
Jeremy Stolle: [Laughter] Ya know, Christine belongs by herself, she's got some more learning to do
Jeremy Hays: Raoul! Of course!
PRTC: Describe The Phantom Of The Opera in 1 word.
Mary Patterson: Timeless
Jeremy Stolle: Misunderstood.
Jeremy Hays: Love
PRTC: Describe your experience with your cast in 1 word
Mary Patterson: Hilarious [Laughter]
Jeremy Stolle: Epic.
Jeremy Hays: Wonderful
Jeremy also wants future audiences to know that "It's a love story, but it's a complicated love story."
PRTC was shocked to find that no one in the cast had seen Love Never Dies! If you haven't yet, we highly recommend it, seeing as it's a continuation of the classic with QUITE a twist, and takes place here in our beautiful New York!
I again hope to see all you lovelies next week in Bryant Park! If you see me, please swing by and say hello!
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