#john o'may

[operafantomet]

OK... Firmin's Masquerade costume.

I will never NOT be amused by the original monster crocodile skeleton West End mask (row 1)?! Apparently quickly replaced by a more standard skull mask, as John Savident got to wear that before he left (left photo, row 2).

But then also Maria Bjørnson's revamped version of the design, where Firmin's green cloak is literally covered in skulls (row 3, row 4). It looks like this cloak version was only implemented into the Australian production, and with this also the World Tour - photos shows Kim Bong Hwan and John O'May.

I do however think it's curious that when they wanted to vamp up Firmin's costume for the reopening of the flagship productions in West End and on Broadway they chose not to do the skull cloak, as Maria Bjørnson definitely designed. Instead they gave him a black waistcoat with white skeleton decorations to wear over his regular cloak. Hum. I enjoy the waistcoat, but I also feel it makes him too similar to André. I'd rather see the skull cloak. Row 5 shows David Michael Garry on Broadway, and Tim Morgan in West End.

[carolyn1761smith]

[marybeatriceofmodena]

Trading Site Reopening and Gifting Spree!

So. After weeks of work (*insert alpaca scream here*), my trading site is open for trading! To celebrate, I decided to gift a few audios and videos from Phantom of the Opera, a few audios from Les Misérables, two cast recordings from Elisabeth das Musical, and a cast recording for Sweeney Todd. Enjoy!

(If you're the master of a listed audio/video, please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you want me to remove your stuff from the list.)

POTO audios

Michael Crawford, Rebecca Caine (alt.), Steve Barton October 10, 1987; London Michael Crawford and Steve Barton's last in London. Soundboard, very good quality, and this one is complete. And Rebecca Caine sounds amazing in it (as she always does). https://www.mediafire.com/file/pttrjfqzb84gatm/POTO_West_End_10-10-1987_-_Crawford%252C_Caine%252C_Barton.rar/file Steve Barton, Rebecca Luker, Gary Lindemenn (u/s),  Marilyn Caskey, Jeff Keller, George Lee Andrews, Leila Martin September 26, 1990; Broadway Soundboard audio. Because Steve Barton was almost as good of a Phantom as he was as Raoul, and Rebecca Luker is a legend (RIP). https://www.mediafire.com/file/xc9ywojtdesptje/POTO_Broadway_26-09-1990_-_Barton%252C_Luker%252C_Lindemenn.rar/file Davis Gaines, Tracy Shayne, Matthew R. Jones, George Lee Andrews, Jeff Keller, Lelia Martin October 5, 1996; Broadway Davis Gaines's last performance. Because Davis Gaines has one of the best voices I've heard in the role. https://www.mediafire.com/file/w1ybvl8v6e4ex6r/POTO_Broadway_05-01-1996_-_Gaines%252C_Shayne%252C_Little.rar/file Brad Little, Lisa Vroman, Tim Martin Gleason, Kim Stengel, DC Anderson, David Cryer, Patti  Davidson-Gorbea, Kate Wray, Jimmy Smagula December 5, 2003; Los Angeles Lisa Vroman’s second-to-last performance as Christine. Both she and Brad Little are glorious vocal-wise. https://www.mediafire.com/file/muavx4ocvs62eav/POTO_US_Tour_05-12-2003_-_Little%252C_Vroman%252C_Gleason.rar/file Anthony Warlow, Julie Goodwin, John Bowles, Andrea Creighton, John O'May, Derek Taylor, Jackie Rees, Nadia Komazec, David Rogers-Smith August 15, 2007; Melbourne Not the biggest fan of Anthony Warlow acting-wise, but he does not disappoint on the vocals - and neither does Julie Goodwin. https://www.mediafire.com/file/3pm0ksips30n3it/POTO_Melbourne_15-08-2007_-_Warlow%252C_Goodwin%252C_Bowles.rar/file John Owen-Jones, Katie Hall, Simon Bailey, Angela M. Caesar, Andy Hockley, Simon Green, Elizabeth Mars, Hannah Cadec, Vincent Pirillo September 29, 2012; Edinburgh Not the biggest fan of the restaged tour, but... Katie Hall's "Tears of HAAAAAATE" is pretty great. And John Owen-Jones! https://www.mediafire.com/file/00vtvziy172lpkv/POTO_UK_Tour_29-09-2012_-_Owen-Jones%252C_Hall%252C_Bailey.rar/file Hugh Panaro, Elizabeth Welch (u/s), Jeremy Hays March 3, 2014; Broadway Great trio overall, but Elizabeth Welch is a standout (to me at least). https://www.mediafire.com/file/1hc1ozi96vok5pd/POTO_Broadway_03-03-2014_-_Panaro%252C_Welch%252C_Hays.rar/file Dmitry Ermak, Tamara Kotova, Eugeny Zaytsev, Irina Samoylova, Alexei Bobrov, Yuri Mazihin, Elena Charkviani, Valeria Migalina, Rustim Bahtiyarov (u/s) July 16, 2015; Moscow A lovely production that I miss - Tamara Kotova in particular is great. https://www.mediafire.com/file/w56tx5d7fkh4kse/POTO_Moscow_16-07-2015_-_Ermak%252C_Kotova%252C_Zaytsev.rar/file John Owen-Jones, Celinde Schoenmaker, Nadim Naaman, Megan Llewellyn, Michael Matus, Christopher Dickens, Jacinta Mulcahy, Alicia Beck, John Ellis September 7, 2015; London First performance of the 2015-2016 cast. https://www.mediafire.com/file/5hswf44ldku6ngm/POTO_West_End_07-09-2015_-_Owen-Jones%252C_Schoenmaker%252C_Naaman.rar/file Peter Jöback, Emmi Christensson, Anton Zetterholm, Karolina Andresson, Glenn Kjellberg, Rolf Lydhal, Sanna Martin, Tehilla Blad, Sindre Postholm March 19, 2017; Stockholm Given Christine is from Sweden, it's only fair to include the recent Stockholm production. https://www.mediafire.com/file/zkl38t9388gcvh7/POTO_Sweden_2017-03-19_PJ_EC_AZ.wav/file Tim Howar, Amy Manford, Jeremy Taylor, Kimberly Blake, Ross Dawes, Alan Vicary, Jacinta Mulcahy, Georgia Ware, Paul Ettore Tabone September 7, 2019; London This one is different from the one listed as NFT (so don't get mad at me, haha). Last performance for Amy Manford in the West End production. https://www.mediafire.com/file/vf60ie1er18rkon/POTO_West_End_07-09-2019_-_Howar%252C_Manford%252C_Taylor.rar/file Ben Crawford, Meghan Picerno, John Riddle October 26, 2019 Because we all love a Christine with opera chops. https://www.mediafire.com/file/9gji0khgfoazjqd/POTO_Broadway_26-10-2019_-_Crawford%252C_Picerno%252C_Riddle.rar/file 

POTO videos

Earl Carpenter, Rachel Barrell, David Shannon, Wendy Ferguson, David Lawrence (u/s), Sam Hiller, Emily Harvey (u/s), Heidi Ann O'Brien, Rohan Tickell January 2006 VOB format.  If you want to see Earl in London right now but can't... this video is the best quality overall that features him, and Rachel Barrell is a fantastic Christine - one of my favorites in the role. https://mega.nz/folder/u09GQKyR#gjNHj4Letd9YInTsuLowjA Gary Mauer, Elizabeth Southard, Jim Weitzer, Kim Stengel, John Jellison, DC Anderson, Patti Davidson-Gorbea, Kate Wray, John Whitney April 6, 2006; Dallas VOB format.  For my Eristine moots (I see you!): Gary Mauer and Elizabeth Southard were (and as far as I know, still are) married while performing as the Phantom and Christine, and you thought Ramin and Sierra's chemistry was off the charts, think again. https://mega.nz/folder/PtExxS5A#D4yyf2g_lXoN-cIDPkMU2Q Anthony Crivello, Kristi Holden, Andrew Ragone, Geena Jeffries Mattox, John Leslie Wolfe, Lawson Skala, Tina Walsh, Brianne Kelly Morgan, Larry Wayne Morbitt August 8, 2008; Las Vegas VOB format. This is the Las Vegas Spectacular production, which is abriged compared to the original but totally worth seeing. If you want to understand why I love Meg Giry so much, Brianne Kelly Morgan is one of the best I've ever seen in the role. Also, if you’re meh about Raoul... with Andrew Ragone, think again. He’s one of the most Superman/Clark Kent Raouls I’ve seen. And I really like Kristi Holden’s Leroux-esque Christine too.  https://mega.nz/folder/Sh1zxSAB#twtXau8Y8pd_L9tMQLa4Mg Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Samantha Hill, Greg Mills (u/s), Michele McConnell, Tim Jerome, Richard Poole (u/s), Ellen Harvey, Kara Klein, Christian Sebek March 9, 2013 VOB format. Missing part of Act 1 (‘Stranger Than You Dreamt It’ to Il Muto), but otherwise complete. This is one of the best trios I've seen on Broadway, and Samantha Hill is just a fantastic Christine overall. https://mega.nz/folder/y1slyJRD#OP1Tp5Cj_fMk9LbAWJMqAA Tomas Ambt Kofod, Sibylle Glosted, Christian Lund, Louise Fribo, Carl Christian Rasmussen, Sebastian Harris, Elisabeth Halling, Imogen-Lilly Ash, Rasmus Jupin March 2019; Copenhagen VOB format. This one is more recent, but given it's been uploaded on YouTube, I guess it's fine to gift it (again, if you’re the master and you want me to remove this, please let me know).This one has one of the best casts ever caught on tape. Seriously. Everyone in this is a star. https://mega.nz/folder/q40hTagI#Zui14MWo-F2YSQ0gNdaL6Q



Les Mis Audios

Colm Wilkinson, Roger Allam, Patti LuPone, Alun Armstrong, Sue Jane Tanner, Michael Ball, Frances Ruffele, Rebecca Caine, David Burt 1985; London Preview at the Barbican Centre. This is interesting since it includes Cosette's song "I Saw Him Once", which has been cut later.  https://www.mediafire.com/file/jbedqiemuk9qnd1/Les_Mis_West_End_1985_-_Wilkinson%252C_Allam.rar/file Symphonic recording (1989)  Gary Morris, Philip Quast, Debra Byrne, Michael Ball, Tracy Shayne, Kaho Shimada, Anthony Warlow, Barry James, Gay Soper https://www.mediafire.com/file/n7gp30jcpnjfkf7/Les_Miserables_Symphonic_Recording.rar/file Kyle Jean-Baptiste (u/s), Earl Carpenter, Erika Henningsen, Chris McCarrell, Samantha Hill, Brennyn Lark, Max Quinlan (u/s), Gavin Lee, Rachel Izen August 13, 2015; Broadway For Kyle Jean-Baptiste, who was an amazing performer gone way too soon. RIP. https://www.mediafire.com/file/fzj2qubunkrrfhc/Les_Mis_Broadway_13-08-2015_-_Jean-Baptiste%252C_Carpenter.rar/file John Owen-Jones, Michael Ball, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Craig Mather (u/s), Lily Kerhoas, Shan Ako, Bradley Jaden, Matt Lucas, Katy Secombe, Earl Carpenter October 16, 2019; London All-star concert! https://www.mediafire.com/file/nh28zdry93vhry2/Les_Mis_London_Concert_16-10-2019_-_Owen-Jones%252C_Ball.rar/file

Elisabeth das Musical

Original Cast Recording (1992) Pia Douwes, Uwe Kroeger, Ethan Freeman, Andreas Bieber, Viktor Gernot, Else Ludwig https://www.mediafire.com/file/fagi9ctooeq2y11/Elisabeth-Original_German_Cast.rar/file Vienna revival cast recording (2006)  Maya Hakvoort, Mate Kamaras, Serkan Kaya, André Bauer, Fritz Schmid, Else Ludwig https://www.mediafire.com/file/7wpqbotp8oszzz3/Elisabeth_-_2006_Vienna_Cast.rar/file



Sweeney Todd

2000 Concert Cast Recording George Hearn, Patti LuPone, Davis Gaines, Heidi Grant Murphy, Paul Plishka, Audra McDonald, Standford Olsen, Neil Patrick Harris, John Aler Pretty sure this isn't on Spotify, which is a real shame given its cast. So enjoy! EDIT: Someone pointed out to me that the recording is incomplete - probably a result of the Great Hardware Crash of 2016, so until I get the full version, this will probably stay incomplete. Sorry about that! https://www.mediafire.com/file/ywoiqe5bnlzr7bs/Sweeney_Todd_2000_New_York_Concert_Cast.rar/file

[marleneoftheopera]

Hello! My birthday is today, and my friends is tomorrow, would you happen to know if there are any audios of Phantom (or any other shows you may have) with those dates?

Well, happy birthday to you two!

For POTO audios, there are:

Peter Karrie, Amy Nuttall (u/s), Robert Finlayson, Michael Bauer, Alan Vicary, Gabriel Santinelli, Heather Craig, Hayley Driscoll, Jeremy Secomb July 17, 2000; Bradford 

John Owen-Jones, Katie Knight-Adams, Ramin Karimloo, Richard Hazell, Sam Hiller, Judith Gardner-Jones, Josie Benson (u/s), Jim Heath, Heidi Ann O'Brien July 16, 2004; London There is a debate on whether this is June or July 16th.

Earl Carpenter, Leila Benn Harris, Oliver Thornton (s/b),. James Barron, Sam Hiller, Wendy Ferguson, Heather Ferguson, Howard Ellis (u/s), Lindsey Wise July 17, 2007; London 

Richard Todd Adams, Kelly Jeanne Grant, Greg Mills July 17, 2008; San Diego

Hong Kwang-ho, Choi Hyun-Ju, Jeong Sang Yoon July 16, 2010; Seoul, Korea

John Owen-Jones, Katie Hall, Simon Bailey July 16, 2012; UK Tour

Brad Little, Kristi Holden, Anthony Downing, John O'May, Jason Ralph, Andrea Creighton, Tina Walsh, Thabiso Masemene, Eleanor Waite July 16, 2013; Singapore Opening night. phanofmusical's master. 

Dmitry Ermak, Tamara Kotova, Eugeny Zaytsev, Irina Samoylova, Alexei Bobrov, Yuri Mazihin, Rustim Bahtiyarov (u/s), Elena Charkviani, Valeria Migalina July 16, 2015; Moscow, Russia

Chris Mann, Katie Travis, Storm Lineberger, Jacquelynne Fontaine, Edward Staudenmayer, David Benoit, Anne Kanengeiser, Morgan Cowling, Frank Viveros July 17, 2015; Los Angeles

Now I only have 3 of those POTO audios, but I know of a few other traders that have the rest, so if you contact me privately I’ll see what I can do for you.

As far as other audios I have: 

Jersey Boys

Ryan Molloy (Frankie Valli), Chris Gardner (u/s Bob Gaudio), Jon Boydon (Tommy DeVito), Eugene McCoy (Nick Massi), Howard Jones (Bob Crewe), Nicola Brazil (Mary) Charlie Bull (Lorraine), Dan Burton (Joe Pesci), Mark Carroll (Donnie/Knuckles), Michael Conway (u/s Hank), Trina Hill (Francine), Tee Jaye (Barry), Stuart Milligan (Gyp DeCarlo), Jake Samuels (Norm) July 17, 2012; London Matinee.

Ryan Molloy (Frankie Valli), Chris Gardner (u/s Bob Gaudio), Jon Boydon (Tommy DeVito), Eugene McCoy (Nick Massi), Howard Jones (Bob Crewe), Nicola Brazil (Mary) Charlie Bull (Lorraine), Dan Burton (Joe Pesci), Mark Carroll (Donnie/Knuckles), Michael Conway (u/s Hank), Tee Jaye (Barry), Stuart Milligan (Gyp DeCarlo), Jake Samuels (Norm), Gemma Whitelam (u/s Francine) July 17, 2012; London Evening.

Love Never Dies

Ben Lewis, Claire Lyon (u/s), Simon Gleeson, Maria Mercedes, Sharon Millerchip, Paul Tabone, Emma J. Hawkins, Dean Vince July 17, 2011; Melbourne, Australia

And in just glancing over my list, there are some others I have that are within a few days or a week from both of your birthdays, so if you contact me privately I can tell you what those are if you’re interested.

:)

[allthefights]

[shockyhorror]

My Favourite Films

Starstruck (1982)

[roadtophantom]

Claire Lyon Last night after the show with our 'Monsieur Firmin' John and 'Monsieur Andre' Jason

[operafantomet]

Is it possible to make a photoset of Actors who wore a Wig as Monsieur Firmin?

Firmin is one of the characters in the show that the actor playing him use their real (or sometime lack of) hair for the part

I know Craig Bennet and Understudy David Michael Garry wore wigs when they played the role on Broadway

Michael Robert Lowe from the London Production initially wore one for his cover run, but apparently for some reason did not wear it when he official went on for the role.

Now, if you had asked me about André wigs I would have had a lot more to say. I love his flamboyant curls, and some of them are so clearly a wig...! But Firmin... I think my main interest there is the ones doing the awesomely silly "comma curls" as seen in Maria Bjørnson's design:

(depicted above: Richard Hazell in Wst End, Carl Christian Rasmussen and Steen Springborg in Copenhagen, John O'May in the World Tour)

For this look I think they usually feature their own hair, with added sideburns. Anton Rattinger in Hamburg is probably an exception, judging from rehearsal photos VS stage photos:

They never seemed keen on that look on Broadway, or the US in general. They have however done all possible other looks, from bald to horseshoe hairline to spiky hairdo to extravagant stylings. Usually I can't tell if there is a wig involved or not in the latter styles. For example, I didn't know Craig Bennett wore one! But looking closer at his Restaged Tour look, rehearsal look, different Broadway stylings and backstage photos, you are probably right.

I am open for extension or colouring being added to the actor's own hair, but I kinda assume there is a wig involved when Firmin has dark-ish hair with grey bangs. It looks a bit too planned. So yeah, here's Craig Bennett on Broadway:

And Wang Zhiru (?) in Beijing:

ETA: James Borthwick in the World Tour revival 2019-2020 had Firmin's "comma curls" styling, while he in his original run in South Africa and the World Tour 2011-2013 had the Broadway styling with grey bangs. That indicates to me his first look was a wig.

And even if Barry James (West End, RAH) in large is depicted with the "comma curls" it does look like he wigged up a few times. I don't know the context for the wig, but I do know he liked to experiment with his portrayal so maybe that is related. Or did he ever go on as André?

But I am afraid I don't have a complete list for you!

[carolyn1761smith]

[emotionsleaking]

February 16th, 2011 Song of the Day

"Tough" by John O'May and Jo Kennedy

Because I just watched this movie and I already posted the video for "Body and Soul." I love this song, the harmonies are great (I apologize for the low audio quality, it was converted to mp3 from a record by myself over last Winter).

[operafantomet]

Christa Leahmann as Carlotta in Australia, 1990-1994

With costume maker Anthony Powell

With Hal Prince

As Elissa / Hannibal

With John Ewing and John O’May

With Christopher Dawes

With Anthony Warlow

Holding the same photo

With Marina Prior

[operafantomet]

The managers reading the Phantom’s notes

[operafantomet]

Is it May?

Indeed it is! It is John O’May, as Firmin in the POTO World Tour (2006-09, 2013). Here depicted with Andrea Creighton as Carlotta and Jason Ralph as André. O’May also played André in the original Aussie production 1990-91.