#poto 1st tour

[the-cat-at-the-theatre-door]

I know that at least two Jellylorums were also Christines in "Phantom" (Marni Raab and Sara Jean Ford)--would you happen to know who some of the others were?

Are you looking specifically for Jellylorums that were previously Christines, or more like the general Phantom - CATS or CATS - Phantom pipeline? I can give you a decent list of both, since we'd be atom smashing two hyperfixations together.

Format: NAME OF PERFORMER - Role in Phantom (Role in Cats)

Sorted by part played in PotO - I won't be naming all locations of productions these individuals were in for the sake of some kind of brevity. Since you asked mainly for Jellylorums who have been Christine, I have taken the liberty to BOLD them for easy reference.

(Note that this is not an extensive list - just a bulky one - I was already getting too long in the tooth haha)

MAIN TRIO

Sarah Brightman - Christine Daaé (Jemima - OLC)

Nikki Ankara - Christine Daaé (UK 1st Tour) (Jellylorum - London)

Celia Graham - Christine Daaé (Jellylorum - RCCL, Palladium, UK Tour 2016 etc)

Theresa Borg - Christine Daaé (Jellylorum - Circus Tour 1999)

Maree Johnson - Christine Daaé (Guest Grizabella - Circus Tour 2000)

Myrra Malmberg - Christine Daaé (Young Grizabella - Gothenburg 1989 non-replica)

Katie Knight-Adams - Christine Daaé (Swing - UK Tour 1993, Jemima - London)

Mia van den Eykel - Christine Daaé (Jellylorum - Aus/Asia Tour 1995)

Iren Bartok - Christine Daaé (Jellylorum - London)

Zoe Curlett - Christine Daaé (Jellylorum - UK Tour 2003 - 2009)

Debra Stables - Christine Daaé (Jellylorum - London)

Josie Walker - Christine Daaé (Grizabella - London and UK Tour 1993)

Renée Knapp - Christine Daaé (Jennyanydots/Griddlebone - Amsterdam)

Lydia Gerrard - Cover Christine (Cover Jellylorum and Grizabella - Asia Tour 2022)

Marti Webb - Christine Daaé (Grizabella - London)

Colleen Besett - Christine Daaé (Jennyanydots - Berlin and Dusseldorf)

Els Bongers - Christine Daaé (Booth Singer - Amsterdam)

Teresa de Zarn - Christine Daaé (Sillabub - Broadway)

Diane Fratantoni - Christine Daaé (Swing - Broadway, cover Cassandra, Etcetera, Grizabella, Jellylorum / Griddlebone, Rumpleteazer, Sillabub)

Marina Prior - Christine Daaé (Jellylorum - Sydney 1985)

Steve Barton - Raoul/The Phantom - (Munkustrap Original Vienna)

Richard Todd Adams - Raoul/The Phantom (Cats Chorus)

Jeremy Hays - Raoul (The Rum Tum Tugger)

Bronson Norris Murphy - Raoul/Others - (Asparagus/Gus/Bustopher)

Brad Little - The Phantom (Old Deuteronomy)

Mark McKerracher - The Phantom (Old Deuteronomy)

Pierre-Yves Duchesne - The Phantom (Old Deuteronomy)

Ian Jon Bourg - The Phantom (Asparagus/Gus/Bustopher)

Ethan Freeman - The Phantom (Asparagus/Gus/Bustopher)

Peter Polycarpou - The Phantom (Asparagus/Gus/Bustopher)

Scott Davies - The Phantom (Asparagus/Gus/Bustopher)

Phyllida Crowley Smith - Meg Giry (Victoria)

Emma Harris - Meg Giry (Victoria)

Emmanuelle Guélin - Meg Giry (Victoria)

 Karin Seyfried - Meg Giry (Jennyanydots)

Julie Carlton - Meg Giry (Electra)

Sharyn Winney - Meg Giry Understudy/Ballet Corps (Tantomile, Sillabub, Swing)

Kathleen Mullin - Meg Giry (Rumpleteazer, Swing)

Kimberley Partridge - Meg Giry (Jemima)

Jeehyun Noh - Meg Giry (Jemima)

Claire Lander - Meg Giry (Jemima)

OTHER PARTS

Peter Kevoian - Monsieur Reyer (Asparagus/Gus/Bustopher)

Greg Castiglioni - Ubaldo Piangi (Asparagus/Gus/Bustopher)

Tony McGill - Assistant Conductor (Asparagus/Gus/Bustopher)

Andrew Keelan - Passarino (Walking Cover/Asparagus/Gus/Bustopher)

Wim Van Den Driessche - Monsieur Firmin (Asparagus/Gus/Bustopher)

Gareth Snook - Monsieur Andre (Asparagus/Gus/Bustopher)

John Dewar - Swing (Asparagus/Gus/Growltiger)

John Ellis - Ubaldo Piangi (Old Deuteronomy)

Nathan Patrick Morgan - Jeweler/Ubaldo Piangi Cover (Swing, Chorus, Asparagus/Gus/Bustopher, Old Deuteronomy, etc)

Saverio Pescucci - Dancer/Ensemble (Alonzo)

Sharon Wheatley - Replacement Page/Swing (Jennyanydots)

Katharine Heaton - Swing and Understudy (Swing/Jellylorum)

Karl Morgan - Dancer in the 2004 Film (Pouncival 1998)

Chrissy Brooke - Ballet Girl (Chorus Cat in 2019 Film)

Marisa Paull Gorst - Dancer/Ballet Girl (Swing)

Marise Dusheiko - Ballet Girl (Victoria)

Harriet Ho Yin Chung - Ballet Girl (Swing)

Myrthes Monteiro - Ensemble (Jemima)

Lucius Wolter - Ensemble (Walking Cover)

Matt McFarlane - Understudy Phantom/Raoul in Love Never Dies (Munkustrap)

Bradley Delarosbel - Unknown (Likely Ensemble) (Admetus/Macavity)

Stephen Morgante - Unknown - likely ensemble (Skimbleshanks/Swing)

Anton Luitingh - Resident Director/Possibly Played Raoul (Munkustrap)

And technically, Jack Rebaldi was supposed to play Monsieur André in the Theatre Mogador production of PotO, but that was tragically cut short and never came to fruition (justice for that cast).

[lucygold95]

POTO Busan review (centered on actors).

(*I wrote longer reviews in Korean on another SNS before. **It's a long review with bad English grammar, so if you're busy, I recommend you to read only keywords.)

0. I saw POTO Busan performances for the first time on April 30(Both matinée and evening performances). I had saw POTO World tour and London (+ JOJ concert in Korea😄) before and (as you all know) the POTO Korea set was the original version, not the world tour version or the London reopening version. The costumes were similar to the recent London costumes, but have more beads except Star Princess costume. The directing and choreography(except Masquerade) were Broadway versions before COVID.

I finished brief introduction, so I'll talk about actors now. (I know that POTO Korea video bootlegs exist, but most of them were recorded in very early days including previews. And some actors(particularly 조승우 and 송은혜) were sick at the beginning of the Busan run. So later performances were much better than those videos.)

1. Raoul actors

송원근's Raoul is gentle, romantic and mentally mature(He looks younger than his age, but he is actually 40). His Raoul resembles Steve Barton's Raoul in many ways. I think he's one of the standard ALW Raouls. (If you like the original London cast, I recommend 손지수 Christine and 송원근 Raoul pair.) His gentle voice, good romance acting and nice dance skills are his strengths.(He is now a famous musical actor, but long ago he was an unfamous idol/dance singer. He has also been a drama actor since 2013.) + Personally, his stifling acting at The Final Lair was very impressive.

황건하 has a very unique voice for Raoul. He has a very heavy tone. His deep voice color reminds me of Bengt Nordfors's Raoul. However, his Raoul is not as mature as Nordfors's. His Raoul is young(황건하 is 25 years old, so I think that's the reason.) and and full of enthusiasm like the Leroux Raoul. But his Raoul isn't fragile like the Leroux Raoul. His Raoul is weaker than Ramin and Hadley's, but it has a similar sense of mettle.

Doesn't 황건하's impression resemble that of Hadley and Ramin? +I think 황건하's strength is his nice singing skills.

2. Christine actresses

To be honest, Korean audiences gave 송은혜 a better rating than 손지수 on the reservation site during Busan run. On the contrary, I've seen many non-Korean old phans tend to prefer 손지수. If you want to know why, go to 2-4). (* I love both of them similarly.)

2-1) Voice color: Both Christines have quite different voice colors. 💙송은혜 Christine has a clear and very light voice color. Her voice is transparent and light like a shiny glass bead. Her voice color resembles previous Korean ALW Christines (Especially 김소현 Christine) voice colors.(+ Emmy Rossum's voice color a little bit too.) 🤍손지수 Christine has a light(but less lighter than 송은혜's voice), warm and very soft(<-->clear) voice. I think her voice color is very unique! Her voice reminds me of soft and warm angel wings.

2-2) Singing style: 💙송은혜 sang POTO numbers more like musical singing style than opera " .(She majored in opera, but worked as a popera singer/an ensemble in the musical Elisabeth.) I think her singing style resembles previous Korean Christines (Especially, 최현주 Christine's POTO Korea 1st revival run. *최현주's stage name in Japan was 'Sai Tamami'.) and Sierra Boggess (Particularly WYSHA) a lot. 송은혜 has a girlish voice and face(I think both Christines look younger than their age. 송은혜 is 30 years old and 손지수 is 33 years old.), but she is an independent and modern Christine 'compared to the other Christine'. But her voice is light and less powerful than Sierra's, so sometimes I think her singing resembles Amy Manford too(But less operatic way).

🤍손지수 sang POTO numbers in an operatic way. (She is an opera singer.) And her calm and classical singing style is very reminiscent of Sarah Brightman's singing style. (+ Rebecca Caine's West End run.) But warmer and softer than them(I think Caine and Brightman has cooler voice and more vivid voice).

I prefer 🤍손지수's WYSHA🤍 more than 송은혜's and I prefer 💙송은혜's TOM and POTO(I like her cadenza & high notes)💙 more than 손지수's. Personally, 손지수's WYSHA is one of the top five WYSHWs I've heard.

2-3) Character interpretation: 💙As I said above, 송은혜 Christine was an independent and modern Christine 'compared to the other Christine'. Also, her interpretation influenced a lot by 최현주(최현주's Korea run. But I think 송은혜's voice color and face resemble 김소현's.) and Sierra's. But I think her Christine is less stronger than Sierra's. + 송은혜 Christine's love for Phantom is more Erosive 'compared to the other Christine'. ++ I like 송은혜's Serafimo.

🤍In every way, 손지수's Christine evoked the nostalgia of Christines in the 80s and 90s. (Her special voice color that distinguishes it from others, operatic singing style and Leroux-like Christine interpretation.) She was a very soft and warm Christine. She respected and relied on Phantom, her teacher and guardian. And her love for the Phantom was close to the Virgin Mary's agape love for humanity. I really love her classical Christine interpretation!

2-4) Points to be improved: I really love 손지수's classical Christine, but she need to develop her dialogue acting and body acting. She is a native Korean and speaks Korean naturally in her daily life, but on stage, she spoke lines as if she were reading a textbook. She spoke strictly and exaggerated at the same time. I know POTO is a sung-through musical but her Little Lotte dialogue acting was not good. But if you are not a native Korean speaker, it will be hard to notice. (+ Interestingly, her songs contained a variety of emotions and her pronunciation was not strange when she sings.) I think this is why she is preferred by non-Korean phans over Korean audiences. If you want to know her strengths, read the keywords from 1-1) to 1-3).

송은혜's lines and body acting were okay, but often 손지수's facial expressions were better than her. (The interesting thing is that 송은혜 said she has been a phan for more than a decade, but the other Christine – who wasn't a phan – is preferred to her by a global phandom👀(I think it's because 송은혜 is a fan of Sierra and old phans tend to prefer classic POTO over 25th anniversary.)) And neither of them can do ballet professionally.

3. Phantom actors (* I didn't see 조승우

Phantom's performance in a good seat, and his condition was not good at that day, so I'll exclude him from this Busan review.)

전동석's Phantom was a romantic and soft phantom like Kopit's Phantom(* He played Kopit Phantom. But still, his ALW Phantom was stronger than his kopit Phantom). His Phantom seemed to have loved Christine for a long time. Not every performance, but he would often greet Christine (as if he were worshiping her) during the POTO number like the picture below.

And he carefully stroked her face when she fell asleep during The Music of the Night. His phantom reminds me of Earl Carpenter's phantom, who was also a soft phantom and liked to stroke Christine's hair.

* 전동석 sang POTO numbers by mixing musical and opera singing styles.(Although he majored in opera, he has worked as a musical actor for a long time, not an opera singer.) And he sang high notes well.

On the contrary, 김주택's Phantom was a very strict teacher and musician who wants to strongly control his student – Christine who will show his music to the world – 'at first'. He looked domineering and sometimes very dangerous villain. During STYDI, 전동석's Phantom seemed so sad and he couldn't hurt Christine, but 김주택's Phantom was very angry and seemed to strangle(but not kill) Christine if she was caught. But he got shocked and recognized his love to Christine when Christine handed over his mask during STYDI. After that 김주택 Phantom changed a lot. Even his voice changed a lot.

* At first, 김주택 Phantom's voice sounded very heavy and Phantom is in his mid-40s to early 50s, but after STYDI, his voice changed softly and Phantom is in his mid or late-30s except some scenes. (* 전동석 Phantom's voice sounded like he is in his mid-30s. And his voice color was lighter than 김주택's.) Also, 김주택 sang the numbers very operaically(It's natural that he is an opera singer(Baritone). *POTO is his musical debut).

I expected he still had a very scary side during AIAOY reprise 1, but I was surprised that he cried really a lot during AIAOY reprise 1. He broke my predictions several times and gave me fresh shocks as if I had never seen the Phantom of the Opera.

From here, I'm going to compare the two phantom actors. During PONR, 전동석's phantom was very sexy and I am sure his 'Don Juan Triumphant' must be loved by the audience. I saw the performance from the perspective of the Paris Opera audience who enjoyed the show. On the contrary, 김주택 Phantom's 'Don Juan Triumphant' seemed very dangerous. I felt a dangerous criminal go crazy and snuck in. I saw the performance from the perspective of the Paris Opera staff who were nervously watching the performance. And I love 김주택's AIAOY reprise 2.

At the final lair, 전동석 Phantom tended to recite that Christine was the only light to him after she left. I think his experience of Kopit Phantom was melted here. I like the way he emphasized Phantom's love to Christine. From beginning to end, the most important thing to him was Christine. Even during the 'Why So Silent', he thought that 'you' were Christine, not André and Firmin. Anyway, he let Christine go and cried, but he also smiled (like Ethan Freeman's Phantom) because his soul was saved by her kiss. 김주택 Phantom's final lair was scary and nervous. But Christine, especially soft and angelic 손지수 Christine, melted that dramatically with a warm heart and kisses. I think 김주택 Phantom and 손지수 Christine are a really good match for each other. They have similar singing styles(They are both opera singers and studied at the Conservatorio di Musica Giuseppe Verdi di Milano.) and the height difference between 김주택(178cm) and 손지수(early 160s) is also appropriate. (*송은혜 is taller than 170cm and she wears Christine's heels on stage, so she has better chemistry with tall phantoms. **The phantom in the image below is 전동석, who is 186cm tall.)

Let's get back to the point. I think 손지수's interpretation of Christine goes well with all Korean Phantoms. But I think 손지수's soft and warm Christine goes best with 김주택's strict and scary phantom. It reminds me of a fairy tale that the goddess of spring softly melts the god of cold winter. + 김주택's Phantom also smiled (like Ethan Freeman's Phantom) at the end.

4. Carlottas, Piangi, Meg and André.

Both Carlotta actresses are young and are not much older than Christine actresses. For example, 한보라 – one of the Carlotta actresses, was born in 1988, and 손지수 – one of the Christine actresses, was born in 1989. So that reminded me of the relationship between Patti sisters(Adelina Patti/Carlotta Patti) and Christine Nilsson(*Both Adelina and Christine were born in 1843). 한보라, in particular, has a light tone like Adelina. (The other Carlotta – 이지영 has a calm voice.)

박회림 Piangi was really good at both singing and acting. The long extension of Hannibal high note at the end of the Busan run was very surprising.

조하린, who played Meg, has a sweet and girlish voice :) I like her Meg, though she sometimes struggled with the high notes. Her dance was great too.

Finally, I admired 윤영석's André. His André really loves music and art. It was really impressive that his eyes were shining when he saw arts. His André was as good as his Phantom in both singing and acting.

[boxfivetrades]

James Gant

(x)

[marleneoftheopera]

Happy trails to Meghan Picerno!

Principal Christine in the 1st Love Never Dies US Tour from 2017-18, POTO World Tour from February to September 2019, and POTO Broadway from October 2019 to January 2022.

[ballerinadellamusica]

Christines who would have been playing the role on or around 23rd march 1998: This is no way a complete list: West end: Shona Lindsay (principal) Sarah Ryan (alternate) 2nd Uk tour: (millennium tour) Zoë Curlett (principal) Katrina Murphy (alternate) Broadway: Sandra Joseph (principal) Adrienne McEwan/McKeown (alternate) Rebecca Pitcher (understudy) 1st US tour: (Christine tour) Lisa Vroman (principal) Karen Culliver (alternate) Bonnie Rapp (understudy) 2nd US tour: (Raoul tour) Marie Danvers (principal) Rita Harvey (alternate) Susan Owen (alternate) 3rd US tour: (music box tour) Amy Jo Arrington (principal) Megan Starr-Levitt (alternate) Canada: Glenda Balkan (alternate) Elizabeth de Grazia (principal) Australian tour: Danielle Everett (principal) Ana Marina (understudy) Germany: Colby Thomas (principal) Carla Nicholson née Michalski-Thamm (alternate)

[filthybonnet]

Phandom Thanksgiving!

So I can finally announce the surprise I had for everyone! I got a taping of the POTO world tour featuring Jonathan Roxmouth and Meghan Picerno when they were in Singapore! I’ve already watched it and it’s amazing!!! He’s giving Ramin a run for his money as my fav, which says a lot coming from me!

I wanted to get this in before Thanksgiving before everyone has to go see family and I have to work more shifts and Thanksgiving and Black Friday (yay seasonal retail). I will be doing two showings of this: 1st one Tuesday November 19th  at 11am Eastern US Time which will hopefully be a good time for all the European Phans. And then another Tuesday November 19th at 9pm Eastern US Time.

I will be using Kast and as it gets closer I will post the links for people to join. If there is enough interest and people who have time zone conflicts, I will be more than happy to host a viewing again! Just drop me a line and I will plan another one. I know all of us in the Roxmouth support group have been waiting for this and I’m so excited to finally be able to share!  Been looking forward to sharing it all day work.

He’s seriously sooooo thicc and OMG his voice and mannerisms!!! You’re gonna love it!!!

[glassprism]

That tour ask kind of piqued my interest. How many tours does POTO have and their corresponding name? Like the 1st tour was called Christine Tour, etc etc? Hope I wasn't confusing haha

So far, four in the US: the first national tour aka the “Christine Tour”, the second national tour aka the “Raoul Tour”, the third national tour aka the “Music Box Tour”, and the fourth tour, which I don’t think has any name along the lines of a “Christine” or “Raoul” tour, though fans have nicknamed it the “restaged tour” due to its radical changes in design and blocking. On the website it’s simply called the North American Tour

And there have been plenty of tours worldwide, including three UK tours (which I believe did not have corresponding names the way the US tours did, but were officially called such names as the Millennium Tour - that was for the second UK tour - and the 25th Anniversary Tour for the third, restaged UK tour), the Far East Tour, and several World Tours.

[someone-inbetween]

I just watched a boot of the restaged tour of phantom for the 1st time (but late I know but I tend not to watch POTO boots cause there’s the RAH Performance) and they sure made some decisions like they just chose to do things they were just like ok we can change stuff and oooh boy they changed stuff and I dislike almost all of it except for the cute Meg and Christine spin and like small parts of Music Of The Night. Have you saw the restaged version? ~MA👻💙

i haven’t seen it and i’m afraid to lol. I guess i should eventually...

[filthybonnet]

OMG EMILIE AUTUMN...STOP TRYING TO MAKE FETCH HAPPEN!!!

Several years ago these pictures would have made me happy but now they just make me sad. Her musical isn’t going to happen. Kissing ass with people related to POTO isn’t going to get her into the music theatre world the way it did the music industry 15-20 years ago.

I have held off from ranting about this because what good does it really do but I used to love her as a musician, I loved her as someone who was very open about being bipolar. But she wrote herself into a corner with this Asylum theme. She refused to let it go, even though she is clearly very healthy now and in a way better place. I’ll admit I loved the 1st edition of the Asylum book; it was a beautiful allegory of learning to heal and let go. However she wrapped herself public persona into this Mary Sue. Building more of the asylum world to the point that its lost its allegory.

It should have stayed a concept album and a book. It’s so all over the place. And she’s such a control freak. Like even the greats learn they have to work with other people at some point and let go. She had the chance to publish the Asylum book the traditional route. She mentioned she had an agent interested and even named them. I remember because I looked her up and she specialized in supernatural and horror YA. Then like a couple months later Emilie was self publishing the new paperback version and digital version on Amazon. I’m guessing the agent wanted her to make changes and edits and she refused.

I seriously don’t know how she’s afforded to move and live in NYC. She hasn’t toured/performed in like 6 years. Her only recent “music” releases were the audio book and the musical demos. She releases a lot of over-priced “hand made” limited edition autographed items. But even then . I wonder how much she leeches off her boyfriend but it’s not like he’s a big Hollywood name. I know there are plenty of regular people living in NYC, I have friends that live there but they aren’t living in the type of apartment she’s living in, with the music equipment she has and they aren’t seeing “The Phantom of the Opera” every week. Sierra is a big name and even she’s always hustling for her next gig. My sister is always hustling for her next gig to have money. WHAT THE HELL IS EMILIE AUTUMN LIVING ON? I’m guessing rich family money but she doesn’t want us to know that, just like she doesn’t want us to know her mom is still alive.

She’s such a talented woman. I wish she would just admit she’s in a better place and drop the Mary Sue facade. Not make the Asylum her life’s work and drop it like so many other projects she has. She might be in a better place, but she’s still bipolar and we’re  still allowed to be fickle.

And if she could go ahead and get out of POTO while she’s at that would be great. I’m tired of her cramping my current jam. I’ve been a fan of hers since she played in Courtney Love’s back up band to her solo album “America’s Sweetheart” (2004 y’all) She didn’t have a single interest in musicals until like 4 years ago.  Like I know people change, they develop new interests. But bitch I’ve followed you your whole career; I watched you date Billy Corgan! Don’t think you can just wiggle your way into the cream of the crop of the musical theatre world. It doesn’t work the same way the music industry does; ESPECIALLY the underground/goth music industry.

Despite all this “Opheliac” is a bitchin’ album! It’s amazing what she can do when she has other people to help guide her.

[filthybonnet]

My dearest Naughty Bonnet, Santa rewards the smut-lovers, never fear! I too, find myself lapping up all of the naughtiness rampant on my dash right now! Awesome score for the Sierra and Ramin concert! Take lots of pics and give us a rundown when the time arrives! 2 months, you're in the home stretch! I am definitely looking up Rasputina! That sounds right up my alley! I am 12 chapter in on Wingman but read the Kinktober spin-off! Mmmmm... Now santa has to send another ask because of space 😂

Santa!!! if you’re interested in keeping with the POTO smut after tumblr’s Dec 17th deadline you should join the Sin Bin POTO discord group! Or maybe you’re already in there and I don’t know it.

I am way too excited about see Sierra and Ramin!!! I am dragging my best friend to the show. Well I’m not really dragging her she said she’d come with me so I got her a ticket. She lives about 20 minutes away from the venue so it’s also the perfect excuse for me to make a weekend out of it and visit her.

Here’s a Rasputina sampler! One song from some of their big albums. Though note Transylvanian Concubine is also on their 1st album “Thanks For The Ether.” “Transylvanian Regurgitations” included it and a couple of remixes of it done by Marilyn  Manson who was a huge fan of the band. They opened for him for several of his Anti-Christ Superstar Tour shows which was rather confusing for the audience. And in a similar vein fact: the lead cellist/vocalist Melora Creager was the touring cellist for Nirvana’s final tour.