Broadway Strike of 2003
When I was a sophomore in high school, I was able to experience New York City for the very first time. My first musical experience was meant to be the Phantom of the Opera. The morning we were to leave for the city, my father drove me to the school. He was listening to an AM station that was dealing with the news and I was half asleep. He then proceeded to tell me that I might not be able to see the play. In confusion, I began to listen to what the news was saying.
The Broadway musician’s union had started a strike. In a panic, I rushed into my band music room to ask my Professor if we’d still be able to see our show. We didn’t.
We took the trip anyways and I missed out on the Phantom of the Opera. Instead, since the trip was a marching band field trip, we traveled all around the city. Many of us stopped and talked to the people participating in the picket lines. I was new to the musical world and really had no idea who I had a chance to speak with, though I remember some were performers from Aida and some were performers from The Producers. After touring the city, my specific group of friends and chaperon ended up joining in the marches down time square. People carried coffins and tossed sheet music into them, symbolizing how the music would die if musicals were to being relying upon taped music. The protests shut down nearly every show on Broadway at the time. Performers sang on the streets in front of their empty theaters. It was an event I was so glad to be able to witness for it solidified my respect for musicians and performers who put some much heart into their productions.
The Phantom of the Opera
The reason I bring this up is because whenever I think of the Phantom of the Opera I think of this weekend. I eventually had the privileged to see the Phantom of the Opera twice, once during my senior year of high school and once during this year.
The Phantom of the Opera truly is the definition of a mega-musical. It is the longest running musical on Broadway and it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. The theater is constantly selling massive amounts of tickets for each show. It is one of the few Broadway shows in history to be given a sequel, something that is traditionally reserved for film and television only. It is the true King of New York City.
My First Viewing
My first Phantom was portrayed by Hugh Panaro. I was a senior in high school and it was the second musical I had seen at the time. Just as my sophomore trip was, this trip was with my high school marching band. We had managed to get a group rate with very good seats because a student in our class was related to one of the performers. I sat beside one of my best friends, Mary, and we analyzed the entire theater before the show even began, noticing the very detailed and naughty angel sculptures that surrounded the stage.
Nothing is like your first experience with the Phantom of the Opera, when it is brand new to you individually. The chandelier rose from the stage after a crack of music, the famous overture starting. I sunk down in my seat, staring up at it in amazement, before focusing back on the stage. When the chandelier fell at the end of the first act, I was one of the many who gasped loudly and almost cowered, afraid it may actually fall upon us. Which clearly it would not have, but I was naive back then.
Then the second act came. All of the second act, I was in tears. I was just overcome with emotion and I could not believe how sad the production was, or how much I wanted to know more.After the play we even got a chance to ask the performers questions. It was absolutely thrilling.
The Obsession
The Phantom of the Opera truly was an emotional roller coaster for me, something I would not stop talking about for several months after seeing the play. It didn’t help that the film came out in time to coincide with my viewing of the play. I devoured everything I could that was related to Phantom. I read the original novel and the many novels that came out over time that were inspired by the musical. My favorite novel was ‘Phantom‘ by Susan Kay and it is still one of my favorite novels to this day. As an additional note, I’m still holding out hope for a ‘Phantom’ by Susan Kay based filmed.
Billy Crudup for Charles de Chagny!
Love Never Dies
I used to desperately want a sequel. I sought out these additional novels (and often I sought out fan written stories known as fanfiction) just to get as much as I could out of the fandom. But I hated the novel ‘The Phantom of Manhatten.’ I felt it was poorly written and was really just fanfiction that was lucky enough to be published. Notice it’s amazon rating? Yeah check out Gaston Leroux’s original novel’s amazon rating. I’m not the only one who feels this way.
The funny thing…or perhaps the ironic thing…is that novel is what the new Phantom of the Opera sequel, Love Never Dies, is based upon. I got wiser in my years and began to realize that sequels rarely live up to the original. It is typically best if sequels are just never made. I am able to laugh at the fact I used to so desperately want a sequel and I am now getting one, but from the novel I truly hated as a Phantom fan. It’s truly ironic.
Love Never Dies may surprise me. I have no way of knowing just yet. I have to wait for it to arrive on Broadway. I just highly doubt it. Perhaps I’ll discuss my full feelings in one of the podcasts.
I just felt that I needed to post about the Phantom of the Opera, since I just recently saw it. I’ll be posting about all British Imports later this afternoon.
Videos
My clip from the Phantom of the Opera film is ‘All I ask of You.’ Patrick Wilson is my ideal Raoul and the best thing about the film. Let it be known, I am a Phantom fan who can appreciate both Erik (the Phantom) and Raoul. I think it is quite unjust of Andrew Lloyd Weber (and the original author of ‘The Phantom of Manhatten’) to butcher his character in the way they do with the sequel.
The Phantom of the Opera came out during the prime of MTV and due to the popularity, they made this music video based on the title song. It’s rather comical from a modern view. Some of the lyrics are changed. This video features Steve Harley, who was the original Phantom for a portion of the rehearsals, before he was replaced by Michael Crawford. I, for one, am glad that he was replaced by Michael Crawford because Michael Crawford seems to evoke the feeling of the Phantom better. Steve Harley feels too young and has too much of the rock vocals, which was my primary issue with Gerard Butler in the film version.
Michael Crawford shows how it should be done, again with Sarah Brightman. From the Tony awards.
I may have little faith in this show, but man do I love this song.
The Stage and Musical Show 