Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. We all have masks in a sense so the mask allows him to create this persona. Michael Crawford, the original star of Phantom of the Opera, made a surprise appearance on stage as the musical celebrated its 30th anniversary. It went on to win three Academy Awards, was nominated for a further four (including Best Picture), and is now considered to be one of the greatest musical films ever. You are always just mentally taking notes and absorbing that. Jeffrey Vizcano My favourite Phantom really depends on whatever mood I'm in, but there are four actors (apart from Michael Crawford) who really stand out - the aforementioned Karimloo along with Earl Carpenter are very tragic and emotional Phantoms, the current West End Phantom Tim Howar has a commanding attitude and really plays up the authority figure aspect of the character, and Hugh Panaro taps into all . His matinee-idol good looks also earned him roles on TVs The Young and the Restless and Another World and his death was a huge loss to the world of entertainment. "It's hoisted off the stage using a pair of looped cables, so once it's picked up, it can roll towards or away from the stage," he said. People born on a Saturday enjoy an optimistic and positive disposition. The OG Phantom was not in attendance on the closing night of the hit Broadway show, but he left a note. The show's current Phantom, Ben Crawford (no relation), was out of the show because of a bacterial infection. Though I can't be there for the final performance due to ill-timed emergency dental surgery, my heart is full of love and gratitude for everyone involved in this production including all who are celebrating tonight at the Majestic Theatre, and those from the original and truly special creative team and Broadway company who are no longer with us. The role of Meg Giry is currently played by Daisy Alice Hulbert. Getty Images. In Webber's version, of course, the Phantom is less a monster and more a matinee idol singing such swoony ballads as "Music of the Night." Im from Arizona, and I remember my grandparents taking a road trip to LA to see Michael Crawford in it and telling me all about it. He played the lead role of The Phantom in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera for five years. READ: All the Times Phantom of the Opera Made History on Broadway. 2023 BBC. May 1, 2023. Crawford's Barnum is one of the longest runs by a leading actor. Now she's made diversity part of her ethos. But even though he was not there in person, Crawford was there in spirit, wishing everyone an unforgettable closing night, and saying, my heart is full of love and gratitude for everyone involved in this production including all who are celebrating tonight at the Majestic Theatre, and those from the original and truly special creative team and Broadway company who are no longer with us.See Crawfords full remarks below. The Phantom waved him over to stand beside him . It was show No. If you havent seen it in a while, do yourselves a favor and revisit this gem of a musical. Experience the sound of genius in the making , Hamilton now on sale! The concert evening will preview music the Grammy-winning group is set to record at London's Abbey Road Studios this summer. | But you also have to get it in your body. You can also find out who is Ben Crawford dating now and celebrity dating histories at CelebsCouples. In 1984, at the final preview of Starlight Express, Crawford happened to run into the show's creator, Andrew Lloyd Webber. The 40-year-old stage actor has done well thus far. For other people named Michael Crawford, see, Donald Mitchell, Philip Reed and Mervyn Cooke (eds), Crawford with Torvill & Dean receiving marks at World championships 1983, Jody Abrahams, Loukmaan Adams, Mandisa Bardill, Junaid Booysen, Salie Daniels, and Alistair Izobell, Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, The Premiere Collection: The Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs from the Stage, "Today's famous birthdays list for January 19, 2023 includes celebrities Dolly Parton, Jodie Sweetin", "Michael Crawford to Host Afternoon Tea in Cambridge for Sick Children's Trust", "Michael Crawford International Fan Association", "Southwark Blue Plaque nominees: Comedian Michael Crawford aka Frank Spencer grew up in Herne Hill", "The Top 100 Greatest Movie Musicals of All Time", "Play it Again: Michael Crawford on the day he ended up on Spaghetti Junction in his pyjamas", "Michael Attends Record-Breaking Phantom", "Phantom Celebrates 10000th West End Performance with Michael Crawford Andrew Lloyd Webber", "Wizard role for Michael Crawford in new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical", "Russell Grant to join Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Wizard of Oz stage musical", "SOUND OFF: PHANTOM 25 - Sweet Intoxication", "Michael Crawford to reprise Frank Spencer for Sport Relief", "Michael Crawford To Star in the Go-Between London Premiere at the Apollo Theatre", "BBC Radio 3 Radio 3 in Concert, A Britten Celebration", "Michael Crawford Full Official Charts History", "ARIA Charts Accreditations 2001 Albums", Australian Recording Industry Association, "ARIA Charts Accreditations 1998 Albums", "ARIA Charts Accreditations 2012 Albums", "ARIA Charts Accreditations 2004 DVDs", Michael Crawford profile at BroadwayWorld International Database, "Phantom of the Opera Tour Ends Two-Decade Run: Phantoms from Gleason to Crawford Talk Tour Closing", Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical, Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Crawford&oldid=1151709566, Commanders of the Order of the British Empire, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Pages containing London Gazette template with parameter supp set to y, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Awards won for his performance in the title role in, Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (1986), Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Achievement in Theatre (Lead Performance) (1990), Awards won for his performance as Count Fosco in, Voted No. According to other people, hes sexy. When I was young, we had nothing like all the devices kids have nowadays to entertain themselves with. People come and say the show is in really good shape and it doesnt feel like its 31 years old, Crawford says. The role of Christine Daa is generally cast with two lead actresses sharing the role. A young Sarah famously hit the Top Ten in 1978 with I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trouper and in 2015 it looked like life would bizarrely imitate art when pictures were released of Brightman training for a mission to the International Space Station. The chandelier still flies into the air (and down again) to the crashing sounds of Andrew Lloyd Webbers organ music; the gondolas still glide; and the gates still crash down in the lair. Ben Crawfords mothers name is unknown at this time and his fathers name is under review. The show did not go over well with his fans: the popularity of Crawford's portrayal of Frank Spencer, and the similar Billy Fisher character, had left him somewhat typecast, to the extent that they could not accept his very different role as Dave Finn. Blocking belongson the stage,not on websites. the ways the show relates to them," says Ben Crawford, who has played the titular character on Broadway . You get a lot of leeway.. Since the late 1980s, Crawford has affiliated himself with various charities, particularly for the good of children. Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Crawford Also, I was obsessed with him in high school and, at one point, was a member of the MCIFA (Michael Crawford International Fan Association) 3 share ReportSave Dont get me wrong, all the magical moments still shine: Phantoms solo hanging above the statue (All I Ask of You) still gives me goosebumps; the exciting descent into the Paris catacombs; Phantom appearing in the mirror made me gasp; the exuberance of the Masquerade; and of course the chandelier crash. In 1995, Crawford was seriously injured inan accidentduring a performance of the $70m EFX show in Las Vegas a show which saw him slide from a wire at the back of the 1,700-seat MGM Grand Theatre and drop 12 feet onto the stage. Crawford said one of the perils of playing the Phantom was having to avoid the holes where candles came up through the stage floor. He played the role for two and a half years and over 1,300 performances, winning an Olivier Award (Best Actor in a Musical), a Tony Award (Best Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role, Musical), a New York Drama Desk Award, and a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Achievement in Theatre (Lead Performance). [23], In 2006, Crawford attended the Gala Performance of the stage version of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre to celebrate the show's becoming the longest-running musical in Broadway history (surpassing the run of Cats). He informed Crawford that he was working on a new project based on a Gaston Leroux novel and wanted to know whether he was interested. You will be surprised by how it still manages to thrill and impress. It's called "Ruthie II. The role of Madame Giry is currently played by JacintaMulcahy. It's an spectacular, memorable bit of theater magic though there have been a couple of nights, through the years, where they've had to forego it. This month's horoscope also honors Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Ubaldo Piangi The musical opened in London's West End in 1986, and on Broadway in 1988. [5][6] Sixteen months after Smith's death, Crawford was born, the result of a short-lived relationship, and given his mother's surname, which was that of her first husband. The role of Monsieur Firmin is currently played by Sin Lloyd. "But the show went just fine without it.". Crawford had dashed to join the celebrations after performing in his own West End musical, The Go-Between, which ends its run this week at the Apollo Theatre. Mini Bio (1) Ben Crawford is a FSU Alumnus. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Have you seen the show hundreds of times? It wasnt because he was trying to pull a disappearing act. Production stage manager Lisa Dawn Cave, TDF Executive Director Victoria Bailey, and accountant Robert Fried are this year's honorees. The next thing you see is the chandelier sitting there disheveled.". After three decades at the Majestic Theatre, The Phantom of the Opera still runs like a well-oiled machineincluding its well-oiled machines. Prior to last years spring, I hadnt seen the musical in decades, and I was shocked by how much it still thrilled me after all this time. It takes about six months to really figure out what youre doing. Final cast, crew, and orchestra of Broadway's, READ: Every Actor Who's Played the Angel of Music and Christine in, Al Hirschfeld Exhibit Extends at Museum of Broadway, The Lusty Month of May's 2023 Playbill Horoscopes, From 'Not Asian Enough' to Broadway Choreographer, JoAnn M. Hunter is in Charge Now, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, DArcy Carden, Jodie Comer, More Are 2023 Theatre World Award Winners, National Children's Chorus to Make Carnegie Hall Solo Debut. The special aired on 18 March 2016. Then theres the thing about the mask. One thing Ive counted on in my career is trying to reinvent somehowto put my own spin on it. Michael Crawford. The illustrious group (ranging from title stars to scene-stealing co-stars) was shot at the beautiful West Village restaurant The Spaniard. "We both loved musical theatre," he said. Whenever you play a villain you have to add an aspect of humanity to it, and, if you do it correctly, theres a commentary about peoplehow anyone can go there under the right circumstances. Copyright 1991-2023 Playbill Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Broadway staging of the London-originated show won seven 1988 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The film performed poorly at the box office but years later gained a cult following among Disney fans. David Firth However, he was forced to leave the show three months later because of ill health caused by dehydration resulting from the enormous fat-suit he wore during the performance. Chinese Zodiac: Ben Crawford was born in the Year of the Rabbit. It was well-received, becoming a favourite of Margaret Thatcher as well as the Queen Mother. Steve Barton tragically passed away aged just 47. buy tickets now for the Original London Production of Andrew Lloyd Webbers PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Musical Theatres Greatest Tearjerkers: The Vote, Whos Afraid of the Big Bad Opera: Tosca for Beginners, Best EVER Feelgood Musical Theatre Songs to Brighten Up January, Funny jokes that only theatre nerds would understand, Where Does London's West End END? Hair and makeup by Austin Thornton and Gianna Yanelli. It was inspired by a real incident. Broadway Actor. He is best known for being a Stage Actor. The original Broadway cast featured Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Judy Kaye, and the late Steve Barton. Now she's made diversity part of her ethos. He replaced Brian dArcy James as Shrek during Shrek the Musicals original 2008 Broadway run. The concert evening will preview music the Grammy-winning group is set to record at London's Abbey Road Studios this summer. The Bad Cinderella choreographer used to be asked, "what are you?" And I couldnt be happier that the dramatic musical has made it through the dark times to emerge again for fans to enjoy. After performing in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and with offers of work greatly reduced and much of his salary from Hello, Dolly! He made his film debut in 1958 with leading roles in two children's films, Blow Your Own Trumpet and Soapbox Derby, for The Children's Film Foundation in Britain.[12]. Christine Dae Notable West End credits include Passion, The Fix and Dirty Dancing as well as screen acting and writing. Andrew Lloyd Webbers Phantom of the Opera will return to the Great White Way this Fall, like so many other shows that have been gutted by COVID-19. In addition to Riddle, the New York production said goodbye with Emilie Kouatchou as Christine and Laird Mackintosh stepping in for Ben Crawford as the Phantom. What did you learn during that time that informed how you would one day lead a company? He originated the role of Don Price in the original 2013 Broadway production of Big Fish. Mystery and intrigueis not limited to the Phantom of the Operas lair as we discoveredwhen we began to investigate the whereabouts of Phantoms Original Castof 1986. The answer is in this map, Phantom at 30: Tears & Tragedies of the Original London Cast. By It was this tragedy that sparked the story of Erik, the masked "opera ghost" who terrorizes the denizens of the ornate Palais Garnier. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 13,981 at the Majestic Theatre, and it ended with a reprise of "The Music of the Night" performed by the current cast, previous actors in the show . The 40-year-old stage actor was born in AZ. "We wanted to do something new with it, but at the same time embrace its past.". So has the man in charge of it. Bens shirt is by Stephen F; bow tie by J. [28] He left the production on 5 February 2012; the same day as co-star Danielle Hope played her final performance as Dorothy. Crawford (centre) had to dash to the event from his current West End show, Celinde Schoenmaker and Michael Ball with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman met the Princess of Wales at the gala opening in 1986. "There was a concern about that, because we didn't want the dust cover to fall on anyone," he said. Laird Mackintosh played the role for the show's final performance. Now retired, David was last seen on stage at the 25th Anniversary performance of Phantom of the Opera. "But it's quite expensive," added the show's producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh. The second actress generally plays two shows per week. Don't miss a night of show-tunes, and beloved pop songs., Brightman training for a mission to the International Space Station. Lester also cast him in the film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and How I Won the War, which starred Roy Kinnear and John Lennon (during the filming of which he lived in London with Lennon and his first wife Cynthia, and Gabrielle Lewis). This series would spawn the much better-known The Avengers. Nick Adams . He is a patron of the Lighthouse Foundation in Australia, and has also been President of the Sick Children's Trust since 1987. Actor who rose to prominence for being the replacement for the titular character during Shrek the Musicals original 2008 Broadway run. Copyright 1991-2023 Playbill Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Having seats right below where the chandelier dropped didnt hurt. The chandelier was the talk of the show, long before Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster hit arrived on Broadway in January 1988, after taking the West End by storm. 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 . Categories. During this difficult time, his marriage fell apart and divorce followed in 1975.[11]. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? | [27] He stated on This Morning: Sunday, on 14 August 2011, that he had signed on for a further six months in the show. In 1986 this production, with a new cast, though still headed by Crawford, was recorded for television and broadcast by the BBC. $75. He got "Crawford" from a passing "Crawford's Biscuits" truck. ", "It's named after (director) Hal Prince's longtime assistant, Ruth Mitchell," Lampel said. [2] After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Crawford returned to the role in October 2021 and was set to be the final Phantom when the show closed after a record 35 year run on Broadway. The role of Monsieur Andr is currently played by Mark Oxtoby. [26], Beginning with previews in February 2011, Crawford originated the part of the Wizard in the new Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical version of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium, which had its official opening on 1 March 2011. Thank you for carrying on the legacy of this beautiful show for thirty-five years. NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Ben Crawford as "The Phantom" makes a speech as "The Phantom of the Opera" celebrates 13,000 Performances on Broadway at The Majestic Theatre on April 24, 2019 in New York City.
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