Phantoms Through The Years

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has been making magic on Broadway for over 26 years! Take a look behind the mask at the talented gents who have taken on the iconic role of The Phantom in POTO Broadway's more than a quarter century history.

1. Michael Crawford

The brilliant original Phantom, Michael Crawford was discovered by Andrew Lloyd Webber when the former dropped off then-wife—and original Christine—Sarah Brightman at her voice lessons early and overheard Michael practicing a piece from Handel’s Atalanta. Michael won the role of The Phantom immediately upon auditioning, beginning in the world debut of POTO in London, for which he was awarded an Olivier Award. He went on to open the production on Broadway and won a Tony Award®. Michael played The Phantom on Broadway for about 10 months before departing to open the Los Angeles production.

2. Timothy Nolen

Timothy Nolen became New York’s second official Phantom when he replaced Michael Crawford on October 10, 1988, after Crawford left to star in the L.A. production. A well-respected opera singer, he had previously worked with POTO director Harold Prince on the musical Grind, winning a Drama Desk Award for his performance. Timothy wore the mask until March of 1989, when he passed it off to original cast member Cris Groenendaal.

3. Cris Groenendaal

Following on the cape-tails of Timothy Nolen was Cris Groenendaal, who originated the role of Monsieur André and understudied the role of Raoul on Broadway. He took over the title role on March 20, 1989, remaining for exactly one full year and departing on March 19, 1989.

4. Steve Barton

Steve Barton originated the role of Raoul in the London and Broadway premieres and was another member of the original Broadway cast to graduate into the role of The Phantom. He began a 10-month run on March 19, 1990, taking his final bow in November of 1990. He was married to original Broadway cast member and Dance Captain Denny Berry, who would go on to become the production’s Dance Supervisor and Associate Choreographer for Gillian Lynne–positions she still holds to this day. The POTO family mourns Steve, who passed away in 2001.

5. Jeff Keller

Original cast member Jeff Keller was a Phantom understudy and holds the distinction of being the first American to ever play the role, after going on for Michael Crawford early in the show’s run. He played a temporary limited replacement engagement as The Phantom for a month beginning on November 5, 1990 after Steve Barton departed the show, and prepared the stage for fellow cast member Kevin Gray.

6. Kevin Gray

Kevin Gray was Broadway’s second Raoul and became the fifth Phantom on December 3, 1990. He was also the youngest actor to take on the title role on Broadway, debuting when he was just 32 years old. He reprised the role in the National Tour, and later starred as the Engineer for POTO producer Cameron Mackintosh in Miss Saigon. Kevin was married to PHANTOM original cast member Dodie Pettit (Ballet Chorus). The POTO family mourns Kevin, who passed away in 2013.

7. Mark Jacoby

Mark Jacoby originated the role of The Phantom in the Second National Tour, which premiered in Chicago in May 1990. He took over the role on Broadway on February 22, 1991. Compared to his New York predecessors, Mark more than doubled the time spent as The Phantom on Broadway. He wore the mask for over 2 years and 822 performances, taking his final bow in May, 1993.

8. Marcus Lovett

Marcus Lovett first twirled The Phantom’s cape on May 24, 1993 and stayed with the Broadway production for just over a year. For POTO composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, Marcus originated the leading role of The Man in the London premiere of Whistle Down the Wind and later returned to the West End when he donned the mask as The Phantom in 2012.

9. Davis Gaines

Davis Gaines first played Raoul in the Broadway production before stepping up to the title role. He is New York’s third longest-running Phantom, playing the role for 865 performances since July 4, 1994. He also starred in the Los Angeles and San Francisco productions, having his 2,000th performance (New York, L.A. and San Francisco combined) marked in 1998 with “Davis Gaines 2000 Day” in L.A!

10. Thomas James O'Leary

Thomas James O’Leary first joined the ensemble in 1993 and began understudying The Phantom in 1994. He spent a year and a half starring in the National Tour before taking over the role in New York on October 11, 1996. With 774 performances, he is number 5 on the short list of Broadway’s longest-running Phantoms.

11. Hugh Panaro

Hugh Panaro is a well-loved PHANTOM regular, whose long association with the show stretches back to 1989, when he first played the role of Raoul for almost 1,000 performances. He was later invited to take over the starring role, first in 1999, then again in four separate engagements, including the 25th Anniversary in 2013. In total, he’s played The Phantom for 2,227 performances, making him New York’s second longest-running Phantom.

12. Ted Keegan

A former Phantom understudy on Broadway, Ted Keegan would take over the role on the National Tour. He played a temporary limited engagement in New York beginning on July 26, 1999 for just under a month. He also played The Phantom in Las Vegas and even made a flying entrance while singing the title song at Madison Square Garden during half-time of the NBA All-Star Game!

13. Howard McGillin

Howard McGillin holds the title of Broadway’s longest-running Phantom, playing the role for a combined 10 years and a staggering 2,544 performances since beginning on August 23, 1999! He was specifically chosen by the creative team to be the man behind the mask for the record-breaking performance in 2006, when PHANTOM surpassed Cats as Broadway’s longest-running show of all time. Howard and Hugh Panaro often switch off, passing the mask back and forth over several years.

14. Brad Little

Brad Little has been a part of the POTO family since 1994, rising from a member of the ensemble to Raoul and The Phantom himself–primarily as one of the longest-running Phantoms on tour. He’s played the role across America and around the world—including the recent Pan Asian Tour—over 2,000 times. In New York, he played a temporary limited engagement between Howard McGillin and Hugh Panaro for just over a month beginning on September 15, 2002.

15. Gary Mauer

Gary Mauer began as a Swing on Broadway in 1995 and later played Raoul for several years, including the Tenth Anniversary in 1998. He holds the record for the most performances as Raoul on Broadway at over 1,500 times. He then starred as The Phantom on the National Tour, often appearing opposite his wife, Beth Southard, the Christine Alternate. Starting April 30, 1997, he played a temporary limited engagement as The Phantom on Broadway during a vacation for Howard McGillin.

16. John Cudia

John Cudia first joined the National Tour in 1999 as a Swing and cover for Raoul. He played Raoul on tour for nearly two years and in New York for two and a half. He initially took over as The Phantom on Broadway on May 22, 2008 during a 10-week leave for Howard McGillin. He returned to the role for an additional year for a total of 473 (and a half!) performances. Another PHANTOM romance story: on tour he met (and played opposite) his future wife Kathy Voytko, who was the Christine understudy.

17. Peter Jöback

A bonafide star of stage, screen and song in his native Sweden (including winning 2 Swedish Tonys), Peter Jöback first played The Phantom in London in 2012 after taking part in POTO London’s 25th Anniversary celebrations at Royal Albert Hall in 2011. He took part in New York’s 25th Anniversary celebrations in January 2013, where it was announced he’d take on the role on Broadway later that year on April 29.

18. Laird Mackintosh

Canadian performer Laird Mackintosh played the role of Raoul in the Toronto production of POTO for three years and also covered the title role. In July 2013 he joined the New York production as Monsieur André and a Phantom understudy. He played a one-week temporary limited engagement as The Phantom beginning May 3, 2014, after which he returned to the role of André–which he’s continued to play to date.

19. Norm Lewis

Via thephantomoftheopera.com

The latest star to wear the mask is Tony Award® nominee Norm Lewis, who made history as the first African-American performer to take on the iconic role on Broadway. He made his PHANTOM debut on May 12, 2014 opposite Phan favorite Sierra Boggess as Christine, so don’t miss your chance to catch this historic POTO milestone!

Visit www.thephantomoftheopera.com/new-york for more information and tickets!