2,245 posts
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Post by richey on Jul 9, 2019 17:07:59 GMT
Open auditions announced for tour
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660 posts
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Post by Oleanna on Jul 9, 2019 18:15:16 GMT
Yes, considered because the first-choice Palace was full of French peasants Cameron wouldn't re-house. Preliminary artwork was done before "Bugsy Malone" decided it wouldn't hang in there much longer. So interesting, thanks Monkey! I knew the Palace was the first choice, but thought from there it was just Her Majesty’s all the way. Never knew that the Cambridge was a choice. What a different atmosphere the show would have had! |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2019 19:31:47 GMT
Wow! Although this is chat for the London production thread, I cant imagine Phantom in the Cambridge! I wonder if it would have lasted as long had it been there. Part of the success of Her Majesty's is the exterior architecture adding to the atmosphere and even though the seated capacity isn't much different, HMT has an intimacy to the auditorium that the Cambridge doesn't.
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660 posts
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Post by Oleanna on Jul 9, 2019 23:52:11 GMT
I love this show so much. If anybody has any similar, rare and interesting stories to share (either about the London production, or on tour) please do share, I’d love to read!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2019 8:49:21 GMT
I love this show so much. If anybody has any similar, rare and interesting stories to share (either about the London production, or on tour) please do share, I’d love to read! Back in July 1999 a month after seeing the show at Liverpool Empire, the theatre were still offering backstage tours. My parents booked one for the school holiday but it was cancelled due to short notice cast change - if I remember rightly a new Christine was brought in and rehearsed in the day between shows, hence the cancellation of tours. We were offered a rescheduled date on the proviso that we understood elements maybe restricted due to rehearsal, but this was on the day we were due to go on holiday. I was gutted. My superstar parents, changed our holiday plans to allow for a last minute visit to Liverpool. We were taken on a full tour of the theatre which included being allowed to wander the stage and backstage, looking down into the orchestra pit and getting up-close to key items in the show such as the elephant, the rehearsal piano and press notes on the Phantom's organ. This was mind blowing for an 11 year old still riding high on the initial excitement of seeing the show for the first time. We were told a few 'secrets' as to how some of the effects are archived, such as the rehearsal pianos workings. After a visit around the stage we were taken up to the circle where we were told about the architecture of the auditorium and how adaptions were made for Phantom to fit. They used to have huge palm tress in pots in the 2 boxes but were specifically removed to make the auditorium feel more in keeping with the show. Whilst sat up in the circle, a young Scott Davies semi-moon walked onto the stage singing fairly loudly to himself and greeting the creatives who were setting up in the stalls for the afternoons rehearsal. After a little bit of singing and banter he then realized there was a group of 20 people sat up in the circle on the tour, in quite a funny moment and greeted us all. We were there ushered out of the circle to allow the rehearsal to start - which I may have peered at through the curtain drawn over the stalls door as our tour was concluded. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2019 9:28:57 GMT
I love this show so much. If anybody has any similar, rare and interesting stories to share (either about the London production, or on tour) please do share, I’d love to read! Back in July 1999 a month after seeing the show at Liverpool Empire, the theatre were still offering backstage tours. My parents booked one for the school holiday but it was cancelled due to short notice cast change - if I remember rightly a new Christine was brought in and rehearsed in the day between shows, hence the cancellation of tours. We were offered a rescheduled date on the proviso that we understood elements maybe restricted due to rehearsal, but this was on the day we were due to go on holiday. I was gutted. My superstar parents, changed our holiday plans to allow for a last minute visit to Liverpool. We were taken on a full tour of the theatre which included being allowed to wander the stage and backstage, looking down into the orchestra pit and getting up-close to key items in the show such as the elephant, the rehearsal piano and press notes on the Phantom's organ. This was mind blowing for an 11 year old still riding high on the initial excitement of seeing the show for the first time. We were told a few 'secrets' as to how some of the effects are archived, such as the rehearsal pianos workings. After a visit around the stage we were taken up to the circle where we were told about the architecture of the auditorium and how adaptions were made for Phantom to fit. They used to have huge palm tress in pots in the 2 boxes but were specifically removed to make the auditorium feel more in keeping with the show. Whilst sat up in the circle, a young Scott Davies semi-moon walked onto the stage singing fairly loudly to himself and greeting the creatives who were setting up in the stalls for the afternoons rehearsal. After a little bit of singing and banter he then realized there was a group of 20 people sat up in the circle on the tour, in quite a funny moment and greeted us all. We were there ushered out of the circle to allow the rehearsal to start - which I may have peered at through the curtain drawn over the stalls door as our tour was concluded. Fabulous story :-) |
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227 posts
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Post by paulbrownsey on Jul 10, 2019 9:51:42 GMT
Indeed, the Curve is now very much a place for launching and fine tuning big tours. It may not seat that many, but has a very large stage, good wing space, fly facilities, rigs etc etc, is new and technically advanced - makes it an ideal place to tech a big show. I am REALLY disappointed at their reconfiguration through. I always sit on an aisle seat, a) as I am very tall and b) as I have anxiety and really don't like the feeling of being 'stuck' in the middle of a row. As such I MUCH prefer theatres with one or two central aisles as I can have an aisle seat that also has a good view. Theatres with long rows and only side aisles, I always sit at the side. Front Stalls at Curve going from two central aisles to none is therefore a shame! That aside is a fantastic comfortable modern theatre. I am surprised that the health & safety authorities have allowed so many theatres to remove their centre aisles and fill them up with extra seats. Wouldn't it make for slower evacuation in the event of a fire? |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2019 10:08:47 GMT
Indeed, the Curve is now very much a place for launching and fine tuning big tours. It may not seat that many, but has a very large stage, good wing space, fly facilities, rigs etc etc, is new and technically advanced - makes it an ideal place to tech a big show. I am REALLY disappointed at their reconfiguration through. I always sit on an aisle seat, a) as I am very tall and b) as I have anxiety and really don't like the feeling of being 'stuck' in the middle of a row. As such I MUCH prefer theatres with one or two central aisles as I can have an aisle seat that also has a good view. Theatres with long rows and only side aisles, I always sit at the side. Front Stalls at Curve going from two central aisles to none is therefore a shame! That aside is a fantastic comfortable modern theatre. I am surprised that the health & safety authorities have allowed so many theatres to remove their centre aisles and fill them up with extra seats. Wouldn't it make for slower evacuation in the event of a fire? Going off topic (sorry) yes I often think about this too. With my health hat on (I work in healthcare) there is also an issue if someone needs medical assistance. If you go to the theatre all the time as many of us on here do, people will be aware that medical incidents do happen. I have seen a few occasions where someone may have had a heart attack/stroke/loss of consciousness and often they can be in the middle of the row. Getting help to people who are 15+ seats in (usually without a show stop) is an absolute nightmare and complete pandemonium. What is even more extraordinary is the number of patrons tutting at having to move for someone in serious trouble. Anyway, for fire, evacuation and health I honesty think nobody should be more that 10-12 seats form an aisle. |
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660 posts
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Post by Oleanna on Jul 10, 2019 11:51:18 GMT
I love this show so much. If anybody has any similar, rare and interesting stories to share (either about the London production, or on tour) please do share, I’d love to read! Back in July 1999 a month after seeing the show at Liverpool Empire, the theatre were still offering backstage tours. My parents booked one for the school holiday but it was cancelled due to short notice cast change - if I remember rightly a new Christine was brought in and rehearsed in the day between shows, hence the cancellation of tours. We were offered a rescheduled date on the proviso that we understood elements maybe restricted due to rehearsal, but this was on the day we were due to go on holiday. I was gutted. My superstar parents, changed our holiday plans to allow for a last minute visit to Liverpool. We were taken on a full tour of the theatre which included being allowed to wander the stage and backstage, looking down into the orchestra pit and getting up-close to key items in the show such as the elephant, the rehearsal piano and press notes on the Phantom's organ. This was mind blowing for an 11 year old still riding high on the initial excitement of seeing the show for the first time. We were told a few 'secrets' as to how some of the effects are archived, such as the rehearsal pianos workings. After a visit around the stage we were taken up to the circle where we were told about the architecture of the auditorium and how adaptions were made for Phantom to fit. They used to have huge palm tress in pots in the 2 boxes but were specifically removed to make the auditorium feel more in keeping with the show. Whilst sat up in the circle, a young Scott Davies semi-moon walked onto the stage singing fairly loudly to himself and greeting the creatives who were setting up in the stalls for the afternoons rehearsal. After a little bit of singing and banter he then realized there was a group of 20 people sat up in the circle on the tour, in quite a funny moment and greeted us all. We were there ushered out of the circle to allow the rehearsal to start - which I may have peered at through the curtain drawn over the stalls door as our tour was concluded. A wonderful story, thank you for sharing! |
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227 posts
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Jul 11, 2019 3:24:31 GMT
I love this show so much. If anybody has any similar, rare and interesting stories to share (either about the London production, or on tour) please do share, I’d love to read! I’ve NEVER managed to get an answer I was happy with as to why only the UK productions have Raoul singing in harmony in “Wandering Child” whilst every other international production has the rather jarring “Leave her” interruption. Back when Peter Land was in the London cast he suggested that ALW wanted to keep something that was specific to the original London show - (this was before the first Manchester/UK tour which I believe also kept the trio). It always seemed a little odd that THIS (and Phantom catching Christine at the end of Music of the Night instead of letting her sleep on the damp concrete floor infront of the mirror overnight!) would be THE moment chosen to be specific to London. Not that I have any reason to doubt Mr Land’s insider knowledge. He was an amazing Andre after all.. The times I have met Hal Prince I have been more interested in why he cut some of the moments in previews, and if he could put them back in. That masquerade disappearance (as originally conceived) would have been awesome. |
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227 posts
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Jul 11, 2019 3:40:21 GMT
Opened up handbill, picked up in the Her Majesty's foyer months before the first preview. Glove holding rose.
Wish the Phantom poster with the Cambridge Theatre name on it had survived the Great Fire of Dress Circle, too. I have one of those fold out posters too (kindly given to me by the guy’s at Dress Circle back in the day). £18 top price ticket - those were the days! The various early Phantom poster designs (some with the Cambridge Theatre specified) also appeared in a book that I have somewhere. As I recall they featured more of the Phantom in shadow (a conventional eye mask and white shirt/glove?) and lacked the iconic shattered typography. For memory they looked quite rough. Though my memory maybe playing tricks on me. |
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227 posts
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Jul 11, 2019 9:45:09 GMT
 Finally found those designs but not sure how to upload the files here so had to tweet a few images and link to that.. Are these the ones you were referring to theatremonkey? Phantom Posters |
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227 posts
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Jul 11, 2019 10:01:20 GMT
Yes, ukpuppetboy . Some I've seen, not seen one of the others. Fascinating, thank you so much.
To upload on here, you need to use the "Reply" button to bring up the full reply system. There's then an option button for uploading graphics. Thanks - but I already tried (and failed) there as they are scans on my computer and not weblinks. It’s interesting to ponder who was blacked out of the first design (with the Cambridge Theatre mentioned). I assume it was lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner before he left the project but that is just speculation... |
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227 posts
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Jul 11, 2019 11:11:36 GMT
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19,670 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 11, 2019 11:59:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2019 12:05:16 GMT
Finally found those designs but not sure how to upload the files here so had to tweet a few images and link to that.. Are these the ones you were referring to theatremonkey? Phantom Posters - you can just post a link to a tweet without 'embedding' and it will display the full tweet here. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2019 12:07:30 GMT
Also, very interesting post. Possibly getting into territory for the original Phantom thread rather than tour (for people with a little OCD for tidiness).
Glad the artwork developed and was refined. Never been a fan of the hand with the rose. The second image looks like the Phantom is smoking a cigar!
Imagine if they'd ran with version 1 of the artwork!
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Post by scarpia on Jul 11, 2019 14:23:11 GMT
I love this show so much. If anybody has any similar, rare and interesting stories to share (either about the London production, or on tour) please do share, I’d love to read! I’ve NEVER managed to get an answer I was happy with as to why only the UK productions have Raoul singing in harmony in “Wandering Child” whilst every other international production has the rather jarring “Leave her” interruption. Back when Peter Land was in the London cast he suggested that ALW wanted to keep something that was specific to the original London show - (this was before the first Manchester/UK tour which I believe also kept the trio). It always seemed a little odd that THIS (and Phantom catching Christine at the end of Music of the Night instead of letting her sleep on the damp concrete floor infront of the mirror overnight!) would be THE moment chosen to be specific to London. Not that I have any reason to doubt Mr Land’s insider knowledge. He was an amazing Andre after all.. The times I have met Hal Prince I have been more interested in why he cut some of the moments in previews, and if he could put them back in. That masquerade disappearance (as originally conceived) would have been awesome. Broadway now does do the trio (it has for a few years now), but retains the 'Leave her' bit as well. I was told way, way back, that this was down to Michael Crawford wanting the scene to be a duet when it transferred to Broadway. But when I asked him about this a couple of years ago in person, he said he couldn't remember. The reason for the different MoTN staging is because Crawford did his back in or had a hernia or something like that when he went to Broadway, and then they froze the show there. |
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660 posts
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Post by Oleanna on Jul 11, 2019 15:05:11 GMT
Finally found those designs but not sure how to upload the files here so had to tweet a few images and link to that.. Are these the ones you were referring to theatremonkey? Phantom PostersThanks so much for sharing! What was the original Masquerade disappearance? |
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Post by scarpia on Jul 12, 2019 10:07:40 GMT
Finally found those designs but not sure how to upload the files here so had to tweet a few images and link to that.. Are these the ones you were referring to theatremonkey? Phantom PostersThanks so much for sharing! What was the original Masquerade disappearance? Paul Daniels originally construed a trick whereby the Phantom would disappear similar to as he does now, but without you really seeing him go down into the trap door and the Red Death costume would be left behind on stage. There wasn't enough time to perfect it and Hal Prince didn't like the idea anyway as he wanted the audience to be able to see the Phantom go into the underworld, which I think was the right decision. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2019 10:14:00 GMT
Thanks so much for sharing! What was the original Masquerade disappearance? Paul Daniels originally construed a trick whereby the Phantom would disappear similar to as he does now, but without you really seeing him go down into the trap door and the Red Death costume would be left behind on stage. There wasn't enough time to perfect it and Hal Prince didn't like the idea anyway as he wanted the audience to be able to see the Phantom go into the underworld, which I think was the right decision. Ooh, sounds like the end of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory! |
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660 posts
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Post by Oleanna on Jul 12, 2019 10:19:22 GMT
I suppose a similar effect was used at the end of the Laurence Connor production...The Phantom wraps himself in his cloak, and when Meg touches the cloak, it falls to the floor, The Phantom no longer being inside it.
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227 posts
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Jul 12, 2019 20:18:45 GMT
I suppose a similar effect was used at the end of the Laurence Connor production...The Phantom wraps himself in his cloak, and when Meg touches the cloak, it falls to the floor, The Phantom no longer being inside it. Indeed. It was an intentional nod to that original concept. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2019 11:44:32 GMT
So, with the announcement of a new Phantom in London and not seeing David Thaxton take the titular role, could we see him take on the tour?
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716 posts
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Post by indis on Jul 23, 2019 15:29:37 GMT
when will this cast be announced?
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