Bricabrac wrote:
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me123musicfan wrote:
A lovely interview with Sarah Brightman from the POTO days (I've never seen this one before) in which Michael is mentioned and she reacts very sweetly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdfEhAJTRZs

Oh, what I would have given to have seen Michael and Sarah in POTO!

Interesting--- they go on about high tech in the show, but finally Sarah mentions that much of the tech is old.

----Yes, if only we had time machines. I would go back to see Michael in Phantom and also in Barnum!

PassionateOfPhantom wrote:
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"I'm sure this was due to Cameron Mackintosh wanting to promote three of his favourite performers (I wouldn't be surprised if JOJ and Ramin play Valjean in the new Les Mis on Broadway, next year?) and also due to the fact that Gillian Lynne was not available to come up with anything new. I can't believe Hal allowed Cameron to go through with it."

I would actually love if JOJ or Ramin play Valjean. I might move this summer, but if I stay in New York I will audition for the role of Cosette or Eponine and my brother will audition for Gavroche. My mother has agreed to take my brother, but when I said I wanted to audition too, she seemed less confident I would make it simply because my brother and I both sing but he's a perfect angel-voiced child and I'm not perfect. I hope I'm able to do it, singing with Ramin would be the best thing that would ever happen to me.

Bricabrac wrote:
NEITHER JOJ nor Ramin have any connection with the Broadway production at all.

There were former Broadway Phantoms in the audience, but the producers brought in three of the 25th Anniversary London Phantoms.

JOJ is excellent, and not meny Americans have had a chance to hear him. Ramin must have been included to provide photo ops with Sierra and to give his fans something to gush about, but it had nothing to do with honoring the Broadway show.

People who were there were excited and happy, fot the most part, but it was still something of a slap at Broadway.

Bricabrac wrote:
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Swansong wrote:
Does anyone know why Michael Crawford was not in attendance? Maybe down with the flu like half the planet???? That is really a shame. So many fans who were there must have been disappointed not to see him live.

I know why he didn't sing at the London 25th, but I don't know why he didn't attend the Broadway 25th. It wasn't because he was sick, though, because he let his fan association know some weeks ago that he probably wouldn't be there.

Two speculations on my part.

He didn't go because for some reasons of his own, he REALLY doesn't like watching the show since he left it no matter how excellent the cast is. He only went to the Gala celebrating Phantom passing CATS because ALW practically took him by the arm and dragged him into a car and to the theater.

OR

He has something work-related going on in London.

Wild speculation:
ALW's next musical has an invitation-only reading in London soon. It's that one about the Profumo affair. Michael wouldn't have a leading role, but he might take another role if it were offered.

Does anyone know what he said in his note?

phamiliar wrote:
There are a few people on this board who will really like this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9t37VJKooc

More fuel for the ALW/SB rumor mill. ;)

PassionateOfPhantom wrote:
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"Michael had not been present, but had sent a note (HA). "

I bet it was signed O.G.

angel_of_music26 wrote:
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me123musicfan wrote:
It's such a pity that ALW will be missing the show, and I hope he recovers. But I disagree that his 'true colors' are that he dislikes and is trying to avoid the 25th show at all ... he is having health problems and as such, medical treatment should come first.

Remember, he also missed the opening night of The Wizard of Oz in Toronto a few weeks ago, and had to come back from his holidays in ???? sometime late December for an operation.

I hope Sarah Brightman appears (and am keeping fingers crossed that Michael does too). Cameron will probably be too busy promoting Les Miserables to attend. Gillian and Hal Prince will probably be there, as will Charles Hart. Not sure about Andrew Bridge or Richard Stilgoe.

I didn't say that he was avoiding Broadway Phantom 25. What I said was that if he doesn't send a message of some sort (written, video) since he won't be able to attend, it will show that he doesn't care enough about the musical anymore, and that the whole disparaging of the show during the promotion of LND wasn't just ALW talking. He might have meant it this time.


About CM promoting Les Miz...has he been, really? The most I have seen are interviews with the stars (Hathaway, Jackman), but at least here in the U.S., I haven't seen him do a tv interview.


Hopefully Crawford will be there.After all, the show got him the Tony for best actor, so unless he has prior commitments, he should be there. Brightman, I'm not really sure. She hasn't said anything on her site (her participation in the West End Phantom 25 was announced there two weeks prior, or so have I read).

Besides, there's a whole scenario that I really don't want to picture. I read somewhere (don't know if it's true) that when ALW can't attend certain events, he sends his wife as his representative. So if he sends her to the event (either to represent himself or the company), and Sarah were to be there...it would be ..awkward, to put it midly. Especially after the comments she made regarding Sarah. Anyway, enough with the gossip, you get the point.


I do hope that Hal Prince is there, but if what you wrote on the other thread is true (re: him being hurt for getting fired from Phantom once ) it might be the case that it's either him or Cameron at the event. Not good, and at this point, it's plain childish the "fight" they have. Can't they be professional for once? ( Then again, remember how Rebecca Caine got excluded from WE Phantom 25? Shouldn't surprise us). Gillian might definitely be there, she seems to get along with the cast and crew.


Still don't know why Stilgoe didn't attend WE Phantom 25, and perhaps he will attend along with Hart (they seem to get along, there was a report a while back of them seeing LND in London). So why he skipped the London anniversary is still beyond me. Either that, or he wasn't invited.


Anyway, let's just hope it doesn't turn into a star-less event.

angel_of_music26 wrote:
Here's an interview with Harold Prince. It's mostly about his career, and Broadway Phantom 25, but it also has his first official statement regarding the sequel....


"Did you see the Phantom sequel Love Never Dies?

I saw it in London. I don’t want to talk about it. I’ll tell you this: It was beautifully acted. And it had some lovely melodies."


http://www.broadway.com/buzz/166712/d ... toms-amazing-25-year-run/


Well, there you go. If the director of Phantom 1 couldn't give it any more positives than the acting and some of the music (which is pretty much what the majority has been repeating over and over again), you know you're in big trouble.


P.S. Judging by his answers, he seems to be closer to Sondheim than Lloyd Webber.

angel_of_music26 wrote:
Great!

So, is Sarah B. going to see that star when she goes to space?

Just can't get away from Phantom, can she?

Bricabrac wrote:
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me123musicfan wrote:
I would love a Michael/Sarah style duet of MOTN, akin to the Michael/Barbra and Michael/Susan Boyle version ... at least more like the Michael/Boyle version, which was haunting and beautiful, with Michael's voice sounding mellow and rich, like a fine wine.

I'm not very familiar with Sarah's singing today. Could she do a sultry, sensuous, low-volume duet, do ya think?