jackissensational
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Saw it for the first time......two nights ago. It was... indescribably (sp?) amazing! The staging- incredible. The effects- to die for. Props and sets- wonderful. Music- obviously perfect. The story- beautiful.
It was so amazing. I've like... changed. For the better, because of freaking Phantom of the Opera! I don't know what to say! Ah! It was insanely good.
The beginning was so neat! "Gentlemen!"- and the chandlelier! But was the old man in the wheelchair with the nurse significant? He was better lit that the others... I was just getting a "vibe" from him. And I loved when Meg went to reach for the Phantom at the end and all she found was the mask! How did is that staged? It leaves to much to the imagination. It's awsome. Jason Mills played the Phantom, and I wasn't a big fan of his voice. But other than that, I became a kid in the biggest, greatest, candy store in the universe.
I adored it.
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musical_maven
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Yeah, it is pretty spectacular. The old man is supposed to be Raoul like 30 or 40 years after the chandelier accident. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
-Musical_maven
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Paula74
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Jack, the throne at the end has a hollow back that the Phantom slides into just before Meg pulls the cloak away.
Glad you enjoyed it...it's a show very dear to me for a lot of reasons.
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mezzo_soprano
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I remember the first time I saw the show. When you see the set as you walk into the theatre, *shivers*. Just amazing!
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LaGataNegra
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I finally saw the show 15 years after I'd fallen in love with the music. I was a bit of a basket case that day, but it was marvelous! As to OP said-"Gentlemen!", then bam! there goes the chandelier and that glorious music! Gives me a shiver just to think of it.
Welcome to the fandom. You have many friends here.
Oh, Paula74, you know Hugh Panaro? I had no idea...
(you know, I say this with love in my heart and a smile on my face) 
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ConverseSneaker
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I remember my first time too. It was my first time in NYC without my parents(I was on a school trip) and it was my first broadway show.
It was absolutely fantastic.
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Set_Buildin_Dad
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My first time was opening week in LA with Michael Crawford. It was the greatest piece of theatre I had ever seen in my life. Seeing the production turned me into a fan of the "mega-musical". To me it was a total theatrical exprience. Before that I had always looked with disdain on the huge productions, but not anymore. I became a fan of Phantom, LesMis, Miss Saigon, etc. don't get me wrong, I still appreciate other shows types of shows in both large and small venues, but the big productions are definitely worth the money to see.
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santtu
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It is so wonderful to see new people seeing this show (which I love so much) for the first time and loving it.
Goes to show that it hasn't been around for 21+ years just for nothing!
So glad you guys enjoyed it!!!
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Futuretonywinner
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My first time was in Des Moines with John Cudia. It was on my birthday. The second time was on my birthday too. ...I'm in love 
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ChorusKidx3
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I love Phantom. It was my first NYC Broadway Show. The movie was Ok, but the stage show is better than anything. <3333
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lottielou22
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I finally saw it on stage in January--Greg Mills was filling in for the Phantom and he was great. And I agree, mezzo_soprano, just walking in and seeing the set does start shivers. I'm shivering just thinking about it... aaaaaaaaahh this is my favorite musical of all time!!! I do love the movie, though... they filmed it so beautifully... the sets capture the mood perfectly somehow.
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jackissensational
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| lottielou22 wrote: | | I finally saw it on stage in January--Greg Mills was filling in for the Phantom and he was great. And I agree, mezzo_soprano, just walking in and seeing the set does start shivers. I'm shivering just thinking about it... aaaaaaaaahh this is my favorite musical of all time!!! I do love the movie, though... they filmed it so beautifully... the sets capture the mood perfectly somehow. |
Consider yourself lucky, Jason Mills was uh, to put it nicely, "less than adequate." I loved it all the same, however.
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MrMusical1982
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Saw Phantom of the Opera for the first time when I was just 9! Ever since then, I have been captivated by the wonders and magic of musicals and theatrical arts!
I love Phantom of the Opera because its where it all started for me!
I'm so glad u caught it on stage. It's the best!
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Elphaba22
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Yeah, I saw it when I was 6 for the first time, and have seen it 7 times since in various places, including Broadway.
POTO kept the fidgety extremely ADHD six-yr-old me glued to my seat, even straight through intermission. It's truly a fantastic show, and a very important one for me because it was the first show I ever saw. I hold it near and dear to my heart. 
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Toasterphantom
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It was the first show I ever saw on Broadway. I was totally enthralled.
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Mungojerrie_rt
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I saw it for the first time in Febuary, in Brisbane. No Anthony Warlow though, I got the understudy, who was great anyway. Ana Marina is the best Christine. It was way better than the movie.
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Futuretonywinner
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The first time I saw the Phantom was in Des Moines with John Cudia and Marni Rabb. It was amazing and breathtaking! I think my second time in Omaha with Stephen Tewksbury and Sara Jean Ford was even better!
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futuremsdaae
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The first time I saw it, I was 10 years old. I saw it in Boston at the Wang Center. It was the first show I had ever seen on stage. I was both completely inspired and terrified. I was peeing my pants out of excitement and fear. Especially after the end of act 1. It was amazing! It will always be my absolute favorite show! Oh, and I wasn't really peeing my pants...
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Quique
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| Set_Buildin_Dad wrote: | | My first time was opening week in LA with Michael Crawford. It was the greatest piece of theatre I had ever seen in my life. Seeing the production turned me into a fan of the "mega-musical". To me it was a total theatrical exprience. Before that I had always looked with disdain on the huge productions, but not anymore. I became a fan of Phantom, LesMis, Miss Saigon, etc. don't get me wrong, I still appreciate other shows types of shows in both large and small venues, but the big productions are definitely worth the money to see. |
That was my first production of the show, too. Only I missed Michael Crawford as he had left by then. I saw it 26 March, 1992. I was blown away. I went on to see it twice more at the Ahmanson; Sept. 1992; and June, 1993. That cast holds a very special place for me.
Who could forget Calvin Remsburg and Norman Large as Andre and Firmin; Leigh Munro and her vocally amazing Carlotta (I also saw the OBC's Judy Kaye when she returned to the show in 1992); Barbara's Mme. Giry; Michael's Raoul; and of course, Dale's Christine and Davis' Phantom. Love, love, love that cast.
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shakalakababy
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Re: Saw it for the first time... | jackissensational wrote: | | And I loved when Meg went to reach for the Phantom at the end and all she found was the mask! How did is that staged? |
It's weird because the first time i saw it the phantom just flipped his cape over his head but didn't go anywhere. I don't know if it was a mess up or what.
Anyways the first time i saw it I was 15 and i was in London. It was probably the most amazing show experience of my life because i had been absolutely and utterly obsessed with it before that. My sister was studying abroad over there so we went to see her and she bought us tickets. We were like 5 rows from the front of the stage which is the closest i've still ever been in a show and I could see everything perfectly. The Chandelier went right over my head, the cast was fantastic, i couldn't have asked for a better night.
I saw it in Las Vegas last summer and while it was really good, it wasn't nearly as magical for me (I wrote a review of it here). I'm seeing it again next month in Sacramento but i don't think anything can beat my first experience. It was perfect.
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What Is This Feeling?
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This thread is so exciting! Yes, it truely deserves everything it gets! I saw the show twice:
1. Broadway- 11 years old February 2003- Howard McGillin and John Caudia
2.Broadway- 15 years old December 2007- Howard McGillin, Jennifer Hope Wills and Tim Martin Gleason.
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lost in the darkness 101
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The first time I saw POTO it was in Edmonton and I was about 10
I was so glued to the performance that I had a conversation with my mom during intermission that went somthing like this:
Mom: hey, i have to go to the bathroom, wanna come with me?
Me: Nope.
Mom: are you sure? you might want some fresh air before it starts again
Me: Nope
Mom: so you're just going to sit there staring at an empty stage for 10 minutes?
Me: Yup.
Mom:  you need help.
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Elphaba22
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the same thing happened to me
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Mungojerrie_rt
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I sat in my seat reading the program during the interval.
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nabla
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| Mungojerrie_rt wrote: | | I saw it for the first time in Febuary, in Brisbane. No Anthony Warlow though, I got the understudy, who was great anyway. Ana Marina is the best Christine. It was way better than the movie. |
I saw it for the first (and only so far) time in Melbourne last October with Anthony Warlow, he was just amazing. I knew almost nothing about the show when i saw it (including the music) which was great because it meant everything came as a surprise (A little illumination!!!...).
I so badly want to see it again
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LaGataNegra
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[quote="nabla] (A little illumination!!!...).
[/quote]
Makes me quake every time! Even in the movie-the shot of the chandelier going up and the opera house returning to it's former glamor is the best part of the movie. That shot by itself made me happy I'd paid eight bucks to see it.
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shakalakababy
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i'm seeing it for the third time on friday!
It's the first time i'll be viewing the show from the balcony so it'll be a different experience at least. I was lucky enough to be in the orchestra the two times before that. But since i was buying a ticket for me and my friend (for her birthday) I had to be cheap.
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