With more than thirty years history on Broadway alone, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera has racked up some pretty impressive accolades, so it would stand to reason that the current US Tour, having began November 27, 2013, and presently playing Nashville at TPAC’s Jackson Hall, would also hit a few celebratory marks along the way. One such milestone, the touring company’s 2000th performance will take place Saturday night, November 3rd.
While the current leads, Quentin Oliver Lee and Eva Tavares may not have been there when the current tour produced by Cameron Mackintosh began in 2013—both having joined the tour in 2017, they do indeed have something to celebrate as they’ve taken two of musical theatre’s most iconic role, The Phantom and Christine, the object of his obsession, and made them their own. Earlier this week, as they were in midst of their two-week Music City engagement, I had the opportunity to chat with each of the two stars for the latest in my recurring interview feature, Rapid Fire Q&A.
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RAPID FIRE WITH QUENTIN OLIVER LEE, THE PHANTOM IN THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
JHP: The Phantom is easily one of the most recognizable characters in musical theatre history. What’s it like getting to perform the role in the current national tour?
QUENTIN OLIVER LEE: It’s like being shot out of a cannon! Seriously though, it’s very humbling, very gratifying and I’m constantly taken aback and the love and support from the Phans, creatives and my fellow cast mates.
JHP: Do you remember when you first became aware of the musical itself?
QUENTIN OLIVER LEE: I saw the movie in my high school choir class a week before we performed Masquerade for our 2004 fall concert.
JHP: So many elements of The Phantom are iconic…the wardrobe, the mask, the music, even the briefly seen make-up beneath the mask. Each night as you transform into The Phantom, is there a certain point you ‘feel’ you become him?
QUENTIN OLIVER LEE: It’s important for the health and sanity of myself and everyone in the cast to be able to switch between being Quentin and being the Phantom. So generally I’m Quentin all the way until just a few minutes before going on stage. At that point I go through a number of brief questions and exercises to help get me in the mind of the Phantom.
JHP: You’ve already mentioned the Phans, which leads perfectly to my next question…from what I know Phans (the name by which legions of Phantom’s adoring fans are referred) can be pretty intense. What’s one of the more memorable things you’ve witnessed from Phan’s so far?
QUENTIN OLIVER LEE: I get a chance to meet a lot of little Phantoms and Christines which is always very enjoyable, but the most memorable is probably when I meet miss Sharon West and her book of 100 Phantoms – signing her book with Michael Crawford, Colm Wilkinson, Hal Prince and so many others was tremendous. . It was just really cool to meet a super Phan and hear her story and what had brought her to the show 100+ times.
JHP: Your Christine is played by Eva Tavares. What’s it like working with her as a leading lady?
QUENTIN OLIVER LEE: Eva Tavares is wonderful, she portrays Christine with a fire and passion that really helps bring energy to everyone else on stage.
RAPID FIRE WITH EVA TAVARES, CHRISTINE IN THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
JHP: Your bio indicates that playing Christine is a lifelong dream. What do you remember about the first time you saw Phantom?
EVA TAVARES: I was ten years old and I was watching the tour at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, BC. I was blown away. I walked out of that theatre and turned to my mom and said, “Mom, I want to do that.” Full circle moment: my first city on this tour was Vancouver, BC and I performed in the same theatre I originally saw it in when I was ten!
JHP: What’s your favorite aspect of playing Christine?
EVA TAVARES: I like being able to play someone who goes through such a journey of growth. She really becomes a woman through the course of the show. She finds her strength and her independence and confronts many challenges, both physical and emotional. That is such an amazing kind of character to jump into every night. Truly a gift.
JHP: Nearly as iconic as The Phantom’s mask are Christine’s gorgeous costumes designed by the late Maria Björnson, who won two Tony Awards for her work on Phantom. What’s it like representing her legacy by donning these gowns night after night?
EVA TAVARES: Oh my GOODNESS. Seriously a girl’s dream. My favorite is most definitely the blue dress in act II. I mean, being in corsets every day isn’t a walk in the park, but WOW they are stunning!
JHP: In addition to Quintin as The Phantom, your Christine is also paired with Jordan Craig as Raoul. What are these two like as leading men?
EVA TAVARES: They are truly amazing humans. Being stage partners means creating a bond and relationship that requires work and communication. These guys show up for it in a big way. We have really gotten to a point where I trust these guys implicitly. We also are really good friends and they are two of the people I know I can go to when I am having a rough day. I am very grateful for their humor, their talents and their support.
JHP: Near play’s end, Christine makes her choice between The Phantom and Raoul. Does she make the right choice?
EVA TAVARES: My interpretation of the end is that she doesn’t exactly make a choice. She cares about the Phantom and she wants to help him, but she realizes that he has to discover the change he needs within himself, BY himself. Not to mention the fact that he is a danger to himself and others. She leaves the lair with Raoul because she was in physical danger and he was her way out. Raoul hasn’t been the most supportive overall, if we really look at the facts; her trust in him has definitely been betrayed over the course of the show. If I had my way, she wouldn’t make a choice for team Raoul or for team Phantom. She would make the choice for team Christine.
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Whether you’re a Phan, a member of #TeamChristine, or just enjoy a night of magnificent music, opulent sets, breathtakingly beautiful costumes and stunning performances by talented lead actors and their equally impressive cast and orchestra, The Phantom of the Opera is for you.
The Phantom of the Opera continues at TPAC’s Jackson Hall with performances Saturday, November 3 at 2p.m. and 8p.m.* and Sunday, November 4 at 1p.m. and 6:30p.m. Tickets range in price from $55 to $105. Earlier this week, TPAC announced the limited availability of special $40 rush tickets to each remaining performance. To take advantage of that, show up 90 minutes prior to showtime and inquire at the box office. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information. *In honor of the company celebrating their landmark 2000th performance, TPAC has announced a special one-night-only ticket special. CLICK HERE and use the promo code “PHANTOM2000” to receive $20 off your ticket price for the Saturday, November 3 8p.m. performance.
Not in Nashville, but hoping to see Phantom on tour? Following its Music City engagement, Phantom continues through Fall of 2019 with performances in Houston, November 7-18, Omaha, November 21-December 2, San Antonio, December 7-17, Dallas, December 18-January 6, Oklahoma City, January 9-20, Detroit, January 24-February 3, Kalamazoo, February 6-17, Pittsburgh, February 20-March 3, Milwaukee, March 6-17, Providence, March 21-31, Cleveland, April 3-20, Schenectady, April 24-May 5, Los Angeles, June 6-July 7, Costa Mesa, July 10-21 and Honolulu, August 7-September 1. CLICK HERE for tickets. Follow Phantom on Tour at the show’s official site HERE, on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Next up at TPAC, the national tour of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas returns to the stage. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information. You can also discover all the latest from TPAC by checking them out online or on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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