“The Phantom of the Opera,” a phenomenon that has been capturing the hearts and imaginations of theater patrons since 1986, has swept into the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, TX. with more majesty, brilliance, and enchantment than expected. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of Phantom, one of the most successful musicals of all-time, is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.
Many of you who are reading this article know that I have spent more than 30 years performing, working behind the scenes and supporting the magic that theater brings to the world. I have never been more enchanted and awe-struck as I was with this show. On opening day of “The Phantom of the Opera” at the Bass Hall, I was invited to a rare peek behind the Phantom’s mask to see how the show’s magic is spun and an interview with the show’s principals, Derrick Davis and Katie Travis (The Phantom and Christine Daae).
Derrick Davis has held the role of Mufasa on the U.S. tour of Disney’s “The Lion King,” covered both Mufasa and Scar in “The Lion King” on Broadway, been in the opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” and most recently, starred in Dallas Theater Center’s production of “Dreamgirls” as Curtis Taylor Jr. He has been seen on the Daytime Emmy Awards, “Live with Regis and Kelly,” “Dancing with the Stars,” as well as on the big screen in the movies “Can a Song Save Your Life” and “A Christmas Story.” His concert career includes a sold-out performance of Rogers and Hammerstein works with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, as well as several solo performances in New York City featuring his original works and holiday favorites.
Phantom begins its national tour at the Bass Performance Hall and will be the first time Mr. Davis dons the mask as the show’s titular lead. Following in the footsteps of theater legends Michael Crawford and Robert Guillaume, Davis approaches the role with a great deal of enthusiasm and energy. While speaking with him about the part, there was a definite sparkle in his eye that one normally sees when talking to parents about their new baby or newlyweds about their upcoming wedding. Davis felt it important to bring the role of The Phantom to the audience without overplaying the character and thus loosing Phantom’s humanity. His favorite part of the show is when the Phantom removes his mask and he and Christine connect emotionally beyond heart and soul.
Katie Travis is honored to be a member of this company in a role she has always dreamed of playing. Previous theatre credits include “The Most Happy Fella” (Rosabella), “Titanic” (Kate McFowan), “The Mikado” (Yum-Yum), “Jekyll and Hyde” (Emma Carew), and “Wonderful Town” (Eileen Sherwood). She recently performed the role of Cosette in “Les Miserables” and the St. Louis MUNY. Ms.Travis is a recent winner of the Lys Symonette award for her performance at the 2014 Lotte Lenya Competition.
Travis shared with me that she feels very lucky and blessed to make a living performing on stage. With this production of Phantom, she finds the vocal demands of performing two shows a day as Christine, the biggest challenge yet in her career. The show’s first and second act require very different vocal ranges and techniques. Warming up for the second show of the day warrants a very meticulous vocal warm up to switch gears back to the demands of the first act.
Not only for the role of Christine Daae, but for any role, Travis feels it vital to have “real soul eye contact.” That the telling of the story needs to be behind every note sung and every step of blocking and choreography.
Both Travis and Davis are in awe of The Bass Performance Hall and feel the space. Travis commented that she feels the performance space “particularly incredible.” Happily, both performers have had time to enjoy the metroplex’s charm and history with time to explore Fort Worth and a day to relax at The State Fair of Texas.
When any show of this magnitude sweeps into a city, it brings with it a boost to the local economy. Phantom travels with only 15 crew members, but employs 75 local crew members at each stop on its tour. In addition, 17 orchestra members are employed in each city and supporting crew for load in and load out operations.
It takes slightly over two days to unload and set the stage for a production that all comes together in just slightly over 6 weeks of rehearsal.
With this new spectacular production of Phantom comes a re-envisioned Chandelier. This iconic set piece has been given a new and dynamic overhaul. Phantom scenic designer, Paul Brown, brought on 2012 Olympic ring designer Howard Eaton to create the new Chandelier for the new spectacular production. The design is based on the original Paris Opera House’s Chandelier, but is not an exact replica. With it’s one ton magnificence, it sports over 6,000 crystal beads that are routinely cleaned and polished, real gold leaf encrusted fixtures that are touched up and replaced throughout the run of the show, 20 external LED external light globes, 50 pyro elements, 5 different pyro effects during the show and it drops at 10 feet per second. The total range of motion for the crash effect is 32 feet, 2 inches and a separate dedicated motor is used for the rocking effect.
All of the pyro and lighting elements in the Chandelier are wirelessly controlled – including pyro, lights, fog and pneumatics. Prior to each performance, the pyrotechnic crew spends 30 minutes stripping the old pyro and installing the new one for that performance.
It takes the carpentry department 30 minutes to drape and dress the Chandelier that cover it before its big reveal at the beginning of the show. It is transported intact and crated in a suspended fashion to offer it the most protection during travel.
The Bass Performance Hall has truly earned a feather in its cap for bringing this amazing work to Fort Worth and the metroplex.
“The Phantom of the Opera” will perform at the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth thru Sunday, October 30th. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the official website at www.basshall.com
Very cool article! I am seeing it TONIGHT!!!!!!