PHirst Ever Global Phantom of the Opera Day!

On September 23, 2011 the PHirst ever global phantom of the opera day took place. Global Phantom of the Opera day was a product of brainstorming among a PHew Phantom Phans. I thought of it after National Coffee Day took place last year, Rebecca Timmons pitched in to make the day global not national for Phans everywhere, not just US Phans. September 23, I believe is the first publication of Leroux's novel which is why the date was picked. For me it was a great PHirst global Phantom of the Opera day as I had a gathering with some phans who came down to Manhattan for the weekend, details of this gathering will be in an entry to follow.

September 2011 Sexy Phantom!

Howard with an Erik Buddy!

I am seriously shocked I haven't made this man my sexy phantom the day I decided to create the monthly sexy phantoms! I'm also so happy I thought about him when perusing my chart of previous sexy phantoms and wondering if this was the month I was going to be at a loss regarding which sexy phantom to name. Ladies get ready to mop up some drool our man of the month is Howard McGillin.

But this his how we really like to see him, mask please!

Phantom Variations by Ann C. Hall REVIEW

Phantom Variations: The Adaptations of Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera, 1925 to the Present

I haven't read any phantom of the opera literature recently although I have a lot on my kindle and a ton of books too, so when I finished my coffeehouse mysteries on the kindle, I decided to go to my phantom collection and chose to read this work by Ann Hall. I was pretty impressed, she looks deeply into the meanings of different versions of the story and provides a lot of insight as to why which version might have been made this way and why another version was made differently. This book satisfies a phantom nerd's mind in regards to the phantom of the opera variations available for viewing. It also inspires me to possibly become a phantom scholar, although some of my friends are already convinced that I'd have a Ph.D in the subject if it was offered in universities. If you wish to delve deeper into phantom this is definitely a good read, kudos to Ms. Hall for creating this work. 

Oxford Bookworms Library: The Phantom of the Opera REVIEW

The Oxford Bookworms Library: The Phantom of the Opera Level 1 (Oxford Bookworms Library: Stage 1)

I feel like I haven't reviewed anything to do with phantom of the opera for a very long time, except for a review of the live Broadway show. Before hitting the sack I decided to read this very simplified version of the Gaston Leroux novel that I just bought from Amazon a few weeks ago.

Jennifer Bassett writes this adaptation of Gaston Leroux's novel. It is pretty much very true to the tale, but it's very simplified as it's meant for a small child to read. In addition to the story  there is a glossary, and questions to answer before you read the book, while you are reading the book and after you read the book. These additional pages make this book a worthy tool for teachers who chose to introduce young kids to phantom of the opera.....or maybe it's just perfect for the crazy phan intending to make sure their future children know everything about the phantom of the opera.

Not a bad book to have in your phantom collection, especially when you want to teach your young relatives about phantom of the opera.

Sexy Phantom for August 2011

In the scary lair

Terrorizing members of the masked ball

This month's sexy phantom isn't all too sexy but I figured he deserves a small recognition...and he's alright. Truth be told sometimes I'm left puzzled for the month wondering which sexy phantom I shall pick. I need to obtain a list of Broadway and London phantoms as well as phantoms on tours so I have plenty of sexy phantom ammo. So here it is this month we salute Robert Englund star of the 1989 slasher phantom. This movie version of the story isn't the greatest, it's is own art form as far as bringing true horror and gore to the story, it's still better than the 1999 Julian Sands version and don't you guys and gals worry, I will stop naming a sexy phantom before I name the star of the Julian Sands version sexy because he looked too much like Raoul and did not wear a mask. Also the gore porn version of a beautiful story is not appreciated, I don't know which has the higher grossness factor Love Never Dies or the 1999 Julian Sands version. Okay enough ranting here's two photos of the great Robert Englund who scared us as Freddy and created an extremely gory, scary Erik.

Phantom #44 Review - July 15, 2011 Majestic Theatre and this blog writer's surprise proposal

Last night I had the fortunate luck of seeing Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theatre for my 44th time. Shawn was at a loss for my birthday present and asked me if I wanted phantom tickets, of course I could never refuse a set of phantom tickets (especially from my new fiancee) so we went to the show. We didn't get autographs this time, we plan on attending a phan gathering in September so I figured we'd save the meet and greet the cast again for the phan gathering.

There were a few new cast members we saw last night in addition to some familiar ones, every single actor was absolutely spectacular for this performance. Hugh Panaro as always did a wonderful job in the role of the phantom. Every time I see him he performs the role a little differently and seems to get better and better. Last night he was very gesterful with his hands, he bought out the monstrous side of the phantom but also made you feel the sadness and the pain of his character as well. Sara Jean Ford was an awesome Christine opposite Hugh. You could feel the tensed up chemistry between their two characters.

Kyle Barisich played the role of Raoul. He was good but didn't really stand out to me...then again Raoul is a character I prefer to conveniently forget about. Michelle McConnell was Carlotta she played an utmost excellent diva. Jessica Bishop played Meg she was also very wonderful in her role.

After the performance was over and the security guard was trying to chase every one out of the theatre, Shawn took me toward the front of the stage by the Orchestra pit. I thought we were going to be kicked out too but the security guard knew something I did not. Shawn said he had a question for me and he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes faster than I'd ever down a cup of coffee then he took out the ring which for some reason I thought he might not have but I didn't care. We hugged, we kissed the orchestra clapped for us and Shawn gave me the dream proposal of a phantom phan.

So for now this newly engaged phan is signing off until it's either time to pick a sexy phantom for the month or I have another review, or something very incredible to report regarding POTO!

July's Sexy Phantom! 2011

Imagine the possibility of waking up to this grin in the morning...if you're a single horny phan may you have the most pleasant fantasy of this dream come true occurring. 

January, June and July! For me these three months are favorite phantom months. January because phantom made it's broadway premiere at the end of January on January 26, 1988, June because it is my phaniversary and July because it's my birthday and I've seen the show a few different years on my birthday because how else would a phantom phan celebrate the day! This year for the month of July may all of us who are attracted to the phantom drool over my sexy phantom pick TIM MARTIN GLEASON! He's one of the phantoms to play both Raoul and the phantom, of course unless you're a Raoul lover he looks a million times better when he's in phantom garb.

Tim Martin Gleason unmasked with Trista Moldovan and Kelly Jeanne Grant, this was closing night at the Pantages Theater October 31, 2010