By Megan Holley
Snow College in Ephraim, Utah is ushering in beauty, drama, thrills, and intrigue with the very popular Broadway hit by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Phantom of the Opera. Phantom of the Opera’s premier performance was in 1986, and is the longest running Broadway show with a total of 12,935 runs and counting.
Bringing Phantom to Snow College is a gigantic feat, and director Milinda Weeks couldn’t have cast this show any better, everyone’s voices blend together nicely and the leads act like their character is their true personality. All principals are simply fantastic.
Christine Dae (Chloe Henry) has a stunning voice that blends marvelously with Meg Giry (Abby Huff), creating a stunning chord during the song “Angel of Music”. Premier Dancer Adam Pili has amazing leaps, so gentle and poised and powerful. The anti-hero, the Phantom, played by Tyler Hughes in his performance of “All I Ask of You Reprise” is heart-wrenching and filled with so much emotion. At the end of the song when he yells out in despair, I felt so bad for him. Carlotta (Talia Diaz) is the stereotypical diva and her voice is incredible. It is comical and marvelous that even when she’s trying to make it sound bad, it’s still amazing. Piangi (Tag Tapusoa) is the comic relief and the best part is when he hides in the closet. The audience really laughed out loud with this. Firmin (Corben Cantrell) and Andre (Than Jones) are the perfect managers in the show, and their voices blend together nicely. Raoul (Zach Grob) has a voice that is smoothness and love—it is awesome. Madame Giry (Taylor Anne) has a commanding presence that matches her authority onstage. Anne’s way of bringing her character to life in such an authentic way adds a wonderful layer to the production. The ensemble offers a nice element to the show by always being engaged in what was going on, a living backdrop to the opulent show.
The Pit Orchestra, directed by Davis Underwood, is phenomenal. They sounded as though it was a recording of a professional Symphony. Along with directing the orchestra, Underwood is the Musical Director as well, and his synergy with cast and musicians really sparkles in the details—so much work!
While using the web we are constantly pushed and forced to be razor sharp focused all the time so that we don’t miss out on this.
Weeks, director of the show as well as Scenic Designer, has created a startling lovely set with one main set but one that can be changed into so many different designs. I loved the detail on one of the headstones in the graveyard scene that reads “Yule B Nest” which is basically “you’ll be next”. Light Designer Ari Jamieson has the lights portray part of the story by changing the color and brightness of the lights due to the setting and mood of the scene. Tim Cheney has the sound nicely balanced throughout the theatre and is surround sound, however the microphones sometimes get very loud, making it difficult to pick out the various parts of the songs. Pili choreographed the entire musical beautifully and the way he chose to choreograph the dancers using pointe and ballet flats was astonishing, one second the dancers would be on pointe and the next they’d be in ballet flats. The costumes by Kathleen Hansen are absolutely stunning, the Masquerade ballgowns were my favorite because they were so beautiful and elegant, not to mention every costume fit the time period perfectly. The Projection Design and Artistry by Jay Edwards is brilliant, the way he uses them to aid in Madame Giry’s story of the Phantom is perfection. It reminded me of Harry Potter when they’re talking about the story of the Deathly Hallows and they have the little animation in black and white of the story.
This is a family friendly show that is sure to excite the children (five years of age and older) and teens into wanting to participate in the arts. As a musical of this caliber is one that shouldn’t be missed, come to see Phantom of the Opera at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah before it’s too late.
No children under 5 are allowed into the show.
Snow College presents The Phantom of the Opera, Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lyrics by Charles Hart. Book by Richard Stilgoe & Andrew Lloyd Webber; Based on the novel Le Fantome de ‘l’Opéra by Gaston
Snow College, 150 College Ave. Ephraim, Utah 84627
March 1-2, 7-9, 2019 7:30 PM; Matinee March 2, 2019 1:00 PM
Tickets: Adults $10.00; Seniors/high school and Younger $9.00; Snow College Students $3.00 with Activity Card
Contact: 435-283-7000
Snow College Eccles Center for the Performing Arts Facebook Page Snow College Theater Guild Facebook Page
The Phantom of the Opera Facebook Event
Megan Holley, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Milinda Weeks, Chloe Henry, Abby Huff, Adam Pili, Tyler Hughes, Talia Diaz, Tag Tapusoa, Corben Cantrell, Than Jones, Zach Grob, Taylor Anne, Davis Underwood, Ari Jamieson, Tim Cheney, Kathleen Hansen, Jay Edwards, Utah, Ephraim, Snow College, Phantom of the Opera
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