"A Place For Us," the "West Side Story" 50th Anniversary tribute album features a special new recording of "Tonight" sung by Hugh Panaro and Kristin Chenoweth

Or,click here to purchase "Tonight" at iTunes

 

Order "Simply Barbra Duets" featuring Hugh Panaro on "If We Were In Love"

 

"Broadway Damage" a romantic comedy featuring Hugh Panaro as David

Hugh redefines the role.  He brings this sexy creature to the front, but he also has this childlike persona that could break down like a five-year old at any moment.  He's breathtaking.

~ Stephen Buntrock, Martin Guerre

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For over two years (and 1,005 performances), Hugh Panaro played the lead in one of the most amazing Broadway musicals, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera."

He was brilliant in his portrayal of the disfigured musical genius who haunts a Parisian opera house and becomes obsessed with a beautiful young soprano.  Hugh has a truly beautiful voice, a dark and charismatic stage presence, incredible body language that ranged from the power of the Mirror and Boat scenes, the exquisite seduction of "The Music of the Night," and the way his anger gave way to a heartbreaking crawl across the stage when he was first unmasked.  And his Final Lair was powerful...he's sarcastic, childish, enraged, giddy, insane, arrogant, gleeful, terrifying, and, ultimately, a broken soul. His sobbed "I love you...I love you," his "It's over now, the music of the night," and the resigned way he lets the veil fall from his hand as he walks to the throne, knowing it is truly over....well, they were wonderful beyond words.

He had previously played Raoul, the Phantom's rival for Christine Daae's love.

Hugh's final performance as The Phantom was on October 1, 2005.

The Phantom of The Opera - official site

Video clip - Hugh and other cast members talk about the musical's 7000th performance

NY1 feature on the musical's enduring appeal - includes a brief interview with Hugh

I think it's such a classic piece with classic themes...the love triangle... basically between two men who could have been the same person except one was born with a deformity and had the same capacity to love as the rich, wealthy, good-looking one, but because of his affliction, people don't see beyond that. And I think that's such a powerful theme. I think that's why the show attracts so many people. Because we all have our wound, whether it's some we wear on our face or, you know, a childhood trauma or whatever, I think everyone identifies with the Phantom in some way because of that sense of pain.

Hugh Panaro on "The Phantom of The Opera"

 

Following Hugh's final performance as the Phantom, his lovely co-star, Sandra Joseph made this speech during the curtain call.

Please have a seat. We'd just like to take up another moment of your time to...

For those of you who haven't already figured it out, this is a very emotional and special night for all of us here at Phantom.  It's a very sad night for us because after two years this time around, six months back in 1999 and a grand total of 1,005 performances, tonight was the final show for our wonderful Phantom, Hugh Panaro.  He deserves all of that and more.  It is also a very happy occasion because we're celebrating tonight with Hugh. He is leaving us for a very good reason. He is going to be the star in Elton John's brand new musical Lestat which opens at the Palace Theater in April.  And I can't wait to see all of you in line at the box office the day that tickets go on sale. I know that I will be the first in line, because truly anything that Hugh Panaro is a part of is not to be missed. This kind of God-given talent is unsurpassed and his singing and acting and his natural ability is so remarkable. But what is even more remarkable is the kind of person that he is. He is so humble and so dear and so funny and silly and he's also got movie star good looks underneath that makeup.  It has been such a privilege for all of us to share the stage with you. He comes out here eight times a week and just pours his heart and soul into each performance. He never takes any of his gifts for granted and he just sets the bar so high for all of us, he lifts us up and makes us better.  And though he can come out here night after night and make you cry, backstage, he makes us laugh every single night. He brings such joy into the room, and Hugh, I know that I speak for everyone onstage, backstage, in the orchestra and in the front of the house when I say that we love you so much. We will miss you terribly, but we wish you all the success and happiness that you so deserve.

And thank you most of all, thank you so much for sharing your gifts with us and your generosity as a performer and as a friend.

The final curtain call on October 1, 2005

Hugh Panaro's beautiful performance of "The Music of the Night" at the Bucks County Cabaret