Andrew is honored to be working under director Hal Prince, having
previously worked with him on the 25th anniversary national tour of
Evita (Magaldi; and u/s for Che). Most recently he completed the
national tour of the Tony Award winning The Light In The Piazza.
Other favorites: The Hot Mikado (Nanki-Poo – San Francisco Critics
Nomination), Joseph…. Dreamcoat (Joseph – San Francisco Critics
Circle Award), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
(Miles Gloriosus – Arizoni Critics Award)Thoroughly Modern Millie
(Trevor Graydon), Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Gabriel), Follies (Young
Ben). Andrew would like to thank the amazing Dianna Shuster in
guiding and training him in his career, as well as Kim Jordan who
played an important part in giving him an important break. And, all
his love to his family and friends who are his rock!
Thank you so much dear Andrew for your wonderful interview and for
your friendship.
Sandra - What has meant for your artistic career being part of the
Phantom of the Opera, Webber's musical?
Andrew - It's been so fulfilling. I first saw the show when I was in
High School and my voice teacher, Ravil Atlas, was Piangi in the San
Francisco version of the show. So, it was one of the key shows that
inspired me to love musical theater and my desire to pursue this as a
career. Now being part of the show is like my life coming full circle
and has so much meaning.
Sandra - What are some of the aspects you have brought into your
interpretation of the Raoul?
Andrew - Well, prior to rehearsal I went back to the novel, which I had
read before, but needed to refresh my memory on some of the
backstory. It reminded me how much class initially plays such a part
of who this man is. So, that would inform me where to get started as
far as his posture and use of language, how someone of that place in
society would act during that time period. I think moments I enjoy in
the beginning of the show are the scene in the dressing room where he
& Christine really remember & relive their youth. It's a moment where
Raoul can let a tiny bit of that facade down for a moment, because of
the fondness of those memories. I think Raoul can be chivalrious,
charming, entitled, cocky, loving, and noble.....at different moments.
And since I am in week #3 of shows, I know I will continue to explore
and develop all those aspects as well as find new discoveries.
Sandra - What scene/song of the Phantom musical is your favourite
and why.
Andrew - Several. A strangely amazing moment to me is the finale
where the 3 characters are all relating to one another and expressing
themselves. Not only is the drama & music so exciting, for Raoul I feel
this deep personal responsibility for putting Christine in the position
to be captured again by the Phantom and now having to choose. That
thought weighs heavily on me in the scene, that I CAUSED this now to
happen. Also, the scene on the rooftop into All I Ask Of You is so
interesting. To start off and feel like I am powerless to calm
Christine's hysteria, then to hold her in my arms at last and then that
hysteria finally settling and allowing us to look straight at each other &
finally say I love you! How cool & romantic is that?
Sandra - Can you tell us a good anecdote of the show you remember ?
Andrew - Well, my 4th show on I finish the "Little Lotte" scene in the
dressing room, open the door & go to run down the stairs and fall all
the way down. Of course the audience gasped, I played it off and ran
off to get my coat and hat. I wasn't hurt which was good....just a
bruised ego! :) Haha. But that's the glory of live theater. Had a great
rest of the show besides that so if nothing it made me determined.
Also, my 2 good friends are John Cudia & Kathy Voytko and they hold
my favorite story of Phantom where when they were Raoul &
Christine in All I Ask Of You, John was standing on Kathy's cape &
picks her up to kiss her and they both go tumbling to the stage. They
had to get up and quickly sing. Kathy's going to kill me for retelling
the story...but you better believe I've thought about that when I can
feel myself stepping on her cape in that scene!
Sandra - What is it, in your opinion, that makes the show so appealing?
Andrew - I think it's so many things that all interplay together.
Certainly the story is so compelling....drama, romance, rejection,
longing....things we all go through on smaller scales, but all things we
can identify with. The music certainly brings this all together in
gorgeous & complex melodies. I think also what has given the show
such longevity is the artistic team that has taken care of the show. In all
the departments they care DEEPLY that this piece is explored and given
all the continous care. I was so impressed and honored to see the team
from NY & London who came in during my first week and they truly
are inspirational and have such care and guidance. When you are
backed by that, it makes you even better and more inspired. SO....
when all the pieces of this show are put together...the music, acting,
singing, dancing, drama...the synergy of those all make it irrisistable to
the audience.
Sandra - What is your opinion about your character, Raoul, and the
other two main characters, the Phantom and Christine?
Andrew - My opinion of Christine are such fond ones. I start the show
in "Think of Me" as certainly a person of the society of the times, and I
think my opinion is that Raoul finds a certain boredom in that society.
He doesn't buck that, but I think he's had to grow up and now becomes
a part of society. But the chance running into Christine & witnessing
her triumph brings him back to a time when he was a more free as
well as being amazed at far Christine has now gone with her career. He
is amazed by how Christine is now the lead singer at the Paris Opera
after being just children together. And from this grows the seeds of
love between them. Now, the Phantom throws a loop into all this. I
think Raoul is confused by all the talk of the Angel of Music &
Phantom talk....is it just in Christine's imagination. But then dangerous
& malicious events start occuring. I think he sees the Phantom as a
danger to Christine which then must be stopped.
Sandra - You have been in musicals so famous like Evita, Beauty and
Beast, The light in La Piazza, etc., what role would you like to play
some day?
Andrew - Interesting question!! I think I'd like to get to originate some
roles...I would love to play Christian in the musical version of
MOULIN ROUGE if that gets off it's feet at some point. But, I would
love to also get a chance to tackle the side of the Phantom from his
point of view. I think the complexedness in that role and how his
loneliness and passion drive his actions.
Sandra - What is your favorite musical?
Andrew - Favorite shows: Phantom, Les Miserables, Into The Woods,
A Little Night Music, The Color Purple, Sondheim's Follies, Aspects of
Love, Chess.
Sandra - Can you tell us about your future projects?
Andrew - Well, I will be with Phantom for the upcoming year. But look
for some cabarets I will put together over this time. And also going to
get working on an album of songs I've loved over the years, so excited
to see what songs end up being put together.
Sandra - Dedicate some words to your fans.
Andrew - Thank you so much for all the support and kind words. I've
already had lots of support. I look forward to a great upcoming year
and want to work hard at being great in this role. I hope I get to meet
some of the fans of the show over this time!
Interview Copyright by Ladyghost.
