David Gashen
DAVID GASCHEN a world wide renown vocalist and performer, is no
stranger to art of entertaining. David got his start at the early age of 15
and has not looked back. A graduate of the Texas Tech University
School of Music, David received his degree in Vocal performance. After
graduation, David moved to Chicago, Illinois to begin following his
dream of being on Broadway . A veteran of over twenty shows, he
landed leading roles of Frederic in the Pirates of Penznace and Karl
Franz in The Student Prince with Light Opera Works in Chicago and
then in May of 1995 David was given the chance of a lifetime. He was
cast as the Phantom Alternate in the original Swiss Production of
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. At the age of 26
David was the youngest Phantom to be cast in the Phantom of the
Opera. After playing the Phantom for two years in Switzerland, David
was asked to reprise his role of Phantom in the German Production of
The Phantom of the Opera. While in Europe, David performed the role
of The Phantom well over 1000 times.
In the summer of 1999, David was asked to be in the cast of The Phantom
of the Opera on Broadway. He made his Broadway debut as the Phantom
in November of 1999. David has now performed the role of Phantom
over 1300 times.
David Gaschen, David has also recorded Let me Sing and I’m Happy
solo CD and is also on the CD Broadway’s Fabulous Phantoms with the
likes of Howard McGillin, Hugh Panaro and the original Phantom of the
Opera, Michael Crawford.
David has performed in a variety of benefit performances which include
The Susan Komen Race for the Cure, Lubbock Christian Schools benefit
for Christian education. The Bishop Defalco retreat center in Amarillo,
Texas, Benefit for St. Thomas More Church in Darien, CT, The Junior
League of Lubbock, The Chancellors Gala Dinner at Texas Tech
University, Christ the King Cathedral benefit for Catholic education, as
well as the Lullaby of Broadway at the Marriott Marquis hotel in New
York City. In addition to his benefits, David has also done the voice over
work for numerous companies including United Supermarkets.
David is very proud of his Lubbock Texas heritage. In September of
2006, David was inducted into the Buddy Holly Walk of Fame in
Lubbock for outstanding contributions to the field of music. He also
received the distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and
Performing Arts at Texas Tech University.
Thank you dear David, for your friendship and for being a wonderful
person.
Sandra - What has meant for your artistic career being the Phantom of
the Opera in Webber's musical?
David - It has been absolutely amazing! It has opened so many doors for
me that would have been more difficult to open had I not been the
Phantom.
Sandra - I know you are he youngest Phantom to be cast (only with 26!),
what did you feel when you were chosen to play the role? Tell us about
your experience.
David - I was blown away. I was already in Basel when I was cast as the
Alternate Phantom and Hal Prince saw me perform and gave the O.K.
for for me to be Phantom. It was the most incredible feeling. I am a
lucky guy to be able to do this!!!
Sandra - What scene/song of the Phantom musical is your favourite and
why. And the hardest song to sing?
David - My favorite would be the final lair, but right behind it would
have to be the end of the first act when I am in the angel, singing the
reprise of All I ask of You. I love that scene. It defines the Phantom for
the rest of the show. It shows that the Phantom is so alone and just can
not take it any more.
Sandra - What are some of the aspects you have brought into your
interpretation of the Phantom?
David - Well, I think my best attribute is my singing and control of my
voice. I also think that my Phantom is very powerful, yet very, very hurt
and vulneraable. I believe there must be that dichotomy of emotions to
give the Phantom a rounded and complete character.
Sandra - What is it, in your opinion, that makes the show so appealing?
David - I think because everyone has felt the absolute loneliness and
pain that the Phantom has. It is also the character that you hate to love at
the end of the show. he has killes two men and yet you still want
Christine to go with him because he is so hurt and full of pain!
Sandra - What did you find most difficult to prepare for your role? Did
you read any book or see any movie?
David - At the time I started in Basel, we were singing it in German, so I
had to translate the entire show to English in order to get the point across
in German. Plus I was not fluent in German when I started and you do
not want to sound like an American speaking German if you cn help it!!!
I did read the book, and it did help a tremendous amount. I did see the
movie too.
Sandra - What is your opinion about your main character, the Phantom?
David - Phantom is a lonely hurt person who has so much to give to the
world but because of his deformity he has been stepped on and ridiculed
and shunned from society. I think the Phantom has what everyone has
in the core of their soul, the need to be loved and accepted.
Sandra - You have been part of wonderful operas like Le elixir d'amore,
Gianni Schicchi, etc.,what do you prefer musical world or opera?
David - Musicals anyday!!!!
Sandra - You have been in geat musicals like the Phantom of the Opera,
Brigadoom, Grease, Godspell, The pirates of Penzance, Patience..., what
is the role you would like to play some day?
David - I would love to play Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. In my
opinion is the best and most difficult role to play in musical theater. It
is such a wonderful role... maybe someday, we will see.
Sandra - What would you say to your fans?
David - SO many of my fans and fans of the show have been so very
kind at me and I can only thank them for being such a bright spot in my
life. They have been a true blessing to me. Everyone has been so excited
and in awe of the show, It makes you feel great. The one thing I can tell
them is keep going, because you are helping me pay for my house!!!!!
Interview exclusive for this site.
Please, don't copy this text without my permission.
Copyright by Ladyghost.
stranger to art of entertaining. David got his start at the early age of 15
and has not looked back. A graduate of the Texas Tech University
School of Music, David received his degree in Vocal performance. After
graduation, David moved to Chicago, Illinois to begin following his
dream of being on Broadway . A veteran of over twenty shows, he
landed leading roles of Frederic in the Pirates of Penznace and Karl
Franz in The Student Prince with Light Opera Works in Chicago and
then in May of 1995 David was given the chance of a lifetime. He was
cast as the Phantom Alternate in the original Swiss Production of
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. At the age of 26
David was the youngest Phantom to be cast in the Phantom of the
Opera. After playing the Phantom for two years in Switzerland, David
was asked to reprise his role of Phantom in the German Production of
The Phantom of the Opera. While in Europe, David performed the role
of The Phantom well over 1000 times.
In the summer of 1999, David was asked to be in the cast of The Phantom
of the Opera on Broadway. He made his Broadway debut as the Phantom
in November of 1999. David has now performed the role of Phantom
over 1300 times.
David Gaschen, David has also recorded Let me Sing and I’m Happy
solo CD and is also on the CD Broadway’s Fabulous Phantoms with the
likes of Howard McGillin, Hugh Panaro and the original Phantom of the
Opera, Michael Crawford.
David has performed in a variety of benefit performances which include
The Susan Komen Race for the Cure, Lubbock Christian Schools benefit
for Christian education. The Bishop Defalco retreat center in Amarillo,
Texas, Benefit for St. Thomas More Church in Darien, CT, The Junior
League of Lubbock, The Chancellors Gala Dinner at Texas Tech
University, Christ the King Cathedral benefit for Catholic education, as
well as the Lullaby of Broadway at the Marriott Marquis hotel in New
York City. In addition to his benefits, David has also done the voice over
work for numerous companies including United Supermarkets.
David is very proud of his Lubbock Texas heritage. In September of
2006, David was inducted into the Buddy Holly Walk of Fame in
Lubbock for outstanding contributions to the field of music. He also
received the distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and
Performing Arts at Texas Tech University.
Thank you dear David, for your friendship and for being a wonderful
person.
Sandra - What has meant for your artistic career being the Phantom of
the Opera in Webber's musical?
David - It has been absolutely amazing! It has opened so many doors for
me that would have been more difficult to open had I not been the
Phantom.
Sandra - I know you are he youngest Phantom to be cast (only with 26!),
what did you feel when you were chosen to play the role? Tell us about
your experience.
David - I was blown away. I was already in Basel when I was cast as the
Alternate Phantom and Hal Prince saw me perform and gave the O.K.
for for me to be Phantom. It was the most incredible feeling. I am a
lucky guy to be able to do this!!!
Sandra - What scene/song of the Phantom musical is your favourite and
why. And the hardest song to sing?
David - My favorite would be the final lair, but right behind it would
have to be the end of the first act when I am in the angel, singing the
reprise of All I ask of You. I love that scene. It defines the Phantom for
the rest of the show. It shows that the Phantom is so alone and just can
not take it any more.
Sandra - What are some of the aspects you have brought into your
interpretation of the Phantom?
David - Well, I think my best attribute is my singing and control of my
voice. I also think that my Phantom is very powerful, yet very, very hurt
and vulneraable. I believe there must be that dichotomy of emotions to
give the Phantom a rounded and complete character.
Sandra - What is it, in your opinion, that makes the show so appealing?
David - I think because everyone has felt the absolute loneliness and
pain that the Phantom has. It is also the character that you hate to love at
the end of the show. he has killes two men and yet you still want
Christine to go with him because he is so hurt and full of pain!
Sandra - What did you find most difficult to prepare for your role? Did
you read any book or see any movie?
David - At the time I started in Basel, we were singing it in German, so I
had to translate the entire show to English in order to get the point across
in German. Plus I was not fluent in German when I started and you do
not want to sound like an American speaking German if you cn help it!!!
I did read the book, and it did help a tremendous amount. I did see the
movie too.
Sandra - What is your opinion about your main character, the Phantom?
David - Phantom is a lonely hurt person who has so much to give to the
world but because of his deformity he has been stepped on and ridiculed
and shunned from society. I think the Phantom has what everyone has
in the core of their soul, the need to be loved and accepted.
Sandra - You have been part of wonderful operas like Le elixir d'amore,
Gianni Schicchi, etc.,what do you prefer musical world or opera?
David - Musicals anyday!!!!
Sandra - You have been in geat musicals like the Phantom of the Opera,
Brigadoom, Grease, Godspell, The pirates of Penzance, Patience..., what
is the role you would like to play some day?
David - I would love to play Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. In my
opinion is the best and most difficult role to play in musical theater. It
is such a wonderful role... maybe someday, we will see.
Sandra - What would you say to your fans?
David - SO many of my fans and fans of the show have been so very
kind at me and I can only thank them for being such a bright spot in my
life. They have been a true blessing to me. Everyone has been so excited
and in awe of the show, It makes you feel great. The one thing I can tell
them is keep going, because you are helping me pay for my house!!!!!
Interview exclusive for this site.
Please, don't copy this text without my permission.
Copyright by Ladyghost.
David Gashen with Michael Crawford.
David Gashen as the Phantom
