OPERA more than 1,000 times on Broadway and with the national tour,
singing for both former Presidents Clinton and Bush (at a command
performance at the White House) and earning a Helen Hayes Award
nomination and a Carbonell Award along the way. She was also seen on
Broadway in the revival of SHE LOVES ME where she stood by for and
played the role of Amalia. Regionally she played the title role in FANNY
opposite the late José Ferrer at the Paper Mill Playhouse, and starred in the
world premiere of SONGS FROM THE TALL GRASS at the Ford's Theatre in
Washington , D.C.
Ms. Bibb has been a featured soloist in tributes honoring Lord Andrew Lloyd
Webber, Stephen Sondheim, and Harold Prince, including "The Broadway
Prince" at Carnegie Hall (with Len Cariou and Elaine Stritch) and four annual
"The Night of 1,000 Voices" concerts at London 's Royal Albert Hall. She sang
duets with José Carreras Radio City Music Hall , sang a gala at Donald Trump’
s Mar-a-Lago estate, and in 2002 starred in "One Enchanted Evening" in
Belfast , Northern Ireland . She has sung with orchestras across the US ,
including the Santa Fe , St. Louis and Pacific Symphonies and the New York
Pops; and can be heard on the recordings "Unsung Irving Berlin," "A Gala
Concert for Hal Prince" and "The Leading Ladies" (a trio of Broadway’s
“Christines” from PHANTOM which she co-created).
In the Los Angeles area Teri has been seen as Lily in THE SECRET GARDEN
(South Bay C.L.O.), Amalia in SHE LOVES ME (Musical Theatre West) and
Marian in THE MUSIC MAN (Performance Riverside). She also sang the role
of Clara in the LA concert premiere of Sondheim's PASSION (for
MTG/Reprise!). She has guest starred on TV, been a supporting player on
film, and has sung on several film scores, including “102 Dalmatians,” “Ice
Age” and “Polar Express.” This season Teri was a featured soloist on ABC’s
“Dancing with the Stars.”
Thank you so much dear Teri, you are a wonderful friend and I wish you all
the best good luck in your career.
Sandra - What has meant for your artistic career being part of the Phantom of
the Opera in Webber's musical?
Teri - Getting the role of Christine in PHANTOM was one of the most
important moments of my career – having the opportunity to work with the
incomparable Hal Prince was especially exciting for me. My years with
PHANTOM brought me so many wonderful experiences and opportunities; it
will forever be a part of me.
Sandra - What scene/song of the Phantom musical is your favorite and why.
Teri - The “Don Juan” scene was always my favorite. It was fun getting to be
so sensual, the music was some of my favorite to sing, and — it was nice to be
in a shorter dress that I wasn’t tripping all over! :)
Sandra - What are some of the aspects you have brought into your
interpretation of Christine?
Teri - I tried to always bring an intelligence and healthy curiosity to Christine
... In the midst of all the horror and fear she had for the Phantom, it was their
shared love of the music that drew them together, and it seemed to me she
wanted to learn all she could from him.
Sandra - How did you prepared for Christine role? Did you see any movie or
read the book?
Teri - Yes, I read the book a couple of times, and saw the original film. I also
took lots of ballet classes!
Sandra - How was your experience singing as Christine at the White House?
Teri - That was a most magical night! We were treated like royalty; ate dinner
with the President and the First Lady, and then had a military escort take us
backstage to await the performance. I was so nervous! But the audience was
so enthusiastic, and the President could not have been warmer to us — plus
my husband got to be there, too, so it was extra special.
Sandra - What do you think about Christine role and her relationship with the
Phantom and Raoul?
Teri - Well, I think that Christine’s relationship with the Phantom is very
complicated. There are many aspects to it: he’s a big father figure to her — I
think she mixes up her feelings for her lost father with her feelings for the
Phantom a lot — he’s also her teacher and mentor, and I think, later in the
show, part of her might even be drawn a little to his dark side. She loves him,
but realizes she can’t be with him after all the horrible things he has done.
Her feelings for Raoul are more simple – he’s a childhood friend, has known
her basically all her life, and she loves and trusts him . He’s safe.
Sandra - What is it, in your opinion, what makes the show so appealing?
Teri - Someone once said that making a hit musical is a little like catching
lightening in the bottle. It’s so rare that you find one that really speaks to
millions, that can stand the test of time. I think with this show there are
many factors: timeless story, beautiful music, gorgeous set design, brilliant
director. But other shows have had those things, but lacked that intangible
substance that makes the truly classic ones.
Sandra - Can you tell us a good anecdote you remember from the play or the
rehearsals?
Teri - Gosh, there are so many silly things that happen in rehearsals, and live
theatre is always full of surprises! I guess one would be when I sprained my
ankle really badly during previews at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.
C. I was determined not to miss my opening night, so I performed the show
with an air-cast on my ankle — and did the entire show only able to bear
weight on one leg. I sort-of hop/skipped on one toe and the other foot —
luckily my long dresses hid it and nobody in the audience knew.
Sandra - How did begin the project of The Phantom's Leading Ladies which
puts together five wonderful singers who have played Christine role (Karen
Culliver, Mary D'Arcy, Luann Aronson, Lisa Vroman and you)?
Teri - Oh, this is one of my favorite things to talk about! It all started when
Karen Culliver, Lisa Vroman and I met over coffee and lemon cake one
afternoon in 2000 — we were all living in Los Angeles, were all friends, and
decided we should try singing together. Our first event was at the Library of
Congress in Washington, DC in May of 2001. We’ve been singing together
ever since, and have added Mary D’Arcy and Luann Aronson to the mix as
well. Even though we’d all known each other for years, and all played the
same roles, we’d hardly ever had the chance to work TOGETHER. Now we
get to, and we love it.
Sandra - How was your experience singing with Jose Carreras?
Teri - That was amazing! First of all, it was at Radio City Music Hall – the
largest audience I’d ever sung for. And Mr. Carreras is a legend – an
incredible talent – and yet he was charming and down-to-earth, and made me
feel so comfortable singing with him.
Sandra - What are your current and future projects?
Teri - Well, I leave this Friday for 9 days in Florida with “The Phantom’s
Leading Ladies.” We’re doing a little mini-tour of the Century Village
Theatres there. In March I’m doing a solo concert for a theatre company in
Idaho, and I have several other concerts with symphonies and other singers
coming up later this year. I also am in the midst singing on a couple of
animated series; I really enjoy the recording work here in Los Angeles.
Sandra - What would you say to your fans?
Teri - Musical theatre fans are the most loyal and wonderful in the world, and
thank goodness have them! In a time when many arts organizations are
struggling, it’s the people that buy the tickets and keep supporting this
wonderful art form that keeps us artists working! I’m personally very
grateful to them all.
Teri Bibb is going to make a wonderful appearance in the Night of 100 voices
next May in London.
Interview Copyright by Ladyghost.
Photos are taken with their author permission.
Teri Bibb and Ladyghost.
Teri Bibb and Ladyghost.
