BWW Interviews: 'Phantom' Tim Martin Gleason

The music of the night will begin playing again in Atlanta soon, for what could be the last time at the Fabulous Fox. The Phantom of the Opera, the smash hit, mega-musical that has become a worldwide phenomenon and a piece of musical theatre history will make its last stop at Atlanta's Fox Theatre June 30– July 18 before closing this November. I had the pleasure to talk about the tour and this beautiful show straight from the mouth of the Phantom himself, Tim Martin Gleason.

Tim, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with me today. I am excited to hear about the show and I know our readers will be too. We are really looking forward to Phantom's return to Atlanta!

My pleasure.

Tell us about yourself. I understand you have a very interesting story of how you got into the business?

Well, I never thought in a million years of doing this for a living, so I never went down that path as I grew up. I went to school for psychology in college, only because I found it interesting. I didn't quite know what I wanted to do with my life so I got my psych degree. I went off into business because that is what you did. I had been singing the whole time, in church choir and doing plays in high school and college, but always just for fun. A couple years out of school I was sitting in a dead end job, miserable and I decided I needed to do some theatre again. I figured that was what was missing in my life. So I started auditioning for community theatre, got a few roles and the bug bit me there. It was in New Jersey, so it was connected enough to New York where some people knew some people and they were like, "Hey! you should go." So I started sticking my foot in New York a little bit. I was singing in a piano bar late one night and there was an agent there and that's how it all started.

And this is the "farewell" tour of Phantom or sorts, right? How much longer does this tour have left?

The tour itself has been going seventeen years non-stop and they just decided a couple months ago that it was time to close. I think what they may want to do is shelve it for some time, and maybe redesign it to make it a little smaller. It is so expensive to move, with twenty year technology and it takes nineteen trucks to travel the show. With the economy and such, it just doesn't sell like it used to, so they looked around and said maybe now is a good time to do this. So yeah, the tour is coming to a close in November and its kind of historic.

Does that weigh on you and the rest of the cast knowing you are bringing this phenomenon to a close (at least on the road?)

Yeah, I think it's a little bittersweet. They told us about four months ago, which is nice. We had a nine month notice, which is more than you could ever ask for, so that was really great so we could process it and enjoy it. I am sure it will get sad at the end, but at the moment it's business as usual.

And you have a very personal connection to the show, being the actor who has played Raoul the most, correct?

I believe it's the most in American history, it could be the world. I don't think they did the research outside the U.S.. But, yes in America I have done the most Raouls.

Let's talk about that for a moment. How hard is that playing a role, like Raoul day in day out for so long and suddenly switching to another (Phantom). Was it more challenging or less than starting in a role completely fresh with no connection to the show?

Well the whole time I was Raoul I was a Phantom understudy, so for seven years I had been rehearsing the role of The Phantom. By the time I took over the role I had probably done it about 150 times. So, when I took over it wasn't a challenge at all, it was the obvious progression. The challenge came when on a given day if I had to do Phantom in the afternoon and Raoul at night, that could get confusing, but it kept it fun and exciting.

Now we all know the Phantom is a very iconic role in musical theatre, some might even say the most recognizable. What's it like stepping out on stage each night in such a historical role in theatre history?

It's quite an honor, it really is. I don't mean to be cliché, it truly is. It never slips past me the fact that I have been given this gift, to play this role. At first it was a little intimidating, but I got over that pretty quickly and then it turned into respect knowing that you have a job to do. And then, if you are in the right frame of mind and in a good place, that's a good thing and something you look forward to. It's very validating as a performer to be able to play this role and to be able to sink my teeth into such deep complicated emotions.

How do you make a role like that your own? How do you add your own personal stamp?

Well, the big-wigs, the people that teach you the role, the bosses in NY who keep the show in the shape it is in, all the way up to Hal Prince who originally directed it, they are always very encouraging of you making it your own. You don't sit there and rehearse and they give you an outline and say you have to follow it. Certainly you have to stay within the parameters of the story, but the role is a character role and there is so much you can do with it. They let you take it wherever you feel the need to take it and they push you back in bounds if you go out. I just follow what seems honest. That's really the way I make it my own. Everyone has had different experiences in life so their honesty to the role is going to be different. That's kind of how you make it your own, you don't try to follow what you have seen before, you just try and follow the truth and for each person that's different.

Right, and even though people know they are dealing with a character who is a man, sometimes they forget the potential for characterization and personalization that would be with any character.

Sure. Especially with a role like this where they come to expect certain things. Most people don't go to the theatre like they do with Phantom, where it's like comfort food. They know what they want so they better get what they want or they are going to be disappointed, whereas if you go and see a new show and you have no expectations, you go in with an open mind. With Phantom as much as you make it your own, if you're not honest and you're not sincere the audience will sniff that out in a second.

So, I have to ask about the makeup. I know in the original, Michael  Crawford spent  something like 2 – 3 hours in makeup before the show. Do you go through that routine as well?

They have streamlined it a little more. It takes about an hour now. They do a lot of painting prior to me sitting in the chair. They will paint the pieces, whereas with Michael they would put them on him and then paint. So, it takes about an hour, but it's a good hour, because you have to sit in a chair and just kind of relax. It gives you a chance to focus and just start your breathing and get ready for the show. It is like a built in meditation to get ready for the piece which is a really good thing.

So, Phantom has been your life for so long, will it be hard to say goodbye?

Yeah, there will be a couple different emotions. One, I have been gainfully employed for almost nine years with this show, so going back to New York and hitting the pavement again auditioning will be difficult. But, also emotionally it will be a little difficult to not be identified with it. It will be good to move on, to find yourself above and beyond what you are doing on the stage. Sometimes that gets a little confusing, so it will be good to flush that out and find myself again. So, yeah, it is exciting and I am looking forward to new things, but it will definitely be difficult.

So, The Phantom is probably a dream role for many actors. Was it something you dreamed of when you were starting out as well?

No, not Phantom. The shows I always wanted to be in were Les Miserables and Miss Saigon, I never thought in a million years I would play Raoul let alone the Phantom. Chris in Saigon, I have been in for it so many times, and Marius and Enjolras, all those roles. Those never quite panned out, but I got close a couple times. No, I never thought in a million years that Phantom would be on the radar.

What's the best part of playing the role? What do you look forward to the most each night?

Well its kind of like a fast moving train. You get on stage and you have to grab onto the train and hold on. All you have to do is just stay on it. As exahusting of a role that it is, it's kind of easy to just give in to the truth of the emotion. So I look forward to getting out on stage, holding on and seeing where it takes me. It's kind of a freeing feeling to know you don't have to work that hard to find the emotion. That's a shout out to the writers because it's pretty easy to tap into those emotions.

Having been a part of the show in a number of settings (New York, Las Vegas, On Tour), I am curious if there are differences between New York audiences, Las Vegas audiences and audiences on tour?

I think it is a regional thing, to be honest. In some cities people are so respectful of theatre, they are so quiet that you don't think anybody is out there, and then at the end of the show they go nuts. Some they are laughing and clapping the whole way, like it's a rock concert. It's all very regional. Las Vegas, you never knew what you were going to get. You never knew how much alcohol was involved, with the audience that is. New York is Broadway, so that's a very, very boisterous audience, being in New York. It's always different, every city is different and takes a little time to get used to, but it's regional. Just like different accents and different personalities, it comes out in how the audience reacts.

So what's next for you? What's in store for you once the show is over?

A bottle of vodka, some orange juice and maybe a trip to Hawaii, because I will be on the west coast. I say that tongue in cheek, but I am sure I will take a bit of a break. But it's hard, you can't really plan your next gig on the road, so I will have to go back to New York, but who knows maybe I will stay in LA and give that a shot. Most likely, I will go back to New York and I will start from scratch, but with this role on my resume, which hopefully, will open some doors.

Is there a dream role that you would one day like to play?

I want to start originating roles. When I was in New York before Phantom, I originated a couple roles in some workshops, and that's what I want to get back to doing. So, the dream roles haven't been created yet. I would like to do original work. Collaborating with writers and composers is a great experience so I want to get back to that kind of thing.

And have you ever been to Atlanta, or will this be your first visit here?

I have been to Atlanta, but I have never played Atlanta. I have a good friend from Greenville, SC, and we have come down to Atlanta a couple times. So yeah, I have been there a couple times.

Tim, I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me today.

Thanks!

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The Phantom of the Opera will play Wednesday, June 30 through Sunday, July 18. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. with matinees Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m.  Ticket prices range from $17 to $64 and can be purchased at The Fox Theatre box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-982-2787.  Group orders 10 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000.

The Atlanta engagement of The Phantom of the Opera is welcomed by Broadway Across America – Atlanta and Theater of the Stars.  It is a season special for Broadway Across America season tickets holders and a subscription offering for Theater of the Stars.  Visit the official The Phantom of the Opera website at www.thephantomoftheopera.com.

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