TV: Broadway's Sierra Boggess And Hugh Panaro Sing On NBC's Today Show

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Six-year-old NF Hero Julia Perfetti, her mother, Laura, and family were featured on the "Everyone has a Story" segment of the Today Show this morning, Thursday, July 2nd. As part of the very special segment, little Julia was treated to her very own song which was sung by Broadway favorites, Sierra Boggess and Hugh Panaro.

Julia Perfetti has battled neurofibromatosis, which causes tumors throughout the body, since birth. For more on Julia's story please visit the Team Julia Bug site by clicking here.

Sierra Boggess is currently working on the development workshops for Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM: LOVE NEVER DIES in the role of Christine Daae. Boggess is no stranger to the role of the Phantom's beloved muse, having starred in PHANTOM - The Las Vegas Spectacular, where she originated the role of Christine, under the direction of Hal Prince. Sierra Boggess is best known for creating the role of Ariel in Disney On Broadway's THE LITTLE MERMAID.

Hugh Panaro, one of Broadway's most celebrated leading men, has been a featured performer in such mega musicals as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera (playing both Raoul and The Phantom), Lestat and regionally in Martin Guerre. 

Boggess and Panaro singing together might give one a hint of things to come in the upcoming sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, but it must be said that no official casting announcements have been made at this time. Andrew Lloyd Webber was a guest on Jonathan Ross's UK talk show recently, and described "LOVE NEVER DIES" as being extremely emotional, complicated and more interesting, "harrowing". He also noted that fans of the original might have "trouble with the way the story continues, but there was nothing he could do about that as the story, is the story..."

He became somber as he explained it as "the most personal project he has ever written", revealing his emotions as he returned to the characters he "knows and cares about so deeply", he didn't give any indication of how far along he was overall, he did however cited that creating the actual look of the production was taking some time and not "ready yet".

"The Today Show" airs locally on WNBC-TV Channel 4. Check local listings.

 

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