BWW Interviews: Behind the scenes with Derrick Davis, Katie Travis, Steve Czarnecki of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Detroit Opera House
By: Katie Laban Jan. 14, 2017
How this is production of The Phantom of the Opera new? It still retains the beloved music, script, lyrics, and Tony Award-winning costume designs, but what has changed is technology and that is what has been given a facelift. Theatrical technology has advanced significantly since 1986 and Mackintosh decided to take advantage of that when updating the production. It still is the same story of the Phantom, Christine, and Raoul that we all have come to know and love, but told with more glitz and glamour and maybe a few more flashes and bangs!
The gorgeous and epic chandelier of The Phantom of the Opera that was considered theatrically advanced when the show opened in 1986 has been given a facelift as well - both visually and technologically. It is a built around a steel frame, which houses all of mechanical elements that allow it to light up, shoot pyro, shake, rattle and explode! The chandelier weighs 1,500 lbs., has over 6,000 crystals with 632 on each strand, 50 pyro elements with five different effects during the show, and it drops at ten feet per second. Amazing! All the chandelier effects are wirelessly controlled, but the prior to each performance, the pyrotechnic crew spends 30 minutes stripping the old pyro and installing the new pyro for the next performance.
Due to this BroadwayWorld Detroit was able to get an up-close look at the chandelier to share with our readers! This is the only time the chandelier drops to seat level (don't be worried to anyone who has those seats!) so the pyrotechnic crew can reach it and adjust the old and new pyros for the show. As you can see they wearing protective gear because it is live pyrotechnics and that is why we still had to be a distance away for protection. Isn't the chandelier beautiful? And it isn't even lit up yet! I can't wait to see it during the show!!
One of the only aspects kept from the original production is the Tony Award-winning costumes by Maria Björn. Here's a sneak peek at gorgeous costumes:
BroadwayWorld Detroit caught up with three of the cast members from the production for some quick interviews about it. Derrick Davis, the first African-American to play the Phantom on tour. Katie Travis, Bay City native, who plays Christine Daaé. Finally, another Michigan native, Steve Czarnecki, a swing ensemble cast member.
"It's an absolute dream come true to play the Phantom. I've done so much theatre, but this has been a dream of mine for my entire life quietly and more loudly as the days went on," said Davis. "It's a huge responsibility to be an actor of color playing this role. I'm only the third in the 30-year history of the show. A huge responsibility, but a joy to be able to bring this character to life for a live audience eight times a week." Davis has had extensive training along with a lot of regional and tour work. He also was on Broadway in Disney's The Lion King playing his other dream roles of Mufusa and Scar. He hopes to originate a role someday, which as he said, "two out of three dream roles already is amazing and I still have a lot of time to go." Playing such a well-known character is quite a feeling for Davis, but the most gratifying is the connection with audience. "It's a weird sensation to feel when the audience feels themselves in the character or is so invested in the show that the breathing in the room stops and the then explosion of applause happens," he said. "It's not for the applause sake because I get that applause is people's expression of saying thank you, but the fact that they have experienced something so gratifying to them that at the end of the show they want to applaud, that is important to me."
Katie Travis plays the beloved character of Christine Daaé on the tour. "Christine has this history, it is iconic, and it has this weight to it. You can sort of pay homage and respect to the people who have done this role before you, but bring your own take on it with your life experiences and the things you've experienced in this life to this particular role so it's a pretty great to play her," she said. Travis is native of Bay City, Michigan and grew up doing shows at the Bay City Players, Midland Center for the Arts, and Bay City Central. "I just fell in love with doing theatre. I saw shows. I saw tours in Detroit. My brother was actually in a show here at the Michigan Opera Theatre. I kind of great up with that being part of my world," she said. Travis studied opera at Central Michigan University then moved out to New York. After different jobs and many auditions, she landed The Phantom of Opera tour. "The first show I ever saw was Phantom and we saw it in Toronto," she said. "It's pretty special and surreal for sure to now be in it. And then to come back here to Detroit is very special thing as well."
Rochester Hills native Steve Czarnecki is a swing ensemble member of the cast. "There is something about finding out that I got job that was just like - this is moment in your life. You know because you get to do shows and are always having a good time, but to say 'I'm going to do The Phantom of the Opera' is unbelievably exciting," he said. "It's been so great. It's just a huge blockbuster. Everywhere we go, we sell really well. Detroit, we are selling like gangbusters. The set, the visual of it all, the music of it all, it just kind of sweeps people away." Born and raised pretty much his entire life in Rochester Hills, Czarnecki attended Rochester Adams High School and would come to the Detroit Opera House on field trips. "To actually come and perform here is mind boggling. I've never been on the stage. We walked on yesterday and it just took my breath away," he said. "My family gets to come see the show. My parents are coming next week. My brother is bringing his little son who I don't think has ever seen a full length musical, so it's going to be very exciting firsts for them." Czarnecki is happy to be back in Detroit and also thinks the cast is too. "I think a lot of people are already pleasantly surprised with all things Detroit has to offer." Although he has not had much time to spend enjoying the city with getting ready for the benefit cabaret the cast is having on Monday. "It's at the Loving Touch in Ferndale. Members of the cast will be singing to raise money for Broadway Cares and Ferndale's orchestra program. Maybe next week I can do some fun stuff in the city, but right now I'm at home hanging out with my mom and working on that."
There are currently eight productions of The Phantom of the Opera going on around the world, but this US tour is only place that you can see Cameron Mackintosh's new production of it. It toured the UK from 2012-2013, so do not miss out your chance to see this brand new spectacular production while it is here in Detroit.
Detroit Concert for a Cure is Monday, January 16 at 7pm at The Loving Touch in Ferndale. It benefits for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Ferndale Schools Orchestra. Cast members of The Phantom of the Opera will perform, hosted by SABIN, features a silent auction and cash bar, Nashville-based band Mackinac will perform. Admission for the event is $25 in advance or at the door. Tickets are available service fee free at the Woodward Avenue Brewery box office, located at 22646 Woodward Avenue in Ferndale or at the door at The Loving Touch the night of the show. The Loving Tough is located at 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. www.thelovingtouchferndale.com.
The Phantom of Opera is currently until January 22nd at the Detroit Opera House in Detroit. For more information or tickets, visit www.BroadwayInDetroit.com.
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