Grant Norman

Best known for his portrayal of the Phantom in the Broadway production of Andrew LLoyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, Broadway star Grant Norman, himself a graduate of Central Florida Lyric Opera's Resident Artist Training Program, now returns to the company as Acting Teacher and Stage Director..

Grant Norman started out in theater with the Red River Dance & Performing Company in Fargo, ND. He was a member of their company for 4 years, during which time he worked his way through the ranks to become a principal dancer. During his 11 original productions with the company he was fortunate enough to work with its directors, Kathy & Eddie Gasper. Their experience and generosity proved to be invaluable to Grant. Kathy was a successful classical ballerina and Eddie was a Broadway veteran and former Assistant to Bob Fosse. Under their tutelage he learned Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Character dancing.

Grant Norman’s first starring role in musical theatre was with the Red River Dance & Performing Co. as “Paul” in Carnival; which happened to be a joint production between the Red River Dance & Performing Co. and The Fargo/Moorhead Community Theatre. In the following years, Grant began working in many wonderful regional theatres throughout the country while returning to Fargo and the Red River Dance & Performing Co. to play “Tony” in West Side Story.

Some of his most highly acclaimed regional roles included “Smudge” in Forever Plaid (Alley Theatre, TX), “Petruchio” in Taming of the Shrew, “Curley” in Oklahoma (Jupiter Theatre, FL), the “Prince/Wolf” in Into the Woods (Seaside Music Theatre, FL), “Max” in Lend Me a Tenor (Hippodrome Theatre, FL), “Gaston” in Gigi (Royal Palm Dinner Theatre, FL), “Johnny Canton” in 1940's Radio Hour (Ruth Foreman Theatre, FL), “Adam” in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Mark II Dinner Theatre, FL), “Corporal Billy Jester” in Little Mary Sunshine (North Dakota Repertory Theatre, ND), and “Sydney Carton” in A Tale of Two Cities (Backers Production, NYC).

In 1990, Grant Norman began his long-standing musical affiliation with Maestro Bill Doherty when he joined the Central Florida Lyric Opera’s Resident Artist Training Program. As a member of the training program, Grant studied classical Italian opera singing with Mr. Doherty and also appeared in numerous concerts and opera programs with Bill Doherty and the Central Florida Lyric Opera.

Grant moved to New York City in 1991 where he immediately joined the cast of two legendary Broadway shows - Miss Saigon and The Phantom of the Opera. “My time with The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway led to the opportunity to tour the U.S. as the Phantom in the National Touring Company. I then went on to play the Phantom in London at Her Majesty's Theatre. After I returned to the States, I took some needed time off; and then accepted a contract, working for Disney, touring the U.S. and Canada as the “Beast” in Beauty and the Beast”, (a role for which he was nominated for two National Theatre Awards). “Although I loved touring our beautiful country, I was happy to be home again in New York.” Once back in New York, he landed a role in the Off-Broadway production of Johnny Guitar where he can be found on the Original Cast Recording.

Most recently, Grant Norman finished a 2 1/2 year run playing the role of Gaston in the Broadway production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast and also appeared in the hit television drama “Law & Order”.