Logan Moore & Christine Cheatham – Courtesy of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Used with permission.
Indianapolis actor Logan Moore, who along with many other performers was prevented from practicing their beloved craft during much of the pandemic, returns to the stage in the title role in “Phantom,” through Nov.-21 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre.
The musical, an adaptation by Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston, tells the story of the mysterious phantom who lurks in the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera House. Passionate about music and a young soprano, Christine Daaé, the captivating story reveals the tortured past of the the tormented man, who is both villain and victim.
Logan Moore – Courtesy of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Used with permission.
Moore was most recently seen as Orin Scrivello, DDS in “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Hairspray,” Sonny in “Grease,” and Dr. Carrasco in “Man of La Mancha.” Courtney Cheatham, who made her Beef & Boards debut as Maria in “West Side Story” in 2017, plays Christine Daaé. Joining them in this production are Jon Rose (“Man of La Mancha,” “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” “A Beef & Boards Christmas”) as Count Philippe de Chandon, Eddie Curry (“The Sound of Music,” “A Christmas Story,” “Hairspray”) as Gérard Carrière, Suzanne Stark (“The Sound of Music,” “Steel Magnolias”) as Carlotta, and Jeff Stockberger (“Newsies,” “Hairspray”) as Inspector Ledoux.
“Phantom” is directed by Eddie Curry and choreographed by Ron Morgan. Terry Woods is the music director.
Besides his status as a Beef & Boards favorite, Moore has also performed at many Indianapolis theatres, including the Indiana Repertory Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Actors Theatre of Indiana and others. My own professional association with the triple-threat actor-singer-dancer took place when he created the title role in “Calder, The Musical,” presented by Klein & Alvarez Productions. Co-created by my producing partner, Dustin Klein, and me, the show’s preview was the best-selling show at IndyFringe Festival in 2016 before its world premiere as a full-length musical at IndyFringe Basile Theatre in 2017.
Reaching out to Moore for a phone interview, he told me his 12-hour rehearsals were leaving him exhausted, and since he needed to rest his voice, he asked if I would send him questions by email, a request I was happy to accommodate. Below is a transcript of our exchange.
What does playing the title character mean to you?
Playing the title character is a huge undertaking. It takes preparing yourself before the rehearsal process even begins (memorizing the lyrics, lines, and having a grasp on who the character is). I’m so grateful to Beef & Boards for entrusting me with this title role. It is a beloved show here and I wanted to make sure that I brought my best to the table. Although this isn’t my first time playing a title role, it has definitely been the most challenging. It means the world to me to bring Erik to life!
Describe your character?
Logan Moore – Courtesy of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Used with permission.
Erik, the Phantom, is a very complex character. In this version, Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston’s, the Phantom is actually fleshed out. He has a developed backstory and history that the audience gets to see. In Andrew Lloyd Weber’s version, there is not as much development of the phantom. More of a monster than a man, from my own interpretation. Kopit wrote Erik in such a way that, while he is still flawed, he is human. He has been dealt a really rough hand and has had to navigate on his own for the most part. I don’t want to give too much away about the show, but the audience will get to see his backstory unfold. There is a number in the show called “The Story of Erik” that gives all the information you will need.
How do you plan to interpret the role?
I have interpreted Erik as true to what I feel Kopit and Yeston wrote him to be. Although flawed and complex, he is not a monster. Far from it, actually. He has never shown his face to anyone because of how horrible it is. It even terrifies him. He has lived in the catacombs under the opera house his entire life, so that has brought a lot of different avenues to add to his complexity. Eddie Curry, the director, who also plays Carrière, and I kept an open line of communication about Erik as a character. He let me make any and all decisions and if they worked, they worked. If they didn’t, we collaborated on finding a good fit for that particular moment. Erik is one of those characters that just wants love. When he hears Christine sing for the first time, he falls for her completely. Her voice reminded him of someone very special in his life and he has never heard a voice as beautiful as hers.
Is singing the role vocally challenging?
Oh, absolutely, it is challenging to sing! It is more opera than musical theatre, in my opinion. The vowel placement, elongated vowels and note progression in the songs are more classical than modern. Erik is amazing singer. He has trained himself to sing since he was a boy. He’s been influenced by all the opera singers who have performed above him and, I believe, he has devoted his life to becoming a master of this craft. After all, he is the one who gives music lessons to Christine. He would have been the toast of Paris if he weren’t deformed and hideous. I have been preparing for this role all through the pandemic. It was really the only thing to do at some points of quarantine. So, I was ready when rehearsals finally happened.
Why is this musical still so compelling to audiences and why has it endured?
I believe this version of the Phantom has endured because of the story. Yes, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version is wildly more popular, but this version brings something very different and special to the table that I think audiences will love more and they have! The backstory of Erik is what sets this version apart in my opinion and why people have loved it more than ALW’s.
Logan Moore & Christine Cheatham – Courtesy of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Used with permission.
What is its message?
The message of this story, I believe, is about love and loss. Every character in this show feels both at some point. Some might say it’s about “not judging a book by its cover” or something along those lines, but I think that is too generic of an answer because there is so much more to take away from the story. What each and every character has gone through and gained or lost by the end.
How does it feel being back on stage?
I can’t begin to express the feelings I have for being back on stage. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and love. It’s been 2 years since I’ve been on stage! It’s about time. I thought the theatre would have a really hard time making a comeback after the pandemic, and it has, but it always prevails. Theatre always finds a way!
Have you worked since the pandemic began?
Have not worked since the pandemic, no. Just muggle jobs, but no theatre.
What have the past few years been like for you?
It’s been a rough two years, as I’m sure it has been for everyone else. But I wasn’t alone in this. I had my friends and family help get me through all of it and I was able to keep my head up and look to the future for great things to happen!
What did the pandemic teach you?
The pandemic taught me to be patient and not rush to decisions. There was a time when I really thought that I would have to make a pivot in my career and leave acting behind. It really played with my emotions, not knowing what will come after. But I stayed diligent, and it paid off!
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Courtesy of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Used with permission.
What will it feel like when you face a live audience again?
I am SO ready for an audience. There is no greater feeling than performing for a live audience. It’s why I do what I do and love doing it.
What do you want audiences to take away?
I just want the audiences to be in awe and just to have a good time. I believe this story will make people feel all kinds of emotions. It will make for very few dry eyes in the house.
Why should folks come to see “Phantom?”
People should come see it because this cast is extremely talented. All of us have waited for this moment for so long, and it shows. Excellent work is coming from every actor on stage. Definitely one not to miss. But also, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL THEATRES! That’s the real reason people should come. This show is worth the price of admission alone and more. You just happen to get an all-you-can-eat buffet along with it. 😉
For “Phantom” tickets and information go to beefandboards.com
