Michael Crawford opened The Phantom of the Opera in London (1986), Broadway (1988), and Los Angeles (1989) to widespread acclaim, and appears (with Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton) on the Original London Cast album of the show. He won the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical, and his performance sent him from being a household name in Britain for playing TV’s bumbling Frank Spencer, to an international star and sex symbol. He followed up his Phantom with sold out concert tours and lead roles in other shows, such as EFX and The Woman in White.
For phans before 2004, Crawford was usually the first Phantom we discovered, and for some he remains the original and the best. Those who saw him live also point out that his voice got increasingly stronger as he continued in the role, making the OLC not the best representation of his singing (the same is said of Brightman).
Michael worked closely with Hal Prince on the original production of The Phantom of the Opera, and his contribution to the blocking and Phantom moves which have become standard was immense.
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