#morten staugaard

[operafantomet]

I have had this photo on my desktop for ages now so I’m just posting it without any specific context or occasion:

Steen Springborg (Firmin), Morten Staugaard (André), Eva Malmgren (Carlotta) and unidentified Lefèvre, POTO Denmark

#dat skirt dat wig dat tiara #DAT VOICE #eva malmgren #steen springborg #morten staugaard #poto denmark #elissa

[24601moredawn]

2009/12/08 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Tracked Tomas Ambt Kofod (alt. Valjean), Morten Staugaard (Javert), Sanna Johansson (Fantine), Maria Lucia Heiberg Rosenberg (Eponine), Johannes Nymark (Marius), Mia Karlsson (Cosette), John Martin Bengtsson (Enjolras), Kim Hammelsvang Henriksen (u/s Thénardier), Anne-Grethe Bjarup Riis (Mme. Thénardier), Daniel Bevensee (Grantaire), Emil Jeppesen (Gavroche), Line Lindersson (Little Cosette) *Performed in Danish

#Tomas Ambt Kofod #Morten Staugaard #Les Miserables

[samhalletsolycksbarn]

Morten Staugaard as Javert, Flemming Enevold as Jean Valjean. Det Ny Teater, Copenhagen, 2009.

#Les Misérables #Les Miserables #Javert #Jean Valjean #Morten Staugaard #Flemming Enevold #Copenhagen 2009

[operafantomet]

Hi there! The al-mighty god for POTO costumes! I have been quite interested in Monsieur Andre's costumes(I htink he has four sets of looks in total, the one at the auction, the ione with the coat on at Hannibal, the evening dress, and the sketelon costume) and curious about the inspirations for his costumes or the style in which Andre is dressed. Is there anything reliable reference on fashion history you might suggest reading? Thank you!

Sorry for the very late reply! I have not ignored you, I've simply waited until I had the time to give you a proper reply.

First and foremost, ANDRÉ COSTUME LOVE! That happens like... never?! So yay. His first costume is the one he wears in the Auction scene, which is supposed to be set some 30 years after the main story. He wears a grand cloack with collar, and a black felt hat with pinched front. Often also a scarf, but it's not written in stone. These pieces are worn over his regular suit (to allow a quick change for Hannibal), but a long beard is usually added for the Auction scene and removed for Hannibal. Here's Maria Bjørnson's design next to Fernand Delosch's costume in Essen:

Then, for Hannibal: the same main suit, but now with a more tailored coat with fur collar, and a top hat. Both this costume and the previous are meant for outdoor wear, so in both instances we are to assume he has just arrived from somewhere outside the building. The design suggests frog fastening, but this is not often done in the stage costumes. I don't know why. The depicted managers are Steen Springborg and Morten Staugaard in Copenhagen (detail photo of Sebastian Harris in Copenhagen):

The third costume is technically one André has worn all along, but now it can be seen on its own: The black velvet tailcoat, pinstripe black trousers, golden or white waistcoat, and white shirt and bowtie. His hair and moustache is usually fluffy, and - depending on the actor - monocles or glasses can also be seen. This is formal daywear in the Victorian and Edwardian era.

The overall style has always reminded me of a portrait of the Norwegian artist Gerhard Munthe by Christian Krohg, probably the 1880s. I doubt Maria Bjørnson was familiar with it, yet I think he captures much of the essence. The sketch can be found here, and a painted portrait can be found here.

And just because the details are so beautiful, here's a closeup of Laird Mackintosh's monocle and waistcoat with blingy buttons.

The above costume is worn for the majority of the first and second act, but for the Masquerade scene André is all in! Whereas Firmin "only" dons a dramatic cloak over his regular suit, André changes into a skeleton onepiece, often sculpted and sparkly, and with a black and red cloak, and a pointed black hat.

Details of an European skeleton suit:

André's skeleton suit reminds quite a bit of what can be seen in publications from the late 19th and early 20th century. Fancy dress balls became frequent, and magazines and books followed up with numerous costume tips. This 1896 sketch rather screams André!

As for good costume references to seek out, I would actually start by looking at fashion plates. Simply because they show the ideal look, and variations over what was considered the fashion of the time. Google for fashion plates depicting men's fashion between 1880 and 1910, and I think you will find many nice references. A very random example: Fashion plate from 1894, showing formal-wear like tailcoats and evening coats (from The Met):

I don't know if this answered your question, but I hope so! :)

#gilles andré #phantom of the opera #costume nerding #maria bjørnson #phantom of the opera design #costume design

[operafantomet]

Which pair of firmin and andre actors have the best chemistry? Or like the funniest at least?

OooOooh there's been so many good ones! Admittedly I often find that either the Firmin or the André steals the show, but they can only do so if they have a good co-player to "lift" and support them. Some favourites of those I've seen:

Barry James and Gareth Snook: Barry James played the role of Firmin for a very long time by West End standards - 2008-2013 - and he also appeared in the RAH version in 2011. He was never, ever dull and tried out many different approaches to the role of Firmin. I especially loved his take on "drunk Firmin", which he also did for the RAH version, but it was not his only take on the role. Common for all portrayals was that his Firmin was quite high maitenance, so the André had to balance this. I saw him opposite Gareth Snook in West End. He too stayed in the role 2008-2013, and appeared in the RAH version, and of course this meant that this manager duo had some 5 years to fine-tune their portrayals and chemistry. Since Barry James also did different takes on the role it always felt fresh. I absolutely loved them as the managers.

David Cryer and George Lee Andrews: Another long-time duo, and another duo to keep things fresh and ever-changing. GLA was so high-strung as André I could never really depict him as Firmin - but he also played that role earlier in his Phantom career. With those two on stage the managers felt REAL, they felt fleshed out, they had gravitas, and they had an amazing comical timing. Great duo.

Steen Springborg and Morten Staugaard: An absoutely money-minded Firmin and a super nervous André. Steen Springborg added so many small and quirky details to the role, counting the musicians in the pit with his cane during Hannibal, eyeing those who displeased him, and being king of the office while Morten Staugaard' André jumped at his every word while being super in love with Carlotta and doing anything to please her. A duo full of nuances and with some individual acting choice I loved.

#richard firmin #gilles andré #phantom of the opera #barry james #gareth snook #david cryer #george lee andrews #steen springborg #morten staugaard

[operafantomet]

I was extremely sad to hear about the passing of Steen Springborg, the original Firmin in Copenhagen (2000-2001, 2009). He was only 67. I got the news some weeks ago, but I haven’t fully digested it. Steen Springborg was, hands down, one of the best Firmins I’ve seen. Super solid, perfect comical timing, and just so very much... Firmin. A stage talent gone too soon.

#steen springborg #phantom of the opera #operafantomet #det ny teater #morten staugaard #malin landing #tomas ambt kofod #eva malmgren

[operafantomet]

Newspaper sketches from “Phantom of the Opera” in Denmark

Flemming Enevold and Susanne Elmark, 2000 (Claus Seidel)

Morten Staugaard and Steen Springborg, 2000 (Claus Seidel)

Flemming Enevold and Susanne Elmark, 2000 (Claus Seidel)

Flemming Enevold, 2000 (Flemming Nyborg)

Flemming Enevold and Mia Karlsson, 2009 (Claus Seidel)

Sibylle Glosted and Tomas Ambt Kofod, 2018 (Claus Seidel)

Sibylle Glosted and Tomas Ambt Kofod, 2018 (Claus Seidel)

(All through Kongelig Bibliotek in Denmark)

#phantom of the opera #claus seidel #flemming nyborg #flemming enevold #susanne elmark #morten staugaard #steen springborg #sibylle glosted #tomas ambt kofod #kim hammelsvang #det ny teater #poto denmark #i love the condensed storytelling in these

[operafantomet]

Fabulous Masquerade photos from POTO Denmark

#masquerade #phantom of the opera #poto denmark #tomas ambt kofod #hanne damm #agnete munk rasmussen #susanne elmark #anna grönros #peter jorde #steen springborg #morten staugaard

[operafantomet]

The. Amount. Of. Pro-shot. Mia. Karlsson. Footage. Is. Killing. Me. https://www.detnyteater.dk/index.php?id=1116

#mia karlsson #peter jorde #tomas ambt kofod #malin landing #fernando concha #steen springborg #morten staugaard #marie bo #poto denmark #det ny teater

[operafantomet]

I have seen multiple Carlottas around the globe, and I’ve loved many of them. But none so perfectly captured the role and added so many nuances to it as Eva Malmgren in Copenhagen did.

Oozing charm and elegance, yet with a mocking tone when threatened, and yet with some sort of understanding of Christine’s situation. Tall and beautiful, and with a well trained classical coloratura... she’s still how I envision Carlotta!

#eva malmgren #carlotta giudicelli #little judith #phantom of the opera #operafantomet #det ny teater #viktoria krantz #morten staugaard #kristian boland #steen springborg #tomas ambt kofod #poto backstage

[operafantomet]

...a kiss on the hand may be continental... (ignore the rest of the lyrics)

#kiss kiss kiss #phantom of the opera #eva hess thaysen #ronn ealy #sierra boggess #ramin karimloo #patricia phillips #evan harrington #will barratt #sofia escobar #björn olsson #viktoria krantz #eva malmgren #michele mcconnell #scott mikita #steen springborg #malin landing #morten staugaard #a kiss on the hand #i could bring you flowers #to mingle with your hair #but what good would be flowers they only last for hours #hahaha #original sydmonton aiaoy lyrics

[operafantomet]

Hi Anea! I was wondering if you could choose any actors, dead or alive, what would your ultimate phantom cast be?

That change on a weekly basis, depending on my mood. There’s also certain combos I find magical, moreso than the individual performers. But two potential dream casts would be... first the old-school cast: 

PHANTOM: Mikael Samuelson / Kevin Gray

CHRISTINE: Rebecca Caine / Maria Kesselman

RAOUL: Steve Barton

CARLOTTA: Rosemary Ashe

FIRMIN: John Savident

ANDRÉ: George Lee Andrews

MADAME GIRY: Marilyn Caskey

MEG GIRY: Sharon Millerchip

PIANGI: John Aron

...and then the more recent...

PHANTOM: Tomas Ambt Kofod / Scott Davies

CHRISTINE: Gina Beck / Kim So Hyun

RAOUL: Christian Lund / Andrew Ragone

CARLOTTA: Louise Fribo / Rachel Anne Moore

FIRMIN: Barry James

ANDRÉ: Sebastian Harris

MADAME GIRY: Michaela Christl / Heather Jackson

MEG GIRY: Layla Harrison / Brianne Kelly Morgan

PIANGI: Thabiso Masemene / Raymond Sepe

That said, one of those absolutely magical casts I actually saw, where everything came together and was perfect, included:

PHANTOM: Flemming Enevold

CHRISTINE: Mia Karlsson

RAOUL: Tomas Ambt Kofod

CARLOTTA: Eva Mamgren

FIRMIN: Steen Springborg

ANDRÉ: Morten Staugaard

MADAME GIRY: Marie Bo

MEG GIRY: Jennifer Wagstaffe

PIANGI: Fernando Concha

(all the latter could be added the first lists, especially the four leads... but since they got their own lists, I saved them until the end)

#phantom of the opera #and sigh! all those i didn't add #earl carpenter #john martin bengtsson #meghan picerno #sierra boggess #the lists could have gone on forever

[operafantomet]

A handful more. Just because I can. POTO Denmark 2009. ( X )

Phantom: Flemming Enevold.

Christine: Teresia Bokor

Raoul: Tomas Ambt Kofod

Nurse: Victoria Cooper

Porter: Nick Peak

Managers: Steen Springborg and Morten Staugaard

Mme. Firmin: Malin Landing

Mirror Bride: Emma Frost

#poto denmark #poto denmark revival #flemming enevold #teresia bokor #tomas ambt kofod #tori cooper #nick peack #steen springborg #morten staugaar #malin landing #emma frost #det ny teater

[operafantomet]

Brother from another mother!

Russia’s Yuri Mazikhin Alexi Bobrov and Denmark’s Morten Staugaard.

#gilles andre #alexi bobrov #morten staugaard #brother from another mother #1st managers

[operafantomet]

Tomas Ambt Kofod, Steen Springborg, Malin Landing and Morten Staugaard, Copenhagen 2009. 

#that expression tho'! #tomas ambt kofod #steen springborg #malin landing #morten staugaard #poto denmark #think of me

[operafantomet]

Say hello to the sassiest costume in "Phantom of the Opera"! 1. Bernhard Hull, Australia.  2. Aaron Galligan-Stierle (?) Jim Weitzer, Broadway.  3. Raymond Sepe, Hamburg.  4. Morten Staugaard, Copenhagen.  5. Walter Canella, Buenos Aires.  6. Morten Staugaard, Copenhagen.  7. Greg Mills, Broadway.  8. George Lee Andrews, Broadway.  9. Greg Mills, Broadway. 

#greg mills #george lee andrews #morten staugaard #walter canella #raymond sepe #bernhard hull #skeleton #jahn teigen #long story behind that last tag #masquerade #jim weitzer