Steve Barton

Steven Neal Barton (June 26, 1954 – July 21, 2001) was an American actor, singer, dancer, teacher, choreographer, and stage director. He worked internationally in the United States, London, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He is most well known for originating the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny in the West End and Broadway productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, and later taking over the title role of The Phantom of the Opera in the Broadway production. He also originated the starring role of Graf von Krolock in Dance of the Vampires.

Early life Barton was born on June 26, 1954, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the youngest of three children of Tom and Mary Barton. He was raised in Nederland, Texas.

He won a scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin (UT), where he majored in theater, dance and voice, and appeared in over 30 productions with UT and the Ballet of Austin. A UT endowed Presidential Scholarship is now named for him. After graduation he went to Europe.

Career He landed his first professional role in St. Gallen, Switzerland, then performed in several major Swiss, German and Austrian theater companies.

He played leading roles in West Side Story, Godspell, Romeo and Juliet, The Fantasticks, The Threepenny Opera, Oklahoma!, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Guys and Dolls, and Camelot, before playing the role of Munkustrap in the original Vienna cast of Cats, at the Theater an der Wien. At the Theater des Westens in Berlin he played roles in Guys and Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar (as Jesus), La Cage aux Folles (as both Jean Michel and Albin/Zaza) and Robert in Company.

In 1986, Barton originated the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera in London. He also understudied the title role and notably played the role when Michael Crawford was sick in April 1987.PHANTOM RETURNS TO STANDING OVATION: CRAWFORD MAKES A DRAMATIC COMEBACK In 1988, he reprised the role of Raoul in the original Broadway cast. In 1989, Barton reprised his performance as Raoul opposite Crawford's Phantom in the previews and opening night performance of the Ahmanson Theatre production of the show when principal Raoul actor Reece Holland was injured.Los Angeles Raoul Barton took over the role of The Phantom in 1990 from Cris Groenendaal in the Broadway production; he was the fourth principal actor to portray the role on Broadway.

In 1996, Barton returned to Vienna, where he took over the part of The Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. He originated the role of Graf von Krolock, a vampire in Jim Steinman's Dance of the Vampires, for which he won an IMAGE (International Music Award Germany) in 1998. Barton celebrated his 30-year onstage anniversary in 1997 during his run as von Krolock.

At the end of his life he was working on Jekyll & Hyde in Bremen, Germany. He was taking over the title role from Ethan Freeman.Barton at the end of his life

Personal life

Barton was married to swing dancer and choreographer Denny Berry, who served as dance supervisor for the North American productions of The Phantom of the Opera, whom he met at college. Their son, Edward, was born in Vienna in 1984; the couple separated at an unspecified later date. He was an honorary chairperson of the Steadman Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation and an honorary member of the UTA Board of Education.

Death Barton died in his sleep at his Bremen, Germany, apartment on July 21, 2001, aged 47. While his death was initially attributed to heart failure, according to obituary information released by the press office for the New York production of The Phantom of the Opera, it was later ruled a suicide by the Bremen district attorney.

Stage roles Source:Steve Barton A Life Dedicated To The Stage + Theatre credits Year Title Role Notes1971Hello, Dolly!Barnaby TuckerTexas, US1972 West Side StoryTonyCamelotSir Lancelot du LacMusic DirectorTexas, US1973Romeo and JulietParisTexas, US1975Romeo MontagueChoreographerTexas, US1976The Threepenny Opera Captain MacHeathTexas, US1977MacbethMacduff1979 West Side StoryRiffBern, SwitzerlandCinderellaPrince CharmingAssistant ChoreographerBern, Switzerland1980West Side StoryRiffBern, Switzerland1981The FantasticksEl Gallo West Side StoryRiffBerlin, GermanyRomeo and JulietTybaltChoreographerBern, SwitzerlandWest Side StoryRiffBern, SwitzerlandBregenz, AustriaCamelot Sir Lancelot du LacChoreographerKarlsruhe, Germany1982Oklahoma!Curly McLainBerlin, GermanyGodspellJesusBern, SwitzerlandCamelot Sir Lancelot du LacLudwigshafen, GermanyGodspellJesusOlten, SwitzerlandWest Side StoryRiffVienna, AustriaJesus Christ SuperstarPeterJesus Christ1983EvitaAgustín MagaldiMünchen, Germany 1983–1984 Cats Munkustrap Dance CaptainVienna, Austria1984Jesus Christ SuperstarJesus ChristBerlin, Germany1985Guys and DollsNicely-Nicely JohnsonSky MastersonLa Cage aux Folles Jean Michel1986 Albin CompanyRobert1986-1987The Phantom of the Opera Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny u/s The Phantom of the Opera Original West End cast1987The Phantom of the OperaTemporary West End replacement Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny u/s The Phantom of the Opera Original West End cast 1988–1989Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny Original Broadway cast1989Los Angeles Original Broadway castThe Anastasia AffairePrince PaulMassachusetts, US1990 The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera Broadway production replacement1991The Threepenny Opera Captain MacheathNew Jersey, USThe Phantom of the Opera Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny u/s The Phantom of the OperaLos Angeles1993Six WivesHenry VIIINew York, USThe Hunchback of Notre DameQuasimodoThe Phantom of the Opera Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny u/s The Phantom of the OperaLos Angeles The Red Shoes Boris Lermontov Original Broadway cast1994Kiss Me, KateFred Graham / PetruchioGoodspeed Opera House1996Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetSweeney Todd Pennsylvania, USLet's Do ItNick Cameron Connecticut, US1996-1997Beauty and the BeastThe BeastVienna, Austria replacement1997-2000Dance of the VampiresGraf von KrolockOriginal cast2000Jekyll & HydeDr. Henry Jekyll / Edward HydeBremen, Germany

Television guest roles Tatort, 1992, guest role as FBI Agent Mike Haller, ORF, Austria The Young and the Restless, 1994, guest role and Another World, 1994, guest role as Bailey Thompson

Selected discography

Musicals 1983: Cats, Original Vienna Cast Recording, as Munkustrap, in German language 1987: Highlights from The Phantom of the Opera, Original London Cast, as Raoul 1987: The Phantom of the Opera, Original London Cast Recording, as Raoul 1988: Show Boat, as Steve Baker 1998: Anastasia - The Musical, as Prince Paul 1998: Tanz der Vampire – Die Höhepunkte der Welturaufführung, Original Vienna Cast, as Graf von Krolock, in German language 1998: Tanz der Vampire – Die Gesamtaufnahme, Original Vienna Cast Recording, as Graf von Krolock, in German language

Guest appearances 1985: Angelika Milster - Meisterstücke, 2 duets 1998: Paul Schwartz's Aria, Vol. 2 - New Horizon, vocals on Leiermann 2002: Sarah Brightman - Encore, duet on "Think of Me"

Other recordings 1991: Cole Porter Centennial Gala Concert 1995: Living Water, duets with Mother Teresa and Brian Sutherland 1999: Danke - Songs und Lieder zum Kirchentag 1999, includes the song "Reach Out", a duet with Brian Sutherland 2002: Steve Barton – Memorial Concert, "Simply Flying" and "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" 2004: Broadway's Fabulous Phantoms, "I've Got You Under My Skin" 2009: Only for a While, compilation 2010: Encore: The Private Collection, compilation of outtakes, demos and rehearsals

Steve Barton

Bron en licentie