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September 5, 2007
Texas Tech Music Student Joins Broadway Cast of ‘Phantom’
Chris Bohannon cast as Piangi in the popular Broadway Musical "The Phantom of the Opera."
Written by John Davis
On Aug. 13, Bohannon auditioned for the show’s artistic director, David Van Meierhauser. He never imagined that 15 minutes would turn into such a life-altering experience.
The Great White Way just opened up for one Texas Tech University music education student.
Chris Bohannon, 28, the father of two who is known for singing the national anthem at Texas Tech basketball games and performing at the Cactus Theater in Lubbock, just landed a spot in the Broadway company of “The Phantom of The Opera.” He will serve as understudy for the part of Ubaldo Piangi – the principal tenor at the Paris Opera House.
“Usually the understudy will go on twice a week,” he said. “I’ll perform the role with regularity. When I’m not performing that role, I’ll be performing with the ensemble and onstage in all the major numbers.”
On Sept. 2, he boarded a plane bound for his new life in New York City.
He admits the reality still is hard to grasp.
“It’s one of the most unusual feelings I’ve ever experienced,” Bohannon said of accepting the role. “You’re scared beyond belief. Even though you’re scared, you’ve got this sense of peace like this was supposed to happen since your life began. It’s like all events have lead up to this point. It’s kind of overwhelming. But the one feeling that sticks out is pure excitement.”
The story starts when Bohannon performed a concert with Texas Tech alumnus David Gaschen.
Gaschen, who played both the parts of the Phantom and Piangi, knew Bohannon and had sung with him in concert several times in recent years. In the beginning of August, Gaschen asked Bohannon if he would be interested in auditioning for the role of Piangi.
On Aug. 13, Bohannon auditioned for the show’s artistic director, David Van Meierhauser. He never imagined that 15 minutes would turn into such a life-altering experience.
A view of the sign and skyscrapers on Broadway.
His wife, Marcy, remembers hearing her husband get the news.
“I was giving the kids a bath,” Marcy said. “I heard him on the phone. I can’t remember what he said, but I could tell by what he was saying who he was talking to, and I couldn’t believe it. He’s definitely talented enough, but I was floored he’d caught such a break.”
Marcy, an elementary music teacher at Wheatley and Wright Elementary Schools in Lubbock, said she and the children will move to New York City later in the year.
“This has always been a dream of Chris’,” she said. “The kids and I are excited to go with him and support him.”
Karl Dent, professor of music and Bohannon’s former voice teacher, said he wasn’t surprised that Bohannon earned the role. Dent got to experience the events from the time Bohannon got the call to go to the audition to the time he heard he’d been cast.
“I think sometimes, these miracles happen when you get the call from a certain situation, and things just fall into place,” Dent said. “This is what Chris should be doing. He’s got a tremendous voice. He’s got the kind of voice that commands the moment when the time comes. I’m very happy to see him have this success.”
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