‘Phantom’ Of The Opera Actor Brings His Authentic Self To The Role

Isaiah Bailey portrays The Phantom in Broadway in Chicago’s Phantom of the Opera. Photo provided by Broadway in Chicago.
Isaiah Bailey portrays The Phantom in Broadway in Chicago’s Phantom of the Opera. Photo provided by Broadway in Chicago.

‘Phantom’ Of The Opera Actor Brings His Authentic Self To The Role

By Tia Carol Jones

Isaiah Bailey’s first stage experience came when he was 10 years old and attended an opera camp while growing up in Little Rock, Ark. In high school, he was introduced to musical theatre and from there, he really got thrown into theatre.

 He had the opportunity to see the National Touring Company of “The Color Purple,” while in college and was so moved by the story and the performances that it shook him to his core. He knew he wanted to do something in musical theatre and when he had the opportunity to be in a local theater production of the musical, he discovered musical theatre was what he wanted to do with his life.

“It was shocking that a show would move me in that regard and it was also very exciting to be able to tell a story and it move people in the way that it did, and that, in turn, moved me,” Bailey said.

Bailey performed in “Disney’s The Lion King,” “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Hollywood Bowl, and The Lion King 30th Anniversary at The Hollywood Bowl. Bailey is portraying the Phantom in the National Tour of Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera.” The musical will run through Sunday, Feb. 1st, at Broadway in Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre, located at 151 W. Randolph.

In “The Phantom of the Opera,” the Phantom who wants a Paris opera house falls in love with an opera singer. Bailey submitted a self-tape to audition for “Phantom of the Opera.” When he received the call that he would be playing the Phantom, he was excited and at a loss for words. He said that he was honored and shocked that he was chosen.

The show went through rehearsals in New York before being “teched” in Baltimore. Chicago is the third city for the tour. To prepare for the role, Bailey researched the book, the story and watched the movies, while not taking too much of how other actors portrayed the Phantom, but letting them inspire him. He said he has allowed himself the freedom to bring himself to the role.

“I was hired because of my uniqueness and not being like anyone else,” he said. He added that one of the most challenging things for him in rehearsals was not to replicate what other actors brought, but to bring his authentic self to the iconic role.

Bailey is making the role his own by being authentic to himself and not allowing comparisons to rule his mind. He said that the director encouraged him to be his version of the Phantom because only he could play the Phantom like Bailey could play him. He is bringing his life, his struggles, his challenges and his triumphs to this role. He said it makes the role real because he has intimate knowledge of the experiences that he is using to drive his portrayal. Bailey said that it is relayed that way to the audience.

Bailey said his favorite song to sing is “The Final Lair,” which is at the last scene of the show. He said it is his favorite song to sing because he gets to go off and he loves the opportunity to let it all hang out. His favorite song of the show that he does not sing is “Think of Me.” He said while all of the music in the show is iconic, Carlotta’s melodic line and how she embodies the song, then Christine coming in and adding her true self to the song. He said it reminds him of his own journey with the show and being his authentic self and not comparing himself to anybody else.

Bailey said that he hopes audiences understand the importance of looking beyond a person’s exterior, because there is something much deeper that people have in their hearts. He said that the inner layer is what is the most beautiful and where a person’s true beauty lies.

For more information about The Phantom of the Opera and to purchase tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.


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