Box Five Tour After Show Observations -Detroit February 10, 2026.
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Take a cast who was already solid and understood their roles when they opened the tour and add a few months where they grow more comfortable with each other and themselves, and you got this amazing cast!
Sitting up in front row, this was the first time when it's the black out for the auction scene, but I can see the actors get into place and take the coverings off the items before the lights come up.
Daniel Lopez is still a solid older Raoul and during his solo he was touching the monkey as he was inspecting it and he had a little smile on his face and then a look of dread when he said, "when all the rest of us are....dead."
I thought I looked at the updated cast list with the QR thoroughly before the show, but I was like Andy Tighe is in the auction scene. Why didn't I see his name in the cast list? It was until intermission when I looked at it again that I realized he was covering Donovan's Passarino & more track. It was a delight to see him on stage finally and I could tell he'd be a pleasant Raoul with a nice sounding voice. I liked his little rosy cheeks for Passarino too.
I felt like the Lot 666 monologue changed since the last time I saw it (I checked back on this and it was the same, it's just the altered speech they used on tour now) and Ben added a sinister little laugh when he mentioned the famous disaster. It was a nice touch - so many little touches added since the last time that WORKED among the cast.
I was in the perfect spot to watch Midori's Carlotta in Hannibal when the Wardrobe Mistress is working on her costume. She said some things before her normal, "I told him it was Rome, not Rom-a", but I couldn't make it out. I did catch her telling the ensemble member who insisted she needed her costume fixed that if she didn't leave the Wardrobe mistress alone, she (Carlotta) would have her fired!
Christopher's Piangi is even more affected by the Hannibal Guard and I saw him puffing his chest when he was singing and the Guard was right next to him. As soon as he turned his back, Carlotta gave the guard a little flirty look.
I've noticed in Hannibal for this new tour that someone randomly sings a high note and I never knew who it was. I assumed it was Carlotta from the side of the stage. It's actually Olivia McMillian's Hannibal character who does it.
David Young Fernandez was certainly getting smacked in the face with Piangi's cape harder than the last time and I'm hoping he doesn't actually --get hurt nightly.
Some of the ballerinas tried to introduce themselves sweetly to Firmin, one even curtsied with the ropes on her costume, but William was having none of it and dismissed them. They weren't too pleased.
I was paying attention to Jordan's Christine during Carlotta's Think of Me, which is hard to do with Midori hamming it up. But Carlyn Connolly was on for Madame Giry and she gave a gentle touch to Christine's shoulder during that part. Almost as she knew Christine desperately wanted this role and was working on the music with the Phantom and Giry knew about it. Jordan starting to quietly sing along too.
Midori's "This Things do happen" speech has gotten even better! She starts off very mift, but she changes positions in her chair and says sweetly, "You have been here for 5 minutes," before exploding. And then she kept mocking them every time she said, "These things do happen!"
Christine and Meg were doing a lot of talking when Raoul was mentioned and that he would be at the performance that evening. Christine seemed to get excited about that.
I simply adore a former Christine actress playing Fifi Firmin. Trista Moldovan was filling in for Carlyn and you could tell she was rooting for Christine the whole time. When Raoul stood up and cheered, she at first seemed quite embarrassed at the bold display, but eased into it with a quiet laugh as she could tell he was smitten with Christine's performance.
I think David Young Fernandez plays the conductor at the end of Think of Me and before the curtain closed, he made a gesture of blowing a kiss to Chrstine and it looked like he said, "I LOVE YOU!"
Jordan's Christine is always mindful and has manners and thanked the Wardrobe Mistress when she handed her slippers over.
Something happened and there was a brief pause when the managers, Fifi, and Raoul come on stage right before Firmin says a line. The beauty of live theater - it was caught quickly and you could tell they had trust in each other.
Little Lotte has changed since Baltimore and I enjoy it even more. Christine seemed to hold on to her embrace even longer after their hug and then he did some other touch and it made her pull away from modesty like she's done in the past. The two are in sync and have incorporated little touches, like caressing the other's cheek. It just felt like both were very in the moment and listening to each other.
Isaiah posted an instagram video this past Sunday about being human and cracking on some notes. Monday's day off did him well and his voice was stunning and powerful tonight.
In the title song, before Christine takes the lead and walks off stage with the Phantom following her, she walked past him like she was brushing up against him and this was a sexual charge between the two. Maybe it was being in front row, but Music of the Night was so charged!
When the boat is upstage,3 there is the point where Christine takes in the scene around her and the chorus sing a bit. Isaiah reached his hand towards her and was going to touch her but, got nervous and pulled back.
Isaiah has incorporated the HAIR SLICK. And his cape twirling is quite nice as well adding his own touch to it. He was getting so excited when Christine was vocalizing at the end. 3
Isaiah's Music of the Night is a balance between having confidence already and gaining it while watching Christine under his spell. I felt there was more touching when she grazes against him on the portcullis and definitely during the famous pose. I think he grazed the top of her chest before putting his hand on her side and it was just a lot of touching between the two!
I could be wrong, but I felt like in Baltimore that Isaiah would stand up immediately when he started3-
his final line. Now he is kneeling right over Christine for a bit taking her in and it was a beautiful moment.
Isaiah was very into his music and Jordan was very into remembering the night before and the man she just met. When he shows his dark/angry side towards her, it takes her completely by surprise and she did a couple of screams of terror. She really took her time to come out of crying on the floor as the Phantom is coming near her. Isaiah actually reached out to her before, "Oh, Christine" and of course was rejected, which was very heartbreaking. Their interaction was beautiful during the return of the mask and communicating with each other without saying anything.
Just a quick note that I really enjoyed Carlyn's speaking voice for Giry along with her singing voice. For having a cast so comfortable with each other and growing the past few months, she fit right into their dynamic.
Christopher's Piangi was doing a lot more reacting in Prima Donna and it was so good. Also, his Piangi is a religious man as I believe in this scene and the Sitzprobe he did the "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" gesture. Also, I think he had Raoul in a corner when the managers announced Carlotta would be singing the main role almost like, "What do you have to say about that?!" Oh, Daniel's Raoul also let out a smug little laugh when Firmin messed up wrote/written.
When Andre says, "Your public needs you," you saw Midori's head tilt in Firmin's direction waiting for him to chime in as well.
I think this was the notes scene where Carlotta and Piangi bumped into each other a little doing their stage walking when the Phantom is reading his letter aloud. It was a cute moment.
Il Muto's energy is HIGH! The players are really getting into their roles and playing with each other. Jordan's Serafimo was hugging a pillow at one point looking longingly at Carlotta. She also made a face and chimed in during the bleh moment between Carlotta and Don Attilio after their kiss.
It seems they have allowed Jeremy H. to hold out his note as Don Attilio. They even added the ensemble players in the scene reacting to it, some rolling their eyes or sighing. He also got some applause. In a modern world of tenors being worshipped, let's give some recognition to a bass!
The rooftop scene was solid. It always has been with Jordan and Daniel. But once again, more little touches and giggles. And there seemed to be more kissing going on too! Daniel wasn't afraid of making a fool out of himself and showing off his adoration and I like when Raoul's let their guard down and do that. *chef's kiss*
Isaiah's inner child came out during the reprise. He did have the emotionally maturity to accept what he just heard and he even hit the Pegasus at one point out of anger.
Masquerade was solid as always, no notes.
Carlyn was very invested in the backstage scene and retelling the story of the Phantom's past.
Christoper's scarf has been down up in a fancy fold instead of just lying down from his shoulders. Nice touch/style.
It was nice to see meek Christine really stand up for herself when Carlotta kept pushing her buttons. But by the end of the scene, Midori's Carlotta always has compassion for Christine. She almost went to her when Christine runs off stage, but she stopped herself. When Jordan yelled back, "You promised me!" it was so heartbreaking and I was so team Christine in that moment. F U Raoul. Her Twisted Every Way was very solid and in the moment too.
Sitzprobe - Jeremy laughs longer as his ensemble character, Carlotta really shows compassion towards Piangi, Christine tried to help Piangi and sang to him how it was supposed to sound.
I tend to think about other things during Wishing and then I always regret it since it's such a touching song. SO, I really tried to stay in the moment and take the journey with Christine dealing with her grief. You could see Jordan make a switch before, "Too many years.." Such character growth. The audience LOVED her and gave her a longer applause which made her cry some more.
Wandering sounded glorious. No notes.
Jordan's Aminta characterization has become stronger. I loved the switch she does in the Point of No Return after she realizes the Phantom is singing with her. She's going through the motion trying to think ahead and then something clicks in her brain and she TAKES CONTROL. CONTROL!!!! But what was even more fascinating was after she removes his hood, she goes back to regret and being timid. But then the ring does her in and she reveals his to all.
There was some physicality between the Phantom and Christine in the boat - a little rough handling of Christine in like two stages. It was quite intense and I knew when Jordan returned on stage, she was going to let him have it.
The Final Lair was GOLD. Jordan's between pleading with the Phantom and knowing it's useless to try to bargain with him. Isaiah's sassiness comes out as song as Raoul comes in. Actually, right before it looks like he was going to caress Christine's cheek and then he sees Raoul out of the corner his eye. Then he flourishes his hand and puts it under Christine's chin without touching it.
Isaiah was not having any of Raoul begging for mercy. No f*cks were given!
The kiss. The kiss. The kiss. The first one takes the Phantom by surprise. Then in the second one, he keeps his eyes open in disbelief before relaxing into it and closing his eyes. Then his hands make it to the small of Christine's back. He pulls away from the kiss and this time it seems more like in that moment he has already decided to free Raoul for Christine.
At the end of singing Masquerade to the monkey, Isaiah put his head up against the monkey's head. Jordan didn't come slowly and confidently on like I've seen in the past. She almost ran in like she knew she has unfinished business. She lingered for a bit and it seemed she was almost considering in staying. Isaiah had so much hope and smiled when he realized Christine returned. Channeling Ted Keegan here!
Isaiah said I love you a few times, silently said Christine and he put his face in her veil. Jordan's Christine looked back to him, but as soon as he turned around to noticed she shifted her attention to Raoul before the boat disappeared off stage.
There seemed to be a little smile right before Isaiah put the cape around him. One last shred* of hope for himself.
