Chicago actor makes touring debut as title understudy in 'Phantom of the Opera'
When Chicago actor Travis Taylor was cast in his first national touring job in “The Phantom of the Opera,” he never suspected that he would also be sharing roles played by the host of CBS-TV's “The Late Late Show With James Corden.”
In two “Phantom” sketches that can still be seen on YouTube, Corden not only took on the show's title role for a segment of “Crosswalk the Musical,” but also he made an onstage cameo as The Hairdresser (aka “Fop Number Two”) when the tour played the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles in summer 2015.
“Isn't that funny? Those are characters I play!” said Travis, glad to be back in Chicago for the return of “The Phantom of the Opera” this month at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.
In the tour, Taylor's seven regular ensemble roles include his one sung solo as The Hairdresser in the musical's show-within-a-show Mozart takeoff titled “Il Muto.” He is also one of the tour's understudies for The Phantom.
Taylor regrets just missing out on the filming of Corden's “Phantom” sketches. Taylor was starring in the musical “Beaches” at Drury Lane Theatre when he was hired for “Phantom,” but he felt it was his duty to finish out his Oakbrook Terrace run.
“I was kind of sad because I've always wanted to perform in L.A.,” Taylor said. “When I joined the tour in San Francisco, that's when all that James Corden stuff debuted on TV.”
Corden's sketches may give a touch of notoriety to Taylor's “Phantom” performance in other cities, but the Texas native has been a staple on Chicago-area stages for the past six years. Even before he graduated with a BFA in musical theater from Roosevelt University in 2010, Taylor had three local acting jobs lined up with Porchlight Music Theatre and Drury Lane.
Tall and possessing a powerful baritone voice, Taylor became a sought-after actor to play commanding roles. These include the firebrand student Enjoras in “Les Miserables” at both the Paramount Theatre in Aurora and Drury Lane. Taylor also provided vocal firepower in the ensemble of Marriott Theatre's 2013 revue “Now and Forever: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.”
Two of Taylor's “Now and Forever” co-stars, Ben Jacoby and Linda Balgord, were cast in the launch of the newly re-imagined North American tour of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster later that same year. Taylor had auditioned for the title role, but he was told he was too young and didn't get cast. So his first time seeing “Phantom” was to cheer on his former co-stars when the tour played Chicago in early 2014.
“It's one of the biggest shows arguably on earth in musical theater as far as what it's grossed and as the longest-running Broadway show in history,” Taylor said. “And I wanted to be a part of it.”
Lucky for Taylor, the “Phantom” casting agents had a long memory. They subsequently asked him to submit an audition video specifically singing The Hairdresser's material.
Taylor has gone on plenty of times as The Phantom - including a day-before substitution notice in Fort Worth that allowed Taylor to round up his extended Texas family to see him perform.
“Your adrenaline starts immediately rushing once you get the call, because half the time it's not planned,” Taylor said. “In one circumstance, we had a set piece come loose and fall on our previous Phantom's foot and I had to go on for the second act. You never really know how or when to prepare. You have to be ready at all times.”
For the Chicago return of “Phantom,” Taylor says he's most looking forward to sleeping in his own bed and spending time with his girlfriend. He's also keen to see friends as he makes his performing debut in one of the Broadway-sized theaters in Chicago's Loop.
“Chicago will always be my home for theater,” Taylor said. “I've never experienced anything like being part of the Chicago theater community - even out here on the road. It's just so special in the way that people look after each other, support each other and really try to make great art.”
“The Phantom of the Opera”
Location: Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago, (800) 775-2000 or
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and Dec. 18 and 26; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday (no matinee Dec. 14 or 25; also Dec. 22 and 30); runs Dec. 14 through Jan. 8
Tickets: $62-$122