Las Vegas Weekly

Of masks and Packers

Anthony Crivello calls an audible as the new (solo) QB of Las Vegas production of Phantom

This is an excerpt from the radio show Our Metropolis, a half-hour issues and affairs program that airs Tuesdays at 6 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and is hosted by Greenspun Media Group’s John Katsilometes. Tune in next week to hear the rest of this interview with Anthony Crivello, who this month has taken over as the titular role in Phantom—Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian:

They double-casted the lead roles in the show for the first two years of its run, and you were swapping the role with Brent Barrett. How did this happen?

A couple of good things have happened. We are now an established entity on the Strip, and there was always a feeling from the beginning that we had to feel our way and figure out the optimum way of doing this. So when we came in, the BASE Entertainment producers were trying to figure out the best way of having this run. We started with the 10 performances a week—that’s why it was double-casted, because it was so demanding because of the topography of Las Vegas, causing Vegas Throat and all that—and two years in the producers have decided, very wisely, that we could ratchet down to eight. So through that, we essentially decided to run a more traditional Broadway-style schedule, and when that happened we were both presented with a decision, and Brent decided after two years he wanted to do more concert work. He’s a tremendous performer and a lovely man, and he’s actually going this summer to do Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on the East Coast, and he decided he wanted to go. For me, the producers came to me and asked me about it, and I said, by all means, I’d love to stay.

It wasn’t an option for both of you to stay?

Ultimately, it’s the producers’ decision. All of this boils down to that. The same thing happened to the Christines, the Carlottas, whenever you get into a long run there is a certain amount of ebb and flow that happens naturally … People get other offers and leave the show. Our show has been raided for Broadway, and it’s a testament to the talent that is in our company, in all departments.

You’ve been a Green Bay Packer fan since you were a kid. If the Packers enter the Super Bowl, would you consider wearing a cheese mask as the Phantom?

(Laughs) Now there’s an idea! I don’t know if I’d go that far, but let’s start marketing that one! A cheese Phantom mask! Even though we lost (Brett) Favre, we have a chance this season. We have a good backup in Aaron Rogers, and if something goes haywire, they’re going to call 1-800-FAVRE. If that happens, maybe.