Hugh Panaro

Hugh Panaro is one of those rare artists whose unique versatility has allowed him a distinguished career, not only in the theater, but also in recording studios and concert halls throughout the world. He has the distinction of having played both Raoul and the Phantom, a role he performed over 1000 times, in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera. Also on Broadway, Panaro has been seen as Gaylord Ravenal in the Harold Prince revival of Show Boat, Marius in Les Miserables and created the roles of Buddy Foster in Side Show, Julian Craster in Jule Styne’s final musical The Red Shoes and most recently, the title role of the seductive vampire in Elton John’s musical Lestat. Panaro made his West End début as Gaylord Ravenal in Show Boat and went on to perform the title role in Martin Guerre.

In Los Angeles, Panaro has participated in “Reprise!” concert performances of Merry We Roll Along, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds and Call Me Madam, for which he received an “Ovation” nomination. At the Kennedy Center, he portrayed Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd and participated in “The Stephen Sondheim Gala”. At Avery Fischer Hall in New York City, he performed in Jerry Herman’s Mack and Mabel.

An active concert artist, Panaro has performed with numerous symphony orchestras including the Dallas, Detroit, San Francisco, Houston, Utah Symphonies and the London Sinfonietta among many others and had the privilege of performing in the world première of Penderecki’s Te Deum at Carnegie Hall. His recordings include Jerome Kern Treasury, the original cast recording of Side Show, Tap Your Troubles Away (Herman), The Centennial (Weil), Life On The Wicked Stage (Kern) among others. His first solo CD, recorded with Sony/BMG, was released in the summer of 2007. A native of Philadelphia, Mr. Panaro graduated from Temple University and was awarded the Boyer College of Music Certificate of Honor for his impressive career in musical theatre.