19 Facts About Hugh Panaro

Hugh Panaro was born on February 19,1964 and is an American actor and singer.

Hugh Panaro is best known for his work in Broadway stage musicals, most well known for his role in The Phantom of the Opera being in over 2,000 performances in the Broadway production.

Hugh Panaro was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and resided in the East Oak Lane section of the city with his family.

Hugh Panaro played organ for the parish church from age twelve.

Hugh Panaro appeared in high school productions of Godspell and Pippin, as well as numerous regional and dinner theater productions throughout his teen years; with his first stage role being Friedrich in The Sound of Music.

Hugh Panaro began performing at the age of 13 and studied voice with Robert Grooters at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University.

Hugh Panaro made his Broadway debut as Marius in Les Miserables, a role he originated in the first US national touring company.

Hugh Panaro created the roles of Buddy in Side Show and Julian in Jule Styne's last musical, The Red Shoes.

Hugh Panaro made his West End debut in the original London company of Harold Prince's Show Boat as Ravenal, the role he played on Broadway and in Toronto.

At Avery Fisher Hall, he performed with the Radio City Rockettes in Jerry Herman's Mack and Mabel and in The Stephen Sondheim Gala, the culmination of the Kennedy Center's "Summer of Sondheim," where Hugh Panaro played Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd.

Hugh Panaro is one of the few actors to play both the roles of Raoul and the Phantom in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera, but after wearing the mask for only a few months, he left to play the title role in the American premiere of Sir Cameron Mackintosh's Martin Guerre.

Hugh Panaro returned to play the title role at the Majestic Theatre's production of Phantom until October 1,2005.

Hugh Panaro appeared in the 1997 romantic comedy, Broadway Damage.

Hugh Panaro has performed in a number of concerts and benefits, including 'An Evening With Hugh Panaro' at the University of Findlay in Ohio, The Leading Men II at the venerable Birdland Jazz Club, and Broadway For Medicine at City Center.

Hugh Panaro starred as Jean Valjean in a new, non-replica production of Les Miserables at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre for which he received the 2008 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Actor In A Musical.

Hugh Panaro was later active as a concert artist appearing with symphonies throughout the United States and Canada.

Hugh Panaro returned to the title role in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera on September 7,2010.

Hugh Panaro took a break from Phantom from April until the end of August 2013.

Hugh Panaro won a St Louis Theater Circle Award for his portrayal of Valjean.