Cris Groenendaal
Cris Groenendaal is a retired American musical theatre actor. He performed in the original Broadway productions of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Sunday in the Park with George, The Phantom of the Opera and Passion, as well as appearing in the original cast of the 1996 Broadway revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Training
He is a trained operatic tenor. He was trained by fellow tenor Frederick Jagel.Career
Known for his work in Stephen Sondheim's musicals, he made his Broadway debut in the original cast of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as an ensemble member and understudy for the role of Anthony. He would later replace Victor Garber in the role of Anthony. He was also in the original cast of the first national tour of Sweeney Todd reprising his role of Anthony. He appeared in the 1982 televised recording of the touring production.Groenendaal was also in the original Broadway cast of Sunday in the Park with George originating the roles of Billy Webster and Louis while understudying many roles including the titular role. He replaced Robert Westenberg in the roles of a Soldier/Alex and later played the titular roles of Georges Seurat/George for 5 days.
Groenendaal originated the role of Monsieur Gilles André in the original Broadway cast of The Phantom of the Opera also understudying the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. He would later take over the role of The Phantom from Timothy Nolen in March 1989 on Broadway and was the third principal actor to play the Phantom on Broadway. He was replaced in the role in March 1990 by the original Broadway and West End Raoul, Steve Barton. Groenendaal would later reprise the role of the Phantom in the Canadian production replacing Colm Wilkinson and for two stints in the Canadian tour.
In 1994 and 1996 he would play roles in two Sondheim musicals, the Broadway revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and the original Broadway production of Passion, playing Miles Gloriosus and Major Rizzolli respectively.
In 1998, he appears in the first US tour of Ragtime as the Father. This would be his last production before his retirement. However, he made an exception in 2002 to perform in the Sondheim celebration at the Kennedy Center in a production of Sunday in the Park with George as Jules and Bob Greenberg.