Steve Barton


Steven Neal Barton was an American actor, singer, dancer, teacher, choreographer, and stage director. He worked internationally in the United States, London, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He is most well known for originating the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny in the West End and Broadway productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, and later taking over the title role of The Phantom of the Opera in the Broadway production. He also originated the starring role of Graf von Krolock in Dance of the Vampires.

Early life

Barton was born on June 26, 1954, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the youngest of three children of Tom and Mary Barton. He was raised in Nederland, Texas.
He won a scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, where he majored in theater, dance and voice, and appeared in over 30 productions with UT and the Ballet of Austin. A UT endowed Presidential Scholarship is now named for him. After graduation he went to Europe.

Career

He landed his first professional role in St. Gallen, Switzerland, then performed in several major Swiss, German and Austrian theater companies.
He played leading roles in West Side Story, Godspell, Romeo and Juliet, The Fantasticks, The Threepenny Opera, Oklahoma!, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Guys and Dolls, and Camelot, before playing the role of Munkustrap in the original Vienna cast of Cats, at the Theater an der Wien. At the Theater des Westens in Berlin he played roles in Guys and Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar, La Cage aux Folles and Robert in Company.
In 1986, Barton originated the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera in London. He also understudied the title role and notably played the role when Michael Crawford was sick in April 1987. In 1988, he reprised the role of Raoul in the original Broadway cast.
In 1989, Barton reprised his performance as Raoul opposite Crawford's Phantom in the previews and opening night performance of the Ahmanson Theatre production of the show when principal Raoul actor Reece Holland was injured. Barton took over the role of The Phantom in 1990 from Cris Groenendaal in the Broadway production; he was the fourth principal actor to portray the role on Broadway.
In 1996, Barton returned to Vienna, where he took over the part of The Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. He originated the role of Graf von Krolock, a vampire in Jim Steinman's Dance of the Vampires, for which he won an IMAGE in 1998. Barton celebrated his 30-year onstage anniversary in 1997 during his run as von Krolock.
At the end of his life he was working on Jekyll & Hyde in Bremen, Germany. He was taking over the title role from Ethan Freeman.

Personal life

Barton was married to swing dancer and choreographer Denny Berry, who served as dance supervisor for the North American productions of The Phantom of the Opera, whom he met at college. Their son, Edward, was born in Vienna in 1984; the couple separated at an unspecified later date. He was an honorary chairperson of the Steadman Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation and an honorary member of the UTA Board of Education.

Death

Barton was found dead at his apartment in Bremen, Germany, on July 21, 2001, aged 47. While his death was initially attributed to heart failure, according to obituary information released by the press office for the New York production of The Phantom of the Opera, it was later ruled a suicide by the Bremen district attorney.

Stage roles

Source:
YearTitleRoleNotes
1971Hello, Dolly!Barnaby TuckerTexas, US
1972West Side StoryTonyTexas, US
1972CamelotSir Lancelot du LacMusic Director
Texas, US
1973Romeo and JulietParisTexas, US
1975Romeo and JulietRomeo MontagueChoreographer
Texas, US
1976The Threepenny OperaCaptain MacHeathTexas, US
1977MacbethMacduffTexas, US
1979West Side StoryRiffBern, Switzerland
1979CinderellaPrince CharmingAssistant Choreographer
Bern, Switzerland
1980West Side StoryRiffBern, Switzerland
1981The FantasticksEl GalloBern, Switzerland
1981West Side StoryRiffBerlin, Germany
1981Romeo and JulietTybaltChoreographer
Bern, Switzerland
1981West Side StoryRiffBern, Switzerland
1981West Side StoryRiffBregenz, Austria
1981CamelotSir Lancelot du LacChoreographer
Karlsruhe, Germany
1982Oklahoma!Curly McLainBerlin, Germany
1982GodspellJesusBern, Switzerland
1982CamelotSir Lancelot du LacLudwigshafen, Germany
1982GodspellJesusOlten, Switzerland
1982West Side StoryRiffVienna, Austria
1982Jesus Christ SuperstarPeterVienna, Austria
1982Jesus Christ SuperstarJesus ChristVienna, Austria
1983EvitaAgustín MagaldiMünchen, Germany
1983–1984CatsMunkustrapDance Captain
Vienna, Austria
1984Jesus Christ SuperstarJesus ChristBerlin, Germany
1985Guys and DollsNicely-Nicely JohnsonBerlin, Germany
1985Guys and DollsSky MastersonBerlin, Germany
1985La Cage aux FollesJean MichelBerlin, Germany
1986La Cage aux FollesAlbinBerlin, Germany
1986CompanyRobertBerlin, Germany
1986-1987The Phantom of the OperaRaoul, Vicomte de Chagny
u/s The Phantom of the Opera		Original West End cast
1987The Phantom of the OperaThe Phantom of the OperaTemporary West End replacement
1987The Phantom of the OperaRaoul, Vicomte de Chagny
u/s The Phantom of the Opera		Original West End cast
1988–1989The Phantom of the OperaRaoul, Vicomte de ChagnyOriginal Broadway cast
1989The Phantom of the OperaRaoul, Vicomte de ChagnyLos Angeles
1989The Phantom of the OperaRaoul, Vicomte de ChagnyOriginal Broadway cast
1989The Anastasia AffairePrince PaulMassachusetts, US
1990The Phantom of the OperaThe Phantom of the OperaBroadway production replacement
1991The Threepenny OperaCaptain MacheathNew Jersey, US
1991The Phantom of the OperaRaoul, Vicomte de Chagny
u/s The Phantom of the Opera		Los Angeles
1993Six WivesHenry VIIINew York, US
1993The Hunchback of Notre DameQuasimodoNew York, US
1993The Phantom of the OperaRaoul, Vicomte de Chagny
u/s The Phantom of the Opera		Los Angeles
1993The Red ShoesBoris LermontovOriginal Broadway cast
1994Kiss Me, KateFred Graham / PetruchioGoodspeed Opera House
1996Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetSweeney ToddPennsylvania, US
1996Let's Do ItNick CameronConnecticut, US
1996-1997Beauty and the BeastThe BeastVienna, Austria replacement
1997-2000Dance of the VampiresGraf von KrolockOriginal cast
2000Jekyll & HydeDr. Henry Jekyll / Edward HydeBremen, Germany

Television guest roles

  • Tatort, 1992, guest role as FBI Agent Mike Haller, ORF, Austria
  • The Young and the Restless, 1994, guest role and Another World, 1994, guest role as ''Bailey Thompson''

    Selected discography

Musicals

  • 1983: Cats, Original Vienna Cast Recording, as Munkustrap, in German language
  • 1987: Highlights from The Phantom of the Opera, Original London Cast, as Raoul
  • 1987: The Phantom of the Opera, Original London Cast Recording, as Raoul
  • 1988: Show Boat, as Steve Baker
  • 1998: Anastasia - The Musical, as Prince Paul
  • 1998: Tanz der Vampire – Die Höhepunkte der Welturaufführung, Original Vienna Cast, as Graf von Krolock, in German language
  • 1998: Tanz der Vampire – Die Gesamtaufnahme, Original Vienna Cast Recording, as Graf von Krolock, in German language