Official Filipino Phansite of Claire Lyon
Exclusive Interview with Claire Lyon!
She can sing, she can act and boy can she dance en-pointe.
Claire Lyon fills us in on the journey so far as the current World Tour principal Christine and also talks about her debut album On Stage, her future plans and some of her personal favorites.
SINGAPORE, July 26, 2013 - It's been a year since The Phantom of the Opera has taken Asia by storm anew, reaping applause, critical acclaims and sold-out shows every night. And at the cusp of its thunderous success is Claire Lyon. The 26-year old Australian soprano has won a massive following not just from the 4 Asian stops so far, but from Phantom fans around the globe. Now an even bigger star since she took the highly-coveted role in 2012, Claire continues to headline the tour with Brad Little and Anthony Downing who play the Phantom and Raoul respectively, onwards Shanghai and future stops which Lyon hints at in this interview. We have had the rare privilege of catching up with the stunning actress-singer over tea at Marina Bay Sands.
What's your mindset before a show?
Different everyday. Some days I could be listening to music, any sort of music, on my phone. In fact, I got a new Samsung and I can't really work it. Anthony talked me into getting it and the only thing he put into my phone was Justin Bieber! *laughs*. So, literally, my old iPhone had a heap of music and for some reason he put in Justin Bieber. So I could be listening to Justin Bieber while I'm doing my hair or get in character once the chandelier goes up and that's when I start jumping up and down, warming up my muscles and do a full-on warm up before we do ballet on the stage. It could be different every day, I could be excited, I could be exhausted.
But do you still get the jitters?
No, not really. Just an adrenaline rush on opening night maybe. Obviously you got the critics and the audience, all the producers and creative team and you want to keep doing the job and yeah, I don't get nervous. Unless I'm not feeling a 100% and I'm thinking "Is this going to come out? Is this gonna work?"
The only show I had off was once in Manila. When I had a really bad flu. I was literally like sweating on bed. It was like Phantom in real life, I had Jonathan (Roxmouth) and Anthony fighting over what medicine to give me. It was really funny. Anthony had this herbal drink like ginger and lemon and Jonathan had the chemist stuff. And Ant was like "I really don't think she should be having that." And Jonathan was all, "Well!"
You have a lot of fans internationally who want you in Broadway or West End. West End particularly because Cat (Lane)'s already Meg so they're hoping you'll follow next.
I have a British passport so that's not off-the-cards. But I'm having fun doing the world tour at the moment. We're going Shanghai next and there are further cities which I can't announce yet.
That's fantastic! So the tour is continuing on? Because we've read from an article in Shanghai that it's going to be the last stop.
Yeah that wasn't right. I don't know why they said that. Sometimes the media makes these things up. I read that too and I was like "What?" But there are further cities ahead. It's all to be confirmed still, but at least 3 more cities and it won't be too far away from the Philippines. I can't say anymore!
Is there a line or a note that you find most difficult to sing, if there's any?
Probably the end of Wishing (Claire sings "Why can't the past just die?") When I'm standing and singing it it's easy but because it's so emotional and I've got the cape on and there's a strap across the cape which actually goes across my neck and whenever I reach my arms up, it actually presses on my throat and so I'm running and singing like this (Claire raises her arms) which is like the worst position to singing, because of how emotional it is. And I don't know if you've tried to sing while you're crying and yuck it feels gross.
But you're still able to bring on the notes!
I almost had to sort of go back into operatic breathing like deep, open breath while still trying to do the emotions and that's probably the hardest part of it all. Standing, singing the song is easy but when you're crying and reaching and being choked by the cape, it's a lot different thing. The skirt in singing Think of Me, piece of cake when you're just standing there singing it, but when you got a skirt that's like 10 kilos, it's so heavy. When you put it on it's like GUH. There's beading, there's hoops. Also with doing ballet you've got a corset on and you've got a mic pack that's something extra on my back it's much harder to move.
So it's not as easy as you make it look like.
I hope it looks easy *laughs*
What did you want to stand out from your interpretation of Christine? What characteristics are important for you when portraying her?
I just want it to be genuine. I think a lot of people might see her played as innocent and weak and not really go through that journey through the whole show. I just want to make it real and genuine like somebody's life story.
Take us to your first evening as Christine in Manila.
My first run-through of the whole show was with an audience and I haven't done the whole show without anyone watching. I've done Act 1 all the way through and I've sort of staggered through stop-start Act 2, so I haven't run the whole thing. So I was like "What? My first run-through was with people watching??" and it's supposed to be an invited friends and family but it was packed out. That opening night in Manila, that was amazing. I had my parents there and my boyfriend at the time. Him and his parents were there so it was nice to have all that support. It was just my dream come true, basically.
So how's the journey been so far, will we expect a different kind of Christine?
Apparently my sister saw it in Manila and she saw it a week ago. She said "You sound different, the way you sing." I think I'm singing things a lot less operatically in the beginning. Making it more innocent and sweet in the beginning and then growing into something more operatic.
Is it something like thinking less of the technical aspect and more into the emotions
Yeah, I'd say so. I just try to be real in what I am doing. I saw an opera one day and I forgot how bad opera acting could be. Voices are incredible, but not overly believable. Opera is just meant to sound best all the time, if you're angry and screaming, you're not gonna try sounding beautiful. You'll just try to sound real.
How does performing with different Phantom change your portrayal?
It just depends whatever they give on the night. I dont think about it I just react to however I react that time. Especially that part when they go "You try my patience", that's different every night. Some nights Brad will get up like immediately while I say "Blindly" or he might wait 5 seconds which gives me more time to plead with him or whatever. Ian (who Claire did around 5 or 6 shows in the World Tour), he threw me to the floor once and I actually genunely screamed because it was a slightly different timing than when Brad threw me off same with Point of No Return. Things will happen and I'll just go with it. I'll let them lead me into how they're gonna act at that time.
Briefly, how often did you play Christine in Love Never Dies?
About 30 times I think. I went on a lot in Melbourne. Christine is not such a big role compared to Phantom, so you don't need an alternate. I only went on when Anna (O'Byrne) was sick. If not, I do one of the show girls. That was fun doing that, getting back into dancing and opera singing.
Can you tell us more about On Stage? How did the album start?
It's something I wanted to do. I think I was talking about it with my agent and then we thought: I have these breaks in between the seasons in which I can record. And then beginning of Seoul, I've got all these audience here. It's that sort of niche market where they are into musical theatre. So I thought, "Right, I've gotta get on with this and have it on the shelves by the time Bangkok comes around to make it worthwhile." I'm not going to do it after the big tour and then not have that market there. It was just a matter of choosing, going through different songs. It was fun to have the favorites there like Memory, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again and Love Never Dies. And then other songs that I've grown up singing like If I Loved You and I Could Have Danced All Night, Over the Rainbow. And a few others like Falling in Love with Love and Lusty Month of May, which my agent suggested. Green Finch and Linnet Birds, I've sung that for an audition years ago and I thought it's a good mix of songs, ballads and up-tempos ones. Enough famous ones and enough different ones that people can learn something new as well as hearing their favorites.
Other musical theatre what genres would you like to explore.
I love singing jazz. One of my favorites song to sing is Lullaby of Birdland. Ella Fitzgerald sings it in one of her album.
Given a chance to release a volume 2 what would you add?
Maybe Pirates, Poor Wand'ring One.
Speaking of, can you tell us more about The Pirates of Penzance production you'll be in?
It's from end of October to Early November. That's with The Production Company in Melbourne ran by a lady named Jeannie Pratt who's well known in Australia and who loves the arts. She puts on these shows. So they do about three shows a year. It's a crazy 2 weeks to get the show up and running and about 6 shows at Hamer Hall, which is about a 2 and a half thousand seat theater. It's my first show with them.
Do you have any more projects? Will you still be able to sneak in a few, since you'll still be busy with the tour?
Maybe, it depends what cities are coming up mid-next year. If there's a right show that is suitable to me and I'm free and they want me, then definitely I'd love to do more.
So besides Justin Bieber (cue laughter), what does your playlist have?
The latest thing I downloaded was The Great Gatsby soundtrack. I love Lana Del Rey. I got such a mix on there. I love pretty much everything apart from Heavy Metal. Not into that. I've got everything from Ella Fitzgerald, to Edith Piaf, to JLo to opera albums to music theatre. I don't have any country or western but I won't rule that out. And then I got John Mayer on there.
You're a style maven in that you always look glamorous. People think you're one of the best dressed Christines. Do you have any unglamorous outfit?
I try to be glamorous all the time even like pyjamas, why not have cool pyjamas if you can have pyjamas. Like one of my girlfriends own the Sant and Abel company and managed to get me and Anthony a pair. Even when I go shopping for gym clothes, I want something cool like bright pink sports bra. I love fashion. Maybe...gray trackies and a t-shirt if I'm sick or something in bed.
Special skill besides acting and singing.
I'm useless in cooking. I'm useless in swimming. So something else I'm good at, I love looking after children and I used to do a lot of nanny when I was a lot younger.
Actresses you want to work with.
I would absolutely die if I get to perform with Julie Andrews, because she's my idol. I think Sierra Boggess is fabulous. And I think Samantha Barks is fabulous. Lea Salonga~!
How about actors?
Oh. Henry Cavill, Superman, for sure! He's my celebrity crush.
That went from musical to Henry Cavill.
He was my crush since the Tudors. He's amazing. Sure!
Favorite non-Phantom show you've seen.
I've seen King Kong, that was great. War Horse is great. Jesus Christ Superstar was fantastic. The Producers by The Production Company, Rock of Ages I saw it in Melbourne. Oh I saw Rebecca in Korea and that was Fantastic. Ock Ju-hyun was incredible.
People are asking if you will be back in Manila. Is it possible for the show to come back to its previous stops or will it be like a 10-year wait?
I don't know yet, but I'm hoping so. That would be great. If it doesn't go back this time around, then it could be a 10-year wait. They don't even tell us things until the last minute. They tell us and then we have to decide in a matter of weeks.
Tell us about The World Tour experience so far.
It's interesting to see the reactions from different cultures, who don't necessarily get the jokes but they go nuts in the end screaming and Bangkok was similar to Seoul, they had the subtitles. They're familiar with it. Korea's very updated with all the different arts, like literally there's not enough theaters for the productions. More theaters need to be built since they love it so much. It's nice to travel around and bring the shows to countries that don't have them there all the time. So when they come it's all a special event. It's not like "Oh we can go to that anytime."
You're very active in social media. What do you enjoy about it?
People have spent the money to see the show and thank you for it. Some people buy the album. I think it's part of the job that you thank the people who keep you working and pay our paycheck. If people didn't come to see the show, there will be no show. If people had done the effort, why shouldn't I? I don't have 50,000 followers so then it might be harder then. I don't find it a drag or anything, I try to respond to everyone.
Claire ends the interview with a message to her fans. Watch here: http://telly.com/10QFPEA
Catch Claire as Christine in Singapore and Shanghai. Her album On Stage is available at the merchandise store in Marina Bay Sands Grand Theatre and for download in iTunes, Amazon and various music outlets.
— Ainzley Villalon (Claire Lyon Philippines) and Monica Sy (Phantom World Tour page)
She can sing, she can act and boy can she dance en-pointe.
Claire Lyon fills us in on the journey so far as the current World Tour principal Christine and also talks about her debut album On Stage, her future plans and some of her personal favorites.
SINGAPORE, July 26, 2013 - It's been a year since The Phantom of the Opera has taken Asia by storm anew, reaping applause, critical acclaims and sold-out shows every night. And at the cusp of its thunderous success is Claire Lyon. The 26-year old Australian soprano has won a massive following not just from the 4 Asian stops so far, but from Phantom fans around the globe. Now an even bigger star since she took the highly-coveted role in 2012, Claire continues to headline the tour with Brad Little and Anthony Downing who play the Phantom and Raoul respectively, onwards Shanghai and future stops which Lyon hints at in this interview. We have had the rare privilege of catching up with the stunning actress-singer over tea at Marina Bay Sands.
What's your mindset before a show?
Different everyday. Some days I could be listening to music, any sort of music, on my phone. In fact, I got a new Samsung and I can't really work it. Anthony talked me into getting it and the only thing he put into my phone was Justin Bieber! *laughs*. So, literally, my old iPhone had a heap of music and for some reason he put in Justin Bieber. So I could be listening to Justin Bieber while I'm doing my hair or get in character once the chandelier goes up and that's when I start jumping up and down, warming up my muscles and do a full-on warm up before we do ballet on the stage. It could be different every day, I could be excited, I could be exhausted.
But do you still get the jitters?
No, not really. Just an adrenaline rush on opening night maybe. Obviously you got the critics and the audience, all the producers and creative team and you want to keep doing the job and yeah, I don't get nervous. Unless I'm not feeling a 100% and I'm thinking "Is this going to come out? Is this gonna work?"
The only show I had off was once in Manila. When I had a really bad flu. I was literally like sweating on bed. It was like Phantom in real life, I had Jonathan (Roxmouth) and Anthony fighting over what medicine to give me. It was really funny. Anthony had this herbal drink like ginger and lemon and Jonathan had the chemist stuff. And Ant was like "I really don't think she should be having that." And Jonathan was all, "Well!"
You have a lot of fans internationally who want you in Broadway or West End. West End particularly because Cat (Lane)'s already Meg so they're hoping you'll follow next.
I have a British passport so that's not off-the-cards. But I'm having fun doing the world tour at the moment. We're going Shanghai next and there are further cities which I can't announce yet.
That's fantastic! So the tour is continuing on? Because we've read from an article in Shanghai that it's going to be the last stop.
Yeah that wasn't right. I don't know why they said that. Sometimes the media makes these things up. I read that too and I was like "What?" But there are further cities ahead. It's all to be confirmed still, but at least 3 more cities and it won't be too far away from the Philippines. I can't say anymore!
Is there a line or a note that you find most difficult to sing, if there's any?
Probably the end of Wishing (Claire sings "Why can't the past just die?") When I'm standing and singing it it's easy but because it's so emotional and I've got the cape on and there's a strap across the cape which actually goes across my neck and whenever I reach my arms up, it actually presses on my throat and so I'm running and singing like this (Claire raises her arms) which is like the worst position to singing, because of how emotional it is. And I don't know if you've tried to sing while you're crying and yuck it feels gross.
But you're still able to bring on the notes!
I almost had to sort of go back into operatic breathing like deep, open breath while still trying to do the emotions and that's probably the hardest part of it all. Standing, singing the song is easy but when you're crying and reaching and being choked by the cape, it's a lot different thing. The skirt in singing Think of Me, piece of cake when you're just standing there singing it, but when you got a skirt that's like 10 kilos, it's so heavy. When you put it on it's like GUH. There's beading, there's hoops. Also with doing ballet you've got a corset on and you've got a mic pack that's something extra on my back it's much harder to move.
So it's not as easy as you make it look like.
I hope it looks easy *laughs*
What did you want to stand out from your interpretation of Christine? What characteristics are important for you when portraying her?
I just want it to be genuine. I think a lot of people might see her played as innocent and weak and not really go through that journey through the whole show. I just want to make it real and genuine like somebody's life story.
Take us to your first evening as Christine in Manila.
My first run-through of the whole show was with an audience and I haven't done the whole show without anyone watching. I've done Act 1 all the way through and I've sort of staggered through stop-start Act 2, so I haven't run the whole thing. So I was like "What? My first run-through was with people watching??" and it's supposed to be an invited friends and family but it was packed out. That opening night in Manila, that was amazing. I had my parents there and my boyfriend at the time. Him and his parents were there so it was nice to have all that support. It was just my dream come true, basically.
So how's the journey been so far, will we expect a different kind of Christine?
Apparently my sister saw it in Manila and she saw it a week ago. She said "You sound different, the way you sing." I think I'm singing things a lot less operatically in the beginning. Making it more innocent and sweet in the beginning and then growing into something more operatic.
Is it something like thinking less of the technical aspect and more into the emotions
Yeah, I'd say so. I just try to be real in what I am doing. I saw an opera one day and I forgot how bad opera acting could be. Voices are incredible, but not overly believable. Opera is just meant to sound best all the time, if you're angry and screaming, you're not gonna try sounding beautiful. You'll just try to sound real.
How does performing with different Phantom change your portrayal?
It just depends whatever they give on the night. I dont think about it I just react to however I react that time. Especially that part when they go "You try my patience", that's different every night. Some nights Brad will get up like immediately while I say "Blindly" or he might wait 5 seconds which gives me more time to plead with him or whatever. Ian (who Claire did around 5 or 6 shows in the World Tour), he threw me to the floor once and I actually genunely screamed because it was a slightly different timing than when Brad threw me off same with Point of No Return. Things will happen and I'll just go with it. I'll let them lead me into how they're gonna act at that time.
Briefly, how often did you play Christine in Love Never Dies?
About 30 times I think. I went on a lot in Melbourne. Christine is not such a big role compared to Phantom, so you don't need an alternate. I only went on when Anna (O'Byrne) was sick. If not, I do one of the show girls. That was fun doing that, getting back into dancing and opera singing.
Can you tell us more about On Stage? How did the album start?
It's something I wanted to do. I think I was talking about it with my agent and then we thought: I have these breaks in between the seasons in which I can record. And then beginning of Seoul, I've got all these audience here. It's that sort of niche market where they are into musical theatre. So I thought, "Right, I've gotta get on with this and have it on the shelves by the time Bangkok comes around to make it worthwhile." I'm not going to do it after the big tour and then not have that market there. It was just a matter of choosing, going through different songs. It was fun to have the favorites there like Memory, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again and Love Never Dies. And then other songs that I've grown up singing like If I Loved You and I Could Have Danced All Night, Over the Rainbow. And a few others like Falling in Love with Love and Lusty Month of May, which my agent suggested. Green Finch and Linnet Birds, I've sung that for an audition years ago and I thought it's a good mix of songs, ballads and up-tempos ones. Enough famous ones and enough different ones that people can learn something new as well as hearing their favorites.
Other musical theatre what genres would you like to explore.
I love singing jazz. One of my favorites song to sing is Lullaby of Birdland. Ella Fitzgerald sings it in one of her album.
Given a chance to release a volume 2 what would you add?
Maybe Pirates, Poor Wand'ring One.
Speaking of, can you tell us more about The Pirates of Penzance production you'll be in?
It's from end of October to Early November. That's with The Production Company in Melbourne ran by a lady named Jeannie Pratt who's well known in Australia and who loves the arts. She puts on these shows. So they do about three shows a year. It's a crazy 2 weeks to get the show up and running and about 6 shows at Hamer Hall, which is about a 2 and a half thousand seat theater. It's my first show with them.
Do you have any more projects? Will you still be able to sneak in a few, since you'll still be busy with the tour?
Maybe, it depends what cities are coming up mid-next year. If there's a right show that is suitable to me and I'm free and they want me, then definitely I'd love to do more.
So besides Justin Bieber (cue laughter), what does your playlist have?
The latest thing I downloaded was The Great Gatsby soundtrack. I love Lana Del Rey. I got such a mix on there. I love pretty much everything apart from Heavy Metal. Not into that. I've got everything from Ella Fitzgerald, to Edith Piaf, to JLo to opera albums to music theatre. I don't have any country or western but I won't rule that out. And then I got John Mayer on there.
You're a style maven in that you always look glamorous. People think you're one of the best dressed Christines. Do you have any unglamorous outfit?
I try to be glamorous all the time even like pyjamas, why not have cool pyjamas if you can have pyjamas. Like one of my girlfriends own the Sant and Abel company and managed to get me and Anthony a pair. Even when I go shopping for gym clothes, I want something cool like bright pink sports bra. I love fashion. Maybe...gray trackies and a t-shirt if I'm sick or something in bed.
Special skill besides acting and singing.
I'm useless in cooking. I'm useless in swimming. So something else I'm good at, I love looking after children and I used to do a lot of nanny when I was a lot younger.
Actresses you want to work with.
I would absolutely die if I get to perform with Julie Andrews, because she's my idol. I think Sierra Boggess is fabulous. And I think Samantha Barks is fabulous. Lea Salonga~!
How about actors?
Oh. Henry Cavill, Superman, for sure! He's my celebrity crush.
That went from musical to Henry Cavill.
He was my crush since the Tudors. He's amazing. Sure!
Favorite non-Phantom show you've seen.
I've seen King Kong, that was great. War Horse is great. Jesus Christ Superstar was fantastic. The Producers by The Production Company, Rock of Ages I saw it in Melbourne. Oh I saw Rebecca in Korea and that was Fantastic. Ock Ju-hyun was incredible.
People are asking if you will be back in Manila. Is it possible for the show to come back to its previous stops or will it be like a 10-year wait?
I don't know yet, but I'm hoping so. That would be great. If it doesn't go back this time around, then it could be a 10-year wait. They don't even tell us things until the last minute. They tell us and then we have to decide in a matter of weeks.
Tell us about The World Tour experience so far.
It's interesting to see the reactions from different cultures, who don't necessarily get the jokes but they go nuts in the end screaming and Bangkok was similar to Seoul, they had the subtitles. They're familiar with it. Korea's very updated with all the different arts, like literally there's not enough theaters for the productions. More theaters need to be built since they love it so much. It's nice to travel around and bring the shows to countries that don't have them there all the time. So when they come it's all a special event. It's not like "Oh we can go to that anytime."
You're very active in social media. What do you enjoy about it?
People have spent the money to see the show and thank you for it. Some people buy the album. I think it's part of the job that you thank the people who keep you working and pay our paycheck. If people didn't come to see the show, there will be no show. If people had done the effort, why shouldn't I? I don't have 50,000 followers so then it might be harder then. I don't find it a drag or anything, I try to respond to everyone.
Claire ends the interview with a message to her fans. Watch here: http://telly.com/10QFPEA
Catch Claire as Christine in Singapore and Shanghai. Her album On Stage is available at the merchandise store in Marina Bay Sands Grand Theatre and for download in iTunes, Amazon and various music outlets.
— Ainzley Villalon (Claire Lyon Philippines) and Monica Sy (Phantom World Tour page)
Disclaimer:
Claire Lyon Philippines is a fansite that is created for Australian theatre performer, Claire Lyon.
And to clear things out, I am not related to Ms. Lyon, her family or her agency. And no profit is made from this fansite.
All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. No copyright infringement is intended for this site as well. PHan photos came from Phantom Filipino fans and the production photo copyright is/are owned by the respective photographers from the Philippines, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, China and Australia. I claim nothing with the photos from this site.
If you have any problems concerning this page, you may send me a message at [email protected] or leave a comment on my Contact Us page. Thank you!
Claire Lyon Philippines is a fansite that is created for Australian theatre performer, Claire Lyon.
And to clear things out, I am not related to Ms. Lyon, her family or her agency. And no profit is made from this fansite.
All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. No copyright infringement is intended for this site as well. PHan photos came from Phantom Filipino fans and the production photo copyright is/are owned by the respective photographers from the Philippines, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, China and Australia. I claim nothing with the photos from this site.
If you have any problems concerning this page, you may send me a message at [email protected] or leave a comment on my Contact Us page. Thank you!