He introduced himself as Erik. ALL THE POINTS FOR HUGH.

i met him in the craziest way: by chance! (seriously, it was insane. it was a random cafe in new york the day after i saw him as the phantom on broadway). and let me tell you he was the nicest person. EVER. i talked to him about phantom and then he asked about me and i told him what musical i was working on and wow it was just so sweet he was really caring and wished me the best i just love him so much

I had nothing better to do today, so I decided to list all the times Hugh made that cute dimple-face. God I need a hobby. 1:42, 2:22, 3:00, 3:35, 4:11, 7:22, 8:08, 9:19

HE KNOWS THE PHANTOM'S NAME IS ERIK! WOOOO!

He is so unbelievingly handsome! What pretty eyes and strong features! No one can play the phantom like him. Scary as hell and yet so mesmerizing! Probably the best phantom. That voice, there are no words. If any voice has the power to hypnotize your mind and melt your heart, it is his! His talent is off the charts. In person, so funny and sweet!

Frick yeah, he reads Susan Kay!

I LOVE SUSAN KAYS PHANTOM, THAT BOOK IS SOOOOOO AMAZING!!!

Maybe he's the cutest middle aged man.

Yeeeeessssssss! And I nearly died of happiness when he said Susan Kay's Phantom is his Bible for playing Erik. Lovelovelovelovelove!

I saw phantom on Broadway for the first time this past spring. He is absolutely incredible! And just because he opens this video by introducing himself as Erik, he secures his spot as my favorite Phantom--next to Michael Crawford, of course!!!!!

Makes me wonder what Keifer Sutherland was doing in that alley to begin with. I would've killed to see his reaction, though; the Phantom randomly walking out for a smoke in sneakers sounds pretty hilarious!

He is so dashing....and adorable. My favorite phantom.

Oh my goodness! Hugh Panaro is to die for. He such a sweetheart and exceptional talent. He's one of my all-time favorite Phantoms. And he's a dog lover! As if there were not enough reasons to adore him. I did read Phantom, the novel by Susan Kay. It's even better written then the orginal. I cried so hard throughout the story. I wish he would go on the nation Tour for Phantom once he leaves the Boradway Production. The whole country needs to see his spectacular performance. Love you Hugh! :)

This guy should be the next James Bond.

Hugh is exactly how he seems in this video. one of my friends is in the phantom cast with him and I've hung out backstage with them all and I have to say, Hugh is one of the sweetest and genuine people I've ever met. He's more than willing to talk to anyone and answer any questions. Such a great person and talent. If you haven't alreayd, I recommend seeing him as the Phantom as soon as possible. He puts on a breathtaking performance.

He read "Phantom" I'm crying

This guy is the best! I wish I could have seen him live.🙁

HUGH!!!!😍😍😍 My second favorite phantom (Ramin's my favorite)! I love Hugh! Never met him, never seen him live, but he's amazing!

Omg hugh panaro knows Erik name

My best friend Rebecca dated Hugh as they played in phantom of the opera. No joke.

woah he's handsome.. honestly seeing him on broadway and hearing him I though he was a lot younger.

YES I FOUND THE BOOK BY SUSAN K IN MY SCHOOL LIBRAY!

Hugh is a puppy dog. A cute little bedimpled puppy. Who sings like an angel.

So down to earth and a great sense of humor. Would love to see him in NY!!

I have finally bought Phantom by Susan Kay because he praised it so much... :) now whenever I will read about Erik, I’ll think about Hugh

What a wonderful way to talk to the stars and have them sing for us. Thank you for this production!!!

Wow I have never seen him without the make up. He’s actually very pleasant to look at. he has a great smile. And dimples :)

ahahhaha at the end he was using like a vampire voice but his phantom mask XD lol omg i love you so much hugh you are such an inspiration

I'm actually dying a little. He is so perfectly adorable and I have a copy of Susan Kay's Phantom on my bookshelf I'd better go read it.. You were my first phantom. :')

Why is he so flawless. I saw phantom about a week ago at the Majestic theater. He was absolutely wonderful.

Oh my I love him. I love how he just lays down all chill...it's awesome.

That ending killed me!! love this man his my top 4 phantom!

My first phantom. He broke my Phantom Virginity.

Hugh and Michael were the best phantoms!

Lol the lip thing happened to Michael Crawford too.

Omg he said Susan Kay PHANTOM???? IM CRYING. I’ve seen him so many times and I didn’t know this!!!!

Como não amar o Hugh? Ele é tão fofo e tão lindo. O sorriso dele ilumina tudo ao redor. E ele ama animais. Esse homem é perfeito! ❤️❤️

Omigod I just love Hugh

OMG! He's so lovely!!

Saw him three weeks ago, my first time seeing him and he was phenomenal.

I hope you get to see him as Phantom one day soon. He is very good, you will have a great time.

I love you, Erik Destler! You are the Handsomest Character on Broadway!

Dear lord, a Wicked reference AND he loves Phantom by Susan Kay?!?! Ugh! Huuuuuugh you're perfection!

I love Hugh. Best Phantom. And I also loved Lestat and was fortunate to see it before it closed.

Such Great talent, a huge, Hugh fan..

I wish so bad they'd film his performance!! He was so good me and my girlfriend were simply amazed!

when he made the reference to wicked i nearly died. i freaking love this man so much

Ooookay, this guy ROCKS! The fact that he read and recommended Susan Kay's novel, "Phantom" just wreaks of absolute cool. Wow. Plus, he's SUPER down to earth and funny! I gotta say, he and Ramin are my favorite Phantoms. Wish I was able to go to NYC next month to see him and Sierra on Broadway. Shats! :/

Saw Phantom many years ago but not with Hugh...we discovered your YT channel from FB...like Mr. Panaro's answer...watched some vids of him....awesome to find your channel

I just love that he knows that's the Phantom's name! :D

Love how he talks about the flops... Vampires... Broadway... DON'T MIX.

Hugh, you are amazing!

okay- i just saw him yesterday -in the upper mezzanine(that's what happens when you go with 200 other kids from your high school) and he was AMAZING- my first phantom and my first on Broadway experience. and here, well he is just HI-larious

I saw you Hugh, in the vampire musical, Lestat. Elton John was in attendance that night a couple of rows away. I had great seats. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. But that's how I became your fan because I loved your voice. =) However, I did take a first-time broadway show spectator and had to profusely apologize to her and tell her there are other musicals on Broadway she would love. lol. All my best to you.

I'm so glad he knows the Phantoms real name! But I really didn't enjoy Susan Kay's novel, if anything people should be reading the original. lol Hugh is cool though, :)

Hugh you said you wouldn't walk in the street with your phantom face and stuff on, I would!

Me too! They will make an epic pairing

My first show tune was Roxie from Chicago. I was singing that in kindergarten. Thank my dad for that one...

I'm going the 16th of March! Sooo excited.

He is so adorable! :)

he's so funny. great interview!!!

He's adorable. I saw him in "Call Me Madam" a few years ago with Karen Morrow--he was wonderful.

That moment went Hugh Panaro starts to grow on you :D

"Smokin with Keifer Sutherland." I hop ehe brushed his teeth before doing the kissing scene with whoever played Christine.

I miss Lestat. That was a really great show. :( It's still on here though. (Tatsel) Great actor and very kind.

omg he is gorgeous!

I just looked up this Ian Schrager he was referring to with how he'd decorate the Lair...PERFECT for the Phantom, pretty much exactly how I pictured the Lair to be!

He said vampires and broadway don't mix because they had to stop touring for Lestat but I wonder if die hard fans could get it back with all the Twilight crap going on if he would play Lestat again, even if it was for a night.

I'm seeing him on monday!

It's also really awesome, I've met Andrea. She's a lovely person. :)

"Good evening, Broadway.com, Imy name is Erik, and I am the Phantom- I am NOT the- Hi broadway.com!" He's so cute:)

He is absolutely adorable. If I had the chance to work with him... Whoa. I would die happy. :)

I just saw Phantom on Wednesday and thought Hugh was spectacular. He seems like a funny guy too.

"Populoodler!!" LOL

Heeeee's sooooo cuuuuuuute!

I met him. He's so sweet!

i'M IN LOVE

"and the Yamaha organ." :) Hilarious! It actually malfunctioned a couple weeks ago when I saw the show! It made this really annoying noise through almost the entire ending scene!

Glinda+Phantom... Best thing EVER!

ME TOO!! That poster is proudly displayed by my bed.

Why is he so perfect?

Roftlmao! "Good Evening Broadway.com! My Name is Erik!" XD

Oh my God. I love home.

Does he ever go to the stage door after a show? I'm going to new york city this June, and I would really love to meet him :)

Hugh is such a sweetieeeee

omg this video was uploadid the day before the tsnami in japan

Oh Hugh...why are you so adorable??

he's adorable!!! XD

"Good Evening Broadway.Com.. I am Erik, The Phantom"

So this guy loves the Susan Kay book and calls himself Erik? He wins.

Also ironic he plays phantom but has Raoul’s looks

"we're like Denny's, we're always open!" LOL i love Hugh. Ive met him 4 times already, he is such a sweetheart and he's THE BEST Phantom ever. Better than Crawford.

Loving the Susan Kay shout out. Killer read.

Hugh cant be the phantom he's too cute!

I'm gonna see him next month with Sierra Boggess!

I so know what you mean. He broke mine too. I still remember the goosebumps. *Goes looking for ice.*

"Vampires.... Broadway.... don't mix.... mm-mmm!" hahaha. Dracula the musical with Michael McCarthy was pretty good, I have to admit, better than the Frank Wildhorn one.

Hugh is amazing! Favorite next to Ramin. Also. Big feet

he is pretty freakin adorable. must admit that ive become a phan of him XD

Another perfect musical theater God.