Can we just appreciate the fact that he brings his dog?

HOW IS THIS MAN 50 HE LOOKS 30

I have nothing but respect for the fact that he uses the name of Erik. He understands this character to the core.

"[erik] is kinda sexy" DAMN RIGHT

phandog of the opera , a howling success

I can't even imagine being in Phantom for 3000 performances. Wow.

First Broadway Phantom to ever refer to the character by his name. Respect for this man has increased.

It's awesome that Hugh is wearing Erik's ring while applying his makeup. Not even in costume at that point. He was so dedicated to the role. Amazing.

3:04 i loved seeing the Phantom walk casually down the stairs in full costume with a plastic water bottle in his hand!

“…the tight black pants on” … … *nobody tell him about fiyero*

him talking about the self-caress and saying that “this is so not me” is so funny because imo he does that bit the best out of ANYONE

While watching this video, I get the sense that Hugh is one of the kindest guys imaginable. Just that softness in his tone speaks volumes.

I met Hugh and Soot one day after one of his performances. Hugh is a really cool guy to chat with and Soot is the most loveable and adorable dog I've ever met. :)

I gave him that dog fancy poster!!! *squeal*

I like that he calls The Phantom by name, Erik.

He's so down to earth! And I don't have to mention the obvious, he's stunningly handsome. :) That last scene of him walking down the steps with his cloak dragging...I don't know why, but that was incredibly attractive.

Soot got his own plaque on the Dressing Room Door😭😭😭 Also Hugh Panaro is the only actor who I believe calls The Phantom by his real name- Erik.

So awesome this guy he looks great in costume! Did anyone else just like melt when he was snuggling his dog?

Aw, I love how Hugh had his drink in his hand as he was going down the stairs

The fact the Hugh helps do his makeup just goes to show how professional he is.

LOVE HUGH PANARO!

I'm so happy I got to meet Hugh, he really treasures his fans- as we can see from his room! He is so loving and so wonderful as the Phantom! I'll miss watching his videos online, but he'll always be in our hearts

The most amazing part is that Erik could model himself after someone who hasn't been born yet.

Seeing the Phantom of the freaking Opera kiss a DOG is just so wholesome!

2:57 - Can we also just appreciate that sweet moment with his dog? That look of trust and love in his dog’s eyes! So adorable! 😍❤️

I don't even know hiim but I think he's amazing! Many actors are divas and yell at their make up artists for nothing and what not, he actually helps with his make up!

He is such a gorgeous phantom

Saw him in 2012 in phantom of the opera on broadway he's incredible second best after Ramin karimloo

It takes such talent -- from the makeup crew to any Phantom who performs in this get up. I think it's wonderful that he wants to be actively involved in creating himself, so to speak. Also, for anyone who hasn't seen Panaro as the Phantom, go as soon as you can before he leaves. He's absolutely remarkable, and he's the best one I've ever seen.

I love how his dog still recognises him.

He was such an amazing Phantom!! I got to see him & Sierra in January of last year (the week of Phantom's 25th anniversary) and they were PERFECTION!

It's weird seeing Erik(Just Hugh in costume embodying the role) doing normal people stuff because are we are used to is Erik being an basement man who enchants Christine and comes out to play sometimes

This guy is me with my dog

I want someone to look at me the way Hugh looks at his dog

The fact that he read Phantom by Susan Kay makes my heart happy. (He said it in an interview)

I think having an experience of "Transforming" into a character would be an awesome feeling. I would be like not having to even be in your own body. I really want to experience something like this. I think it might help me understand myself more.

im not the hugest phantom fan but it was so cool to hear him talk about all of it... kinda makes me want to watch my 25th anniversary dvd again

When I was 16 (this was 18 years ago) my twin sister, my mom and I got to see Phantom on Broadway with Howard McGillin. My sister and I were OBSESSED with Phantom back then. We used to put on a mask, cape and tux and pretend we were him. My mom knew Howard back in the 80's when she worked as an actress in NYC. We got to sit in his house seats and then go backstage after the show. I remember Howard looking so tired. I felt bad for him. When we got up to his dressing room he was in a cloth in his underwear getting his makeup taken off. My sister saw something in the trashcan and said, "Is that your face?" and Howard said, "Yes." and we got a picture of my sister holding it. I remember that my sister wouldn't let me touch anything. The lady who did Howard's makeup had been there since 1988. She had done Michael Crawford's makeup. We then went into his dressing room. His mask wasn't white, it was grey. Howard said if it was white it would blind the audience because of the lights. We saw his cape and I hadn't noticed before that it had these beautiful, sparkly black gems on it. Once Howard was dressed, we got to go out onto the stage. We scrapped our feet on the stage, we wanted to lean down and kiss it, knowing that Michael Crawford had been on that stage 16 years before. Howard signed some pictures of him and a group of people came up to him and asked, "Can we have those?" But Howard said, "No, they're for those two little girls." It was an amazing experience and I'll never forget it.

A truly remarkable and talented man. I feel like I've been waiting a long time for this video!

Wow he must’ve done His research about the majestic theatre and who phantom is also RIP Soot

This was a great character study, of the actor, the character...and the motivations that impel both men. I have nothing but respect for Mr. Panaro; he is truly among the best who have ever donned Erik's mask.

hugh is a gem

The Phantom of the Opera is my favorite musical, I love everything about it, when I saw it I cried actual tears and fell in love with the Phantom

He’s so wholesome 🥺

THANK GOD PEOPLE KNOW HIS NAME!!!!! MOST PEOPLE DONT KNOW HIS NAME IS ERIK!!! He’s an amazing actor!!!!!

im so sad that his dog died😭

It's amazing! I can't wait to see phantom in 2015!!!!

I love that he has his dog with him. That's so beautiful. I love that he expresses how the dog is his heart, becauae my dogs are my everything

Holy hell, his voice is angelic even when he's not singing

I've seen him twice as the Phantom over the years and he's definitely the best!!

It's amazing to see the make-up up close. It's so much different than I expected it to be

If I remember correctly, I saw Hugh Panaro playing the Phantom on Broadway about four times. He really was very good in that role! In this video he comes across as a very sympathetic guy. But there is one thing I don't really understand (which does not have anything to do with Hugh Panaro himself): I heard from different sources that the Phantom is modelled after Rudolph Valentino. Of course, the inspiration is visible. Mr. Panaro says that the Phantom explicitly models himself after Valentino. But how can that be if the man he models himself after was barely born (1895) when the story of the Phantom happend?

GUYS THE END WHEN HES WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS IM SORRY I CANTTTTTTTTT ITS SO CUTEEE

I SAW HIM IN POTO AROUND THE TIME THIS WAS POSTED!!!! HE WAS AMAZING...

I actually never knew actors do their own make up! Super interesting :)

That...dog... I can't even... He's adorable!

I just saw who Rudolph Valentino is and OMG, he looks exactly like Phantom/Erik. They (or Erik) do the makeup that looks exactly like him.

Eu amo tanto o Hugh, TANTO. ❤Pena que eu nunca tive a oportunidade de vê-lo ao vivo 😭 Ele é uma das minhas pessoas favoritas no mundo.

i remember in one version the phantom's full name was Erik Petrie who was born normal but was disfigured after a fire

Hands down my favorite I have seen as well! I hope I can see him in a couple weeks before I move out west!

I love him

This is beautiful voice in future's time machine museum

i love this man

Phantom ist Wut Stimme echt gut

Awesome! It is surprising to me that he does so much of his own make-up. I'm totally impressed!

And Christine wanted Raul because? You know what Christ, Raul is all yours, I want Erik

that waterbottle XD

0:30 Who expected him saying "Dark, darker, yet darker"?

Awesome

It's so frustrating to me that they've never tried to put an actor with actual craniofacial differences, or at the very least some kind of physical disability, in the role. There's no way in 35 years they couldn't have found someone.

This is amazing

Wow, loved this video! I also did not know the Phantom had a name. Who knew? :)

Hugh Panaro is one of my favorite Phantoms!

Que lindo!!

de lujo!!

Absolutely Amazing! Thanks For That!

God I would love being the phantom on broadway

y la utileria esta de lujo!!

wow! 😲 eso si es tecnologia de punta !!

Also, I saw Hugh Panaro perform!

I get so irrationally annoyed when I hear people refer to ALW's Phantom as Erik. Yes, I read the original book (more than once!) but I've always considered the book and the musical to be very different things. Plus, I like that he doesn't have a name in the play, it makes his background seem even more tragic - no one ever loved him enough to give him a name! That's really sad when you think about it. But oh well. It's fun to see the make up process, and it's really cool how involved Hugh gets. Plus, his dog is adorable!

The ALW production never gave the Phantom a name. It was always to play on the mystery of the character. Gaston Leroux's Phantom is Erik, not ALW's. And the differences between Phantoms are astronomical. My opinion.

The makeup artist made him look very handsome with the face work and mask!

I'm curious about the picture.

Rudolph Valentino lived 40 years after the events of the show, so the phantom can't have modeled himself after him :-P

My favorite phantom.

Bring the phantom back to Broadway

I have respect for this video...by the title...They Erik by his name ERIK instead of "The phantom" Even more respect because he does his own make up

love you and miss our push-ups at the Gershwin!!!

cooool

Wowww

He can´t model himself after Rudolph Valentino since he wasn´t born then.

Ilove you somuch miss

Wow that makeup is impressive! I hope the dog didn't get lipstick over him.

Bravo!!!!

wait the phantoms real name is fuckin eric LMAOO HOW DID I NOT KNOW THAT

They actually used the name Erik.....

I wonder why they always have mirrored clips and photos when they show these transformations? Is it because of the 180 degree rule that they flip the image in post??

I'm sitting here sculpting the phantom’s face and thinking "this is true acting."

Majestic Theater. Perfect name 👌👍