I got the great chance to interview the extremely talented Quentin Oliver Lee, who phenomenally plays the Phantom in our favorite rendition of The Phantom Of The Opera, currently playing at Miller Auditorium at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and touring both in the US and worldwide. 

We touched on not only personal details of what it is like to play such a demanding, iconic role, but also how to keep up and running vocally (always important when you do two shows a day). But, the interview speaks for itself, really. Thank you, Mr. Lee (aka The Phantom)!

Photo: Dare'l McMillian

Here’s his official bio: 
Mr. Quentin Oliver Lee recently returned from the First National Tour of The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess directed by tony award winning director Diana Paulas, where he performed the role of Porgy numerous times. Other highlights of on Stage work include Zuniga in Carmen with Opera NY, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Escamillo in Carmen with the New York Lyric Opera Theater, the title role in Gianni Schicchi, Sid in Albert Herring, and Belcore in L'elisir D'amore with the NAU Opera, and The Count in Le Nozze di Figaro with Appalachian State University. He has enjoyed many other performing opportunities, as a soloist for the Messiah with the Flagstaff Master Chorale, a soloist in the Mozart Mass in C Minor with the Westchester Oratorio Society as the Soloist for the MLK Day celebration in Jax Beach, Fl.

In 2011 Mr. Lee was named a Western Regional finalist in both the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions and the National Association of Teachers of Singers Artist Awards.  Quentin was also named a semi-finalist in the Classical Singer National Auditions, and Grand Finalist in the Benjamin Matthews Competition.

Quentin has a passion for learning, acting, and singing. He aspires to achieve the heights of his personal artistry and share the gift of music with the world.

Mr. Lee is a vocal student of Mark Oswald and Jason Sterns and an acting student of Allen Savage. Quentin has performed in Masterclasses for English Tenor Graham Clark, Dr. Rebecca Folsom, Dr. Carol Kimball, Arlene Shrut and Denyce Graves. This summer Quentin is engaged to work for the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theater as Schanard in La Boheme, and the Captain of the Inquisition in Man of La Mancha.

In the winter of 2012 he received a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance from Northern Arizona University. While at NAU, Mr. Lee held a teaching position with the Flagstaff School of Music, was a member of the Cardinal Key Honor Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and soloist and chorister for the Shrine of the Ages choir, with whom he traveled to South Africa, Carnegie Hall New York, and several ACDA conferences. Quentin is a proud member of Actors Equity Association.

Quentin Oliver Lee and Eva Tavares - photo Matthew Murphy

We were also lucky enough to see the chandelier being prepped for the show, costumes, and more! The stage manager, Mitch Hodges, is a graduate of the University of Michigan. 

Photo: Dare'l McMillian

Read more: Why You Need to See the Phantom of the Opera 

Learn more: https://ustour.thephantomoftheopera.com/
Currently playing in Kalamazoo at Western Michigan University’s Miller Auditorium until February 17, 2019! Get your tickets here: https://www.millerauditorium.com/phantom-opera

All photos courtesy and copyright Wandering Educators, except where noted (thank you, Dare'l and Matthew!).