Actor hopes to step into 'Phantom' shoes
By: Nancye Tuttle
Actor Stephen Tewksbury has come a long way from his early career, performing in musicals at the University of New Hampshire and playing The Boy in The Fantasticks at the Foothills Theatre in Worcester.
These days, the Concord, N.H., native is part of the national tour of Phantom of the Opera, which opened last week for a two-month run at the Opera House in Boston.
Tewksbury is part of the ensemble. And, most importantly, he covers for Gary Mauer, the actor playing the mysterious phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House in the landmark Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
�I haven't gone on for him yet, but I am sure I will,� Tewksbury said recently. �I joined the company two months ago and can't wait to play the Opera House.�
Landing in the Phantom cast is the final jewel in the crown for Tewksbury.�I was in Miss Saigon on Broadway for 3 1/2 years, covering for (the role of) Chris. And I just finished touring in Les Miserables. I played Javert in Boston last year. So Phantom now rounds out the Big Three for me.�
Tewksbury was into sports more than theater while growing up in Concord. Once he landed at UNH, where he majored in political science, a professor convinced him to get into theater with a role in Pippin.
�I got hooked,� he said.
Besides Worcester, his New England credits include Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth, N.H., and Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine, where he played the Beast last summer in Beauty and the Beast.
In the business since 1993, Tewksbury has his eyes set on working on a new show once his yearlong Phantom contract ends.
�With these three shows under my belt, I'd love to do Spamalot or Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,� he said, referring to the current smash Broadway musicals.
Meanwhile, his parents, who still live in Concord, will come see the show. And his young son, just 4, plans to visit, too.
But the little boy couldn't care less about seeing his dad perform at the Opera House.
�He's a baseball fan, so all he wants to do is meet Johnny Damon,� Tewksbury laughed.
Phantom of the Opera runs through June 4 at the Opera House, Washington Street, Boston. Tickets are $23-$83 at the box office and through Ticketmaster at 617-931-2787 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.