I know the average Doper is going “Steve WHO?” but Steve Barton deserve a mention. He was Muskentrap in the original Vienna cast of CATS, and went on to musical theatre fame as the first Raoul in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. He was the second Phantom in NYC after Michael Crawford left the role, and he was GREAT! I saw him.
He was very active in German musical theatre, including playing the lead in Jim Steinman’s Tanz der Vampyr. They were working on the English version of Tanz for Broadway, and there was talk of Barton reprising his role.
His death on Saturday was very sudden, and no cause has been given. He was only 47, and the world has lost a great talent. He will be missed.
I doubt that anyone had him in the Celebrity Deathpool.