The Phantom, Howard McGillin, and an 80th Birthday Celebration

The compacted ice on the streets wasn't going to stop us, nor the roadblocks, nor the hour-plus delays on SEPTA. The plan was to take my father to the city for a great meal and for a show—The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber—as part two of our celebration of his 80th birthday. Broadway stars Jeremy Kushnier, Deone Zanotto, Kathy Voytko, Kevin Kern, Laurie Gayle Stephenson, and the unbelievable Howard McGillin were to sing from 31 selections. We wanted to see them. Transported on a slow train through iced ridges, we made it.

Some time around 10:15 PM, Howard McGillin began to sing "The Music of the Night" from The Phantom of the Opera. I don't think I took a breath until he was done. He is tall, thin, compelling. His voice is power and innuendo, a sweet slide of soft and pure around the edges of supremely certain volume. Having performed The Phantom on Broadway more than 2,500 times, having sung this song, unmasked, who knows how much more, Mr. McGillin made us feel as if he were just discovering the words and the music for the first time.

I don't know how he did it. But he did, and he will do it again.