Steve Barton

Steven Neal Barton (June 26, 1954 – July 21, 2001) was an American actor, singer, dancer, teacher, choreographer, and stage director. He worked internationally in the United States, London, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He is most well-known for originating the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny in the West End and Broadway productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, and later taking over the title role of The Phantom of the Opera in the Broadway production. He also originated the starring role of Graf von Krolock in Dance of the Vampires.

Early life
Barton was born on June 26, 1954, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the youngest of three children of Tom and Mary Barton. He was raised in Nederland, Texas.

He won a scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin (UT), where he majored in theater, dance and voice, and appeared in over 30 productions with UT and the Ballet of Austin. A UT endowed Presidential Scholarship is now named for him. After graduation he went to Europe.

Career
He landed his first professional role in St. Gallen, Switzerland, then performed in several major Swiss, German and Austrian theater companies.

He played leading roles in West Side Story, Godspell, Romeo and Juliet, The Fantasticks, The Threepenny Opera, Oklahoma!, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Guys and Dolls, and Camelot, before playing the role of Munkustrap in the original Vienna cast of Cats, at the Theater an der Wien. At the Theater des Westens in Berlin he played roles in Guys and Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar (as Jesus), La Cage aux Folles (as both Jean Michel and Albin/Zaza) and Robert in Company.

In 1986, Barton originated the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera in London, he also understudied the title role and notably played the role when Michael Crawford was sick in April 1987. In 1988, he reprised the role of Raoul in the original Broadway cast. In 1989, Barton reprised his performance as Raoul opposite Crawford’s Phantom in the previews and opening night performance of the Ahmanson Theatre production of the show when principal Raoul actor Reece Holland was injured. Barton took over the role of The Phantom in 1990 from Cris Groenendaal in the Broadway production; he was the fourth principal actor to portray the role on Broadway.

In 1996, Barton returned to Vienna, where he took over the part of The Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. He originated the role of Graf von Krolock, a vampire in Jim Steinman's Dance of the Vampires, for which he won an IMAGE (International Music Award Germany) in 1998. Barton celebrated his 30-year onstage anniversary in 1997 during his run as von Krolock.

At the end of his life he was working on Jekyll & Hyde in Bremen, Germany. He was taking over the title role from Ethan Freeman.

Personal life
Barton was married to swing dancer and choreographer Denny Berry, who served as dance supervisor for the North American productions of The Phantom of the Opera, whom he met at college. A son, Edward, was born in Vienna in 1984; the couple separated at an unspecified later date. He was an honorary chairperson of the Steadman Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation and an honorary member of the UTA Board of Education.

Death
Barton had, in the last years of his life, been battling with alcoholism and addiction to painkillers following chronic knee problems and had, only months before his death, started treatment for bipolar disorder. He was found dead at his apartment in Bremen, Germany on July 21, 2001, aged 47. While his death was initially attributed to heart failure, according to obituary information released by the press office for the New York production of The Phantom of the Opera, it was later ruled a suicide by the district attorney in Bremen after an empty bottle of prescription heart medication was found at the scene.

Stage roles
Source:

Television guest roles

 * Tatort, 1992, guest role as FBI Agent Mike Haller, ORF, Austria
 * The Young and the Restless, 1994, guest role and Another World, 1994, guest role as Bailey Thompson

Musicals

 * 1983: Cats, Original Vienna Cast Recording, as Munkustrap, in German language
 * 1987: Highlights from The Phantom of the Opera, Original London Cast, as Raoul
 * 1987: The Phantom of the Opera, Original London Cast Recording, as Raoul
 * 1988: Show Boat, as Steve Baker
 * 1998: Anastasia - The Musical, as Prince Paul
 * 1998: Tanz der Vampire – Die Höhepunkte der Welturaufführung, Original Vienna Cast, as Graf von Krolock, in German language
 * 1998: Tanz der Vampire – Die Gesamtaufnahme, Original Vienna Cast Recording, as Graf von Krolock, in German language

Guest appearances

 * 1985: Angelika Milster - Meisterstücke, 2 duets
 * 1998: Paul Schwartz's Aria, Vol. 2 - New Horizon, vocals on Leiermann
 * 2002: Sarah Brightman - Encore, duet on "Think of Me"

Other recordings

 * 1991: Cole Porter Centennial Gala Concert
 * 1995: Living Water, duets with Mother Teresa and Brian Sutherland
 * 1999: Danke - Songs und Lieder zum Kirchentag 1999, includes the song "Reach Out", a duet with Brian Sutherland
 * 2002: Steve Barton – Memorial Concert, "Simply Flying" and "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"
 * 2004: Broadway's Fabulous Phantoms, "I've Got You Under My Skin"
 * 2009: Only for a While, compilation
 * 2010: Encore: The Private Collection, compilation of outtakes, demos and rehearsals