Armed with her own camera and a keen photographic eye, Hill invites readers to join her as she takes center stage for the matinee performance of Phantom then returns to lend moral support to her castmates and snap backstage photos at the evening show.
How I begin most of my days. I'm not much of a morning person so it takes me a few moments to adjust to the light...AND THEN I'M AWESOME.
Samantha Hill
My steamer and I are good pals! "They" tell me it is important to hydrate my voice with steam as much as possible, especially in the cold winter weather. So I do. It helps!
Samantha Hill
Hey! Look what I see on my walk to the theatre! I'm in that show guys. Why isn't my pic on the side of a bus?!
Samantha Hill
I pass through Times Square every time I go to work! Such a strange, yet magical place. I should work on my posing skills.
Samantha Hill
Outside the stage door. I don't want you to forget that I'm at The MAJESTIC theatre.
Samantha Hill
How I'm greeted every day. (Riiiggght.) Love these ladies. (left to right: dance captain Laurie V. Langdon, dresser Sarah Snider and dresser Jennifer Caruso)
Samantha Hill
Some of the lovely stage management team (Craig Jacobs, Greg Livoti and Andrew Glant-Linden)
Samantha Hill
Oh just signing some Playbills because I am so famous. No big deal!
Samantha Hill
I'm getting better at putting on my stage make-up.
Samantha Hill
But I'm still lousy at putting on my eyelashes. It takes me at least two tries every time!
Samantha Hill
Hair Supervisor Leone Gagliardi prepping my hair for my wig. I'm not sure how I feel about this look...
Samantha Hill
Final make-up touches. Hugh Panaro always yells at me if I come visit him without my lips. He says I look like the corpse bride because my eyes are so dark. This from the man in scary Phantom makeup.
Samantha Hill
I HAVE to brush my teeth right before I go on and usually I also forget to shave.
Samantha Hill
I adore Hugh Panaro for so many reasons. (also with assistant make-up supervisor Pearlita N. Price)
Samantha Hill
Me preparing in the SM office
Samantha Hill
Intermission robe time. You can see my smudgy lips from all that making out I do with Raoul.
Samantha Hill
Sarah Snider, my wonderful dresser. She has big shoes to fill and she is doing an excellent job. (original Christine dresser Erna Dias just retired after 25 years with the show!)
Samantha Hill
Michele McConnell is actually one the sweetest ladies alive, but she plays an amazing meany-pants Carlotta onstage. BTW This is my most attractive look.
Samantha Hill
Finishing in super dork style, as always.
Samantha Hill
In between shows, my good friend Lynne Abeles and I head to an event for Sing for Hope, an organization that brings the power of the arts to the communities that need it the most. I hope to one day join. We’re with Co-Founding Director Camile Zamora.
Samantha Hill
Then we eat at Schnippers. I enjoy the yummy fish tacos.
Samantha Hill
Self-explanatory.
Samantha Hill
The crew during the “pre-set” (i.e. setting up) for the second show.
Samantha Hill
The crew had a moment to spare and told me to hop into the elephant. I gladly obliged. I bet you are all jealous!
Samantha Hill
Sierra Boggess Facetiming with her man before the second show of the day!
Samantha Hill
Hanging out with the very talented and sweet superstar, Sierra Boggess
Samantha Hill
Seth Sklar-Heyn, our Production Supervisor, and the original Musical Director of Phantom, David Caddick. I work with such handsome, gifted men.
Samantha Hill
Me and Soot, Hugh's Labradoodle, enjoy a cuddle in The Phantom dressing room
Samantha Hill
Carrington Vilmont makes the fastest makeup change of all time from the Auctioneer in the opening to Monsieur Reyer in “Hannibal”
Samantha Hill
Jim Weitzer checking his phone at intermission. Seems like an interesting message.
Samantha Hill
A trio of beautiful ballerinas: Carly Blake Sebouhian, Aubrey Morgan and Amanda Edge.
Samantha Hill
Hanging out in the "green" room (under the stage) before their next entrances: Julie Schmidt, Paul A. Schaefer, Richard Poole, Andrew Drost, Heather Hill and Jeremy Stolle
Samantha Hill
Jeremy Stolle and I spent a lot of time in rehearsal together as he covers both Raoul and The Phantom. He's amazing.
Samantha Hill
Hairdresser Tiffany Bolick doing wig maintenance during the show. So grateful to our wonderful Hair, Make-up and Wardrobe departments.
Samantha Hill
The loveable Nathan Patrick Morgan as the Jeweller.
Samantha Hill
Ballerina Mabel Modrono and vacation swing (and former Meg) Polly Baird – wigless! – being just so darn cute.
Samantha Hill
Ladies and Gentlemen, Hugh Panaro.
Samantha Hill
With Ellen Harvey and Jim Weitzer, giving Good Face.
Samantha Hill
I couldn't ask for better cast mates. These three (Andrew Drost, Lynne Abeles and Nathan Patrick Morgan) are no exception.
Samantha Hill
Satomi Hofmann having an awesome makeup day as the Confidante.
Samantha Hill
Sierra Boggess photobomb!
Samantha Hill
Dueling Raouls caught on the stairs: Paul A. Schaefer and Kyle Barisich
Samantha Hill
Ellen Harvey and I have fun...
Samantha Hill
This is what I saw on my walk to the subway after the show. Only in New York. Or I guess where camels actually live...
Samantha Hill
So sleepy on the train. I went home and watched around 5 hours of television because I usually can't sleep right away after the excitement of a show. Even if I didn't perform tonight! Come visit us at the beautiful Majestic Theatre!
Samantha Hill
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A native of Winnipeg, Hill's Canadian theatre credits include August: Osage County (Jean), The Light in the Piazza (Clara), Spring Awakening (Wendla), Nine (Carla), Cats (Rumpleteaser), Annie (Lily St. Regis), Chicago (Hunyak) and Beauty and the Beast (Belle).
Sierra Boggess will conclude her limited engagement as Christine March 2 and Hill will assume the role beginning the week of March 4. Marni Raab will return as the Christine alternate.
The current cast also stars Hugh Panaro in the title role, Kyle Barisich as Raoul, Jim Weitzer (Monsieur André), Tim Jerome (Monsieur Firmin), Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Ellen Harvey (Madame Giry), Christian Šebek (Piangi) and Kara Klein (Meg Giry).
For more on the show's 25th anniversay, click here. Visit PhantomBroadway.com.
