Semi-live from New York
My interview with the Watertown Daily Times is now live. But o ye gods, the title! *dies*
The fan of all fans
By CHRIS BROCK
TIMES STAFF WRITER
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Ted Keegan has many fans in his hometown of Watertown, but one of his most enthusiastic supporters lives in Alabama.
Allison Lane Cleckler, 23, of Montgomery created a Web site dedicated to the "Phantom of the Opera" character Monsieur Reyer, who Mr. Keegan has played on Broadway and which is his main role in the Las Vegas "Phantom" production.
On the site, which is dedicated to Mr. Keegan, Mrs. Cleckler explains why she created it. "I remembered how much I enjoyed Ted Keegan in the little role of Monsieur Reyer and figured, why not Reyer?"
She also created a separate Ted Keegan fan-appreciation site, www.stars-fell.com/keegan.
"I started my Ted Web site early in 2000, when he was still between stints in 'Phantom,'" Mrs. Cleckler said. "It was the first Web site devoted to him and always the largest, which I am very proud of."
The site is temporarily inactive because of a server switch and her "own procrastination."
"But getting it back in business is very high on my immediate list of things to do," Mrs. Cleckler said. "Ted still very much deserves it, I think."
Nov. 26 marked nine years since Mrs. Cleckler first saw "Phantom" on Broadway. She was 14 years old. "Ted was playing Monsieur Reyer then, and he's one of the few things I still remember clearly about that performance," she said. "When the Phantom wasn't making me cry, Ted was making me laugh."
Mrs. Cleckler has seen the show five other times on tour. She saw Mr. Keegan perform as the Phantom in November 2000 in Birmingham, Ala., and in April the following year in Memphis, Tenn. She met Mr. Keegan after both of those performances.
She said she appreciated his talents as Monsieur Reyer, "but seeing him as the Phantom completely blew me away."
Backstage, "He was absolutely lovely and spent a long time talking with me and my family, even though he must have been very tired," Mrs. Cleckler said.
She was introduced to Mr. Keegan by Rebecca Pitcher, who was playing Christine. "I was so nervous I blurted, 'Hi. I run a Web site on you!'" Mrs. Cleckler said. "But he was great putting me at ease. You couldn't ask for a better person to meet for your first encounter with an actor when you're a blubbering, stammering wreck. I can't believe it's been almost six years since the last time I saw him."
Mrs. Cleckler said Mr. Keegan has cooperated with her Web site, once sending her his vacation dates from the tour and permission to post the cover of his 2001 compact disc, "Ted Keegan Sings" there. She doesn't include gossip or rumors on her site.
"Someone once even sent me a bunch of his high school yearbook photos, but I've never posted them for fear of possibly offending him," Mrs. Cleckler said.
She would like to see Mr. Keegan perform again, but doesn't think she'll be heading to Las Vegas. "I doubt I'll get the chance, though I've been bugging my husband about it."
I AM SO EMBARRASSED. But in a good way.
The fan of all fans
By CHRIS BROCK
TIMES STAFF WRITER
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Ted Keegan has many fans in his hometown of Watertown, but one of his most enthusiastic supporters lives in Alabama.
Allison Lane Cleckler, 23, of Montgomery created a Web site dedicated to the "Phantom of the Opera" character Monsieur Reyer, who Mr. Keegan has played on Broadway and which is his main role in the Las Vegas "Phantom" production.
On the site, which is dedicated to Mr. Keegan, Mrs. Cleckler explains why she created it. "I remembered how much I enjoyed Ted Keegan in the little role of Monsieur Reyer and figured, why not Reyer?"
She also created a separate Ted Keegan fan-appreciation site, www.stars-fell.com/keegan.
"I started my Ted Web site early in 2000, when he was still between stints in 'Phantom,'" Mrs. Cleckler said. "It was the first Web site devoted to him and always the largest, which I am very proud of."
The site is temporarily inactive because of a server switch and her "own procrastination."
"But getting it back in business is very high on my immediate list of things to do," Mrs. Cleckler said. "Ted still very much deserves it, I think."
Nov. 26 marked nine years since Mrs. Cleckler first saw "Phantom" on Broadway. She was 14 years old. "Ted was playing Monsieur Reyer then, and he's one of the few things I still remember clearly about that performance," she said. "When the Phantom wasn't making me cry, Ted was making me laugh."
Mrs. Cleckler has seen the show five other times on tour. She saw Mr. Keegan perform as the Phantom in November 2000 in Birmingham, Ala., and in April the following year in Memphis, Tenn. She met Mr. Keegan after both of those performances.
She said she appreciated his talents as Monsieur Reyer, "but seeing him as the Phantom completely blew me away."
Backstage, "He was absolutely lovely and spent a long time talking with me and my family, even though he must have been very tired," Mrs. Cleckler said.
She was introduced to Mr. Keegan by Rebecca Pitcher, who was playing Christine. "I was so nervous I blurted, 'Hi. I run a Web site on you!'" Mrs. Cleckler said. "But he was great putting me at ease. You couldn't ask for a better person to meet for your first encounter with an actor when you're a blubbering, stammering wreck. I can't believe it's been almost six years since the last time I saw him."
Mrs. Cleckler said Mr. Keegan has cooperated with her Web site, once sending her his vacation dates from the tour and permission to post the cover of his 2001 compact disc, "Ted Keegan Sings" there. She doesn't include gossip or rumors on her site.
"Someone once even sent me a bunch of his high school yearbook photos, but I've never posted them for fear of possibly offending him," Mrs. Cleckler said.
She would like to see Mr. Keegan perform again, but doesn't think she'll be heading to Las Vegas. "I doubt I'll get the chance, though I've been bugging my husband about it."
I AM SO EMBARRASSED. But in a good way.