Cris Groenendaal

• Name — Cris Groenendaal • Born — 17 February 1948 • Known for — The Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street • Occupation — Singer, actor • Years Active — 1976–2002 Cris Groenendaal is a retired American musical theatre actor. He performed in the original Broadway productions of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Sunday in the Park with George, The Phantom of the Opera and Passion, as well as appearing in the original cast of the 1996 Broadway revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

He is a trained operatic tenor. He was trained by fellow tenor Frederick Jagel.

Known for his work in Stephen Sondheim's musicals, he made his Broadway debut in the original cast of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as an ensemble member and understudy for the role of Anthony. He would later replace Victor Garber in the role of Anthony. He was also in the original cast of the first national tour of Sweeney Todd reprising his role of Anthony. He appeared in the 1982 televised recording of the touring production. Groenendaal was also in the original Broadway cast of Sunday in the Park with George originating the roles of Billy Webster and Louis while understudying many roles including the titular role. He replaced Robert Westenberg in the roles of a Soldier/Alex and later played the titular roles of Georges Seurat/George for 5 days. Groenendaal originated the role of Monsieur Gilles André in the original Broadway cast of The Phantom of the Opera also understudying the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. He would later take over the role of The Phantom from Timothy Nolen in March 1989 on Broadway and was the third principal actor to play the Phantom on Broadway. He was replaced in the role in March 1990 by the original Broadway and West End Raoul, Steve Barton. Groenendaal would later reprise the role of the Phantom in the Canadian production replacing Colm Wilkinson and for two stints in the Canadian tour. In 1994 and 1996 he would play roles in two Sondheim musicals, the Broadway revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and the original Broadway production of Passion, playing Miles Gloriosus and Major Rizzolli respectively. In 1998, he appears in the first US tour of Ragtime as the Father. This would be his last production before his retirement. However, he made an exception in 2002 to perform in the Sondheim celebration at the Kennedy Center in a production of Sunday in the Park with George as Jules and Bob Greenberg.

Groenendaal met his eventual wife, Broadway music director Sue Anderson, when she was performing with the improvisation group Broadway Local. The two moved to Croton-on-Hudson, New York, in 1987, married in 1989, and had two children. The two recorded three albums together.

Source: • Year(s) — Production — Role — Notes • 1976 — 1776 — Roger Sherman — Regional • My Fair Lady — Jamie / Ensemble • A Little Night Music — Frid • 1977 — Follies — Max Deems / Ensemble • The Wizard of Oz — The Tin Man / Hickory • Fiddler on the Roof — Ensemble • 1979 — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street — Ensemble u/s Anthony Hope — Original Broadway Production • 1979-1980 — Anthony Hope • 1980 — South Pacific — Lt. Joseph Cable, USMC — Regional • 1980-1981 — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street — Anthony Hope — US National Tour • 1984 — Houston Grand Opera • New York City Opera • Sunday in the Park with George — Billy Webster / Louis / A Man Lying on the Bank u/s A Soldier / Alex u/s Franz / Dennis — Original Broadway Production • 1984-1985 — A Soldier / Alex u/s Georges Seurat / George • 1985 — Georges Seurat / George • A Soldier / Alex u/s Georges Seurat / George • 1987 — South Pacific — Lt. Joseph Cable, USMC (Alternate) — New York City Opera • Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street — Anthony Hope • 1988 — The Phantom of the Opera — Monsieur Gilles André u/s Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny — Original Broadway Production • 1988-1989 — Monsieur Gilles André u/s The Phantom of the Opera u/s Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny • 1989-1990 — The Phantom of the Opera • 1992 — Canadian National Tour • Carousel — Enoch Snow — Regional • 1993-1994 — The Phantom of the Opera — The Phantom of the Opera — Canadian National Tour • 1994 — Passion — Major Rizzolli — Original Broadway Production • 1994-1995 — The Phantom of the Opera — The Phantom of the Opera — Canadian Production • 1996-1998 — A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum — Miles Gloriosus — Second Broadway Revival • 1998-1999 — Ragtime — Father — US National Tour • 2002 — Sunday in the Park with George — Jules / Bob Greenberg — Kennedy Center

• Year(s) — Production — Role — Notes • 1980 — The Doctors — Dr. Harrow — 3 episodes • 1982 — Great Performances — Anthony Hope — Episode: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street • 1986 — American Playhouse — Louis / Billy Webster — Episode: Sunday in the Park with George • 1995 — Pocahontas — Chorus — Animated film