Hugh Panaro Returning as Donnell Broadway Concert Guest Artist

Powerhouse tenor and Broadway star Hugh Panaro is returning to the University of Findlay to perform as the spring 2022 guest artist for the Donnell Broadway Concert Series on Jan. 30. Joining Panaro will be Grammy Award nominated Broadway conductor Phil Reno.

The concert will be held in-person in the Winebrenner Building, TLB Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for senior citizens, $10 for non-UF students, and free for UF students, faculty, and staff with a valid University ID. Tickets can be purchased at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts box office at 200 W. Main Cross St., or online at MCPA’s website.

Critically lauded, Panaro is one of Broadway’s leading performers, demonstrating versatility, charisma, and volumes of vocal talent. A native of Philadelphia, Panaro embraced his love of performing at the age of 13 and later made his Broadway debut in “Les Misérables” as Marius, the role he originated in the first National Company.

Also on Broadway, Panaro created the roles of Buddy Foster in “Side Show” and Julian Craster in Jule Styne’s final musical, “The Red Shoes.” He made his West End debut in the original London company of Harold Prince’s revival of “Show Boat” as Gaylord Ravenal, a role he went on to perform on Broadway and in Toronto. Panaro also created the title role in Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s American tour of “Martin Guerre” and went on to perform this role in London’s West End.

Panaro is one of the few actors to play both the roles of Raoul and the Phantom in the Broadway production of “The Phantom of the Opera.” So far, he has performed the demanding title role over 2000 times, including the 25^th Anniversary production. Based on Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, the Broadway production of Sir Elton John’s “Lestat” cast Panaro as the nihilistic, seductive vampire intent on conquering the world with his voice and his sheer will.

Since last appearing at the University of Findlay in 2007, Panaro has made his stage debut as Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables” at the Muni in St. Louis. He also has performed the title role in Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George,” Fagin in “Oliver!” and twice returned to the Broadway production of “Phantom of the Opera” (2010-13 and 2013-14). In 2018, Panaro added the title role in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd to his credits.

For more information on the Concert, visit the Donnell Broadway Concert Series webpage or contact Cindy Bormuth at cbormuth@findlay.edu.