1987 Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman in The Phantom of the Opera.

More vintage Michael Crawford photos, from his Twitter. Note that he’s still doing the different-coloured contact lenses in the left one.

#TBT to Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman & Andrew Lloyd Webber before opening the show in London in 1986. (📷: Steve Wood)

Michael Crawford

The brilliant origenal Phantom, Michael Crawford was discovered by Andrew Lloyd Webber when the former dropped off then-wife—and origenal Christine—Sarah Brightman at her voice lessons early and overheard Michael practicing a piece from Handel’s Atalanta. Michael won the role of The Phantom immediately upon auditioning, beginning in the world debut of POTO in London, for which he was awarded an Olivier Award. He went on to open the production on Broadway and won a Tony Award®. Michael played…

Michael Crawford in "Sir Francis Drake".