Last month, I talked about False Fall. I’m beginning to think Fall has truly arrived here in Central Indiana. The nights are really cool with warm-ish days. This is my kind of weather, and my wallet is grateful, too! Those air conditioning bills were not any fun! Now, I need to get myself somewhere to buy mums and pumpkins to decorate the front porch! Anyway, welcome to the last Monday of the month and another edition of Songful Style! Suzy and Shelbee decided to riff (see what I did there) on Style Imitating Art only with music! Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Suzy of Suzy Turner, and I make up the bloggers in this group. You can find all of us on our blogs and Instagram. Our ensembles (pun intended) may be inspired by the lyrics of a song, the artwork of the album cover, maybe the MTV video, or even a memory the song evokes. I chose this month’s song, sort of! I decided to use the musical, Phantom of the Opera, and gave everyone their choice of songs. Last time, Suzy selected “Carolina” by Taylor Swift. Next month, Shelbee is really getting into the Halloween spirit with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller!” For this challenge, I selected “Think of Me” as sung by Sierra Boggess in 2011. And, don’t forget! There’s a link party, too!
The artist…
Sierra Boggess, my favorite Christine, was born on May 20, 1982 in Denver, Colorado. Although I don’t know what they did, her parents, Kellun Turner Boggess and Michael Boggess, were professional musicians. She attended George Washington High School and was a member of the Colorado Children’s Chorale. In 2004, Boggess graduated from Millikin University where she studied voice. She attained a Bachelor of Arts degree. Within two years of graduation, Boggess had already begun her musical career. She was an understudy for Cosette on the US national tour of Les Misérables. Following that, she played various roles until being cast as Christine Daaé in a Las Vegas production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at The Venetian Las Vegas. The show opened on June 24, 2006, and Boggess played Christine for a year in Sin City.
Early years…
After these two amazing characters, Boggess made her Broadway debut as the original Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Like a lot of Broadway shows, this one was workshopped at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ Ellie Caulkins Opera House from July 26, 2007 through September 9, 2007. It was set to open on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 3, 2007 as a preview. The Broadway stagehand strike prevented the show continuing for a bit. Once the strike was over, performances resumed with the official opening night pushed from December 6, 2007 to January 10, 2008! That’s not too shabby for someone who graduated just four years before, right? Boggess received positive reviews and remained with the show for a year and a half. She played Ariel for the last time on May 31, 2009. During this same time, Boggess starred opposite Kristin Chenoweth in the Encores! staged concert of Music in the Air in February 2009. Talk about busy!
A little more…
In February 2010, Boggess again played Christine in the sequel to Phantom, Love Never Dies. The 25th anniversary concert of The Phantom of the Operat at the Royal Albert Hall in London starred Boggess as Christine Daaé alongside Ramin Karimloo (my favorite phantom). He had been her co-star in Love Never Dies. This took place on October 1 and 2, 2011. Boggess starred in several other shows following this time. From July 2, 2012 – January 10, 2013, she starred in Les Misérables once again as Fantine at the Queen’s Theatre in the West End. From January 21, 2013 until March 2, 2013, she starred again as Christine for the Broadway production of the 25th anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera.
Still more…
After this, Boggess began teaching various musical theater master classes as well as workshopping a musical adaptation of Ever After, a 1998 film. For some reason, she was not a part of the show’s world premiere in 2015. Showing her versatility once again, Boggess debuted a cabaret solo show, Awakening, at 54 Below in New York. Some of those shows were recorded for a live debut solo album, Awakening: Live at 54 Below. The album was released on December 10, 2013. For the next several years, Boggess would play various parts in different places all around the world. She embarked on her first Australian concert tour in 2017. Stops included Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Her sister, Summer, plays the cello at most of her shows. Other countries/cities where people experienced her amazing talent are China, Japan, Paris, and London. She truly is one of musical theatre’s most sought-after performers.
More Phantom…
Beginning in 2026, Boggess took over the role of Carlotta Giudicelli in the West End’s production of The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre from August 3-November 21, 2026 as part of the show’s 40th anniversary celebrations! She also voiced Carlotta in Erin A. Craig’s audiobook, Our Strange Duet. This is a reimagining and follow up to The Phantom of the Opera. I’m hoping she returns to Broadway so I can see her. I would absolutely love to go…anyone want to come with?
Awards…
Boggess has been nominated for several awards: Drama Desk and Drama League for The Little Mermaid, an Olivier Award nomination for Love Never Dies, won the Broadway.com Audience Choice Award. Her legendary performance at the 25th Anniversary Concert of Phantom of the Opera was globally broadcast and is one of the most celebrated performances of the musical. Millions of viewers, including my two oldest grands and me, were introduced to her artistry and Phantom with this recording. She is one of the “definitive interpreters of the role.”
Personal life…
On January 3, 2022, Boggess announced her engagement to producer and film director Stefano Da Frè. He proposed to her while they were on holiday in Finland! The couple married at the Château at Coindre Hall in Huntington, New York, on April 23, 2023. They shared wedding photos on Instagram of their outside ceremony. Her website, which my laptop would not allow me to access, “describes her as ‘avid yogi, vegetarian, and animal rights activist.’” She often participates in Broadway Barks, a cat and dog adoption event founded by the inimitable Bernadette Peters.
Personal Mantra…
“You are enough, you are so enough, it’s unbelievable how enough you are. You have nothing to prove, only to share.”
The lyrics…
Think of me, think of me fondly when we’ve said goodbye
Remember me, once in a while, please, promise me you’ll try
When you find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free
If you ever find a moment, spare a thought for me
We never said our love was evergreen
Or as unchanging as the sea
But if you can still remember, stop and think of me
Think of all the things we’ve shared and seen
Don’t think about the things that might have been
Think of me, think of me, waking silent and resigned
Imagine me trying too hard to put you from my mind
Recall those days, look back on all those times
Think of the things we’ll never do
There will never be a day when I won’t think of you
We never said our love was evergreen
Or as unchanging as the sea
But please promise me that sometimes you will think of me
What it means…
The song is the first time Christine sings publicly. She has been training with the Phantom. Her father had told her of the “Angel of Music,” and that’s who she thinks the Phantom is. In this moment, Christine leaves behind being a dancer in the background and becomes the star of the musical. It also involves the triangle entanglement in which she finds herself…the Phantom, Raoul, and herself. I think she knows she’s going to leave the Phantom (or Angel of Music) behind and create this new life with Raoul. On another level, you can even say she’s choosing the real world over the “phantom” (sorry…just had to do it) world. Is it a love song or a goodbye song? I think it’s both.
The video…
Interesting covers…
This woman definitely has the chops to sing this song. Interestingly, she adds old photos of opera halls later in the video.
Oh, this one is visually stunning, and she must have had a heck of an editor! She hits those high notes, too!
Of course, I had to include Emmy Rossum! And, wow!!! She can sing and may even be giving Sierra Boggess a run for the money!
A little more atmospheric kind of video. I like it, though.
She sings in a lower range (I thing), but I just can’t get over that cat eyeliner and red lips! Gorgeous!
I may have found the best for last! This duo gives the song a more mellow sound!
Sources…
My interpretation…
I had originally intended to use “Masquerade” just because there are such beautiful costumes there. But, I honestly didn’t have the time or the inclination to figure out an outfit. Instead, I kept remembering this scene with Christine who changes from mere dance girl into star. The other dancers dress her (nobody dressed me…alas and alack)! I’m wearing soooo many layers. Thank goodness it was cool on the day of the photoshoot! I knew I wanted to use as many colors of Christine’s look as I could. I’m not 100% sure I did that, but I think this is a fairly good interpretation. I started with my orange tulle skirt, then added a Gudrun Sjödén textured skirt. Both of these skirts have a second layer underneath so I was actually wearing four layers. Over it all, I wore this gorgeous Kantha Bae something or other. I thought the sunrise colors of it were perfect. Because it’s so long, I had to wear a belt over it. That also enabled me to pull aside the dress in order to reveal the layers beneath it.
The Lewk!
I just know, if Christine were to come into my closet, she would choose these Originala boots by L’Artiste. That little bit of purple would indicate to her she had really made it, right? Since there was so much going on, I decided to just add these earrings from Kendra Scott. I think they do a good job of picking up the colors of my outfit. Oh, and the wig is “Flawless Waves” by TressAllure. Unfortunately, I don’t have a red wig…yet!
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I realize some of you might have expected me to write about Andrew Lloyd Webber. But, he didn’t write this song, and he certainly didn’t sing it! Therefore, I wrote about Sierra Boggess who is definitely my favorite Christine. I think I read somewhere that Webber created this for his then wife, Sarah Brightman, who was a classical soprano. She did play Christine originally, but I like Sierra so much better. So, can we talk? Are you a fan of The Phantom of the Opera? Have you seen it on the stage? Who do you think Christine should have chosen? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
Thank you!
Thank you so very much for reading today’s post. I hope you enjoyed it. I also very much appreciate those of you who comment, email and/or subscribe. It’s what keeps me going! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
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Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Is this Mutton, and Shelbee on the Edge. I also link up with I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month as well as the Global Writing Challenge on the second Thursday. I now co-host Fashion Files with Amy at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa every Tuesday. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, Cat, and Rena. I also host 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
And, now, it’s your turn!
Please link up your favorite posts, DIY, baking, gardening, fashion…you name it…as long as it’s family friendly! Link up with me, visit a couple of others, and leave a comment or two! No worries if you don’t have a blog, just look around! You may find a new blog just waiting for you!
Nice how that contrast color peeks out like that!
I have never seen The Phantom of the Opera and I don’t even know if I have ever heard one of the songs. If I have, I didn’t know it was from the musical.
I just know the silent movie, but even that was many years ago (I keep saving a re-watch for a blog post).
Those boots really are lovely. Like Cat, I’ve never seen The Phantom of the Opera, but thanks for all the info.