Steve Barton

Steven Neal Barton (June 26, 1954 – July 21, 2001) was an American actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, teacher, and stage director whose career spanned productions in the United States, London, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the youngest of three children of Tom and Mary Barton, he was raised in Nederland, Texas. He earned a scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied theater, dance, and voice and participated in more than 30 productions with the university and the Ballet of Austin. A UT endowed Presidential Scholarship has since been established in his name. Following graduation, he relocated to Europe, beginning his professional career in St. Gallen, Switzerland, before performing with major theater companies in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.

During his years in Europe, Barton took on leading roles in a wide range of productions, including West Side Story, Godspell, Romeo and Juliet, The Fantasticks, The Threepenny Opera, Oklahoma!, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Guys and Dolls, and Camelot. At the Theater an der Wien, he played Munkustrap in the original Vienna cast of Cats, a performance documented on the 1983 original Vienna cast recording. At the Theater des Westens in Berlin, his credits included Guys and Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar in the role of Jesus, La Cage aux Folles in both the roles of Jean Michel and Albin/Zaza, and Robert in Company.

Barton is most widely recognized for originating the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. He created the role in the West End production in 1986 and also understudied the title role during that run, stepping in to play the Phantom when Michael Crawford was ill in April 1987. In 1988, Barton brought the role of Raoul to Broadway in the original Broadway cast, marking the beginning of his Broadway career. He appeared on the original London cast recordings released in 1987. In 1989, when principal Raoul actor Reece Holland was injured during the Ahmanson Theatre production, Barton reprised the role opposite Crawford for previews and opening night. In 1990, he took over the title role of the Phantom on Broadway from Cris Groenendaal, becoming the fourth principal actor to portray the role in that production.

Barton's other Broadway credit was The Red Shoes, in which he starred, with his Broadway appearances spanning 1988 to 1993. At the time of his death he was working on Jekyll & Hyde in Bremen, Germany, where he was taking over the title role from Ethan Freeman.

Outside of Phantom, one of Barton's most significant later roles was Graf von Krolock in Jim Steinman's Dance of the Vampires, which he originated in Vienna. The role earned him an IMAGE (International Music Award Germany) in 1998, and his run as von Krolock coincided with his 30-year onstage anniversary in 1997. He also took over the role of the Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast in Vienna in 1996. His television work included a guest role as FBI Agent Mike Haller on the Austrian series Tatort in 1992, and guest appearances on The Young and the Restless and Another World in 1994. His discography includes cast recordings, concert albums, and collaborative recordings, among them a 1995 project featuring duets with Mother Teresa and Brian Sutherland.

In his personal life, Barton was married to swing dancer and choreographer Denny Berry, who served as dance supervisor for the North American productions of The Phantom of the Opera; the two met while attending college. Their son, Edward, was born in Vienna in 1984. Barton served as an honorary chairperson of the Steadman Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation and as an honorary member of the UTA Board of Education.

Barton died in his sleep at his apartment in Bremen, Germany, on July 21, 2001, at the age of 47. His death was initially attributed to heart failure but was later ruled a suicide by the Bremen district attorney, according to information released by the press office for the New York production of The Phantom of the Opera.