The last time she performed here was in 2006, at a Beef & Boards production of 'Oliver' - before Carlotta, before the Mary Kay success. This time, her rear-view mirror looks quite different. Now, in her first year after leaving 'Phantom,' McConnell is performing on the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir's Festival of Carols that continues Friday through Sunday. This is a huge deal: Lilly Endowment will spend $48.8M to make Indy a better, cooler placeĪ radically different concert venue: A floating stage is coming to the White River for music, comedy and open mic nights

Instead, in 2011, on her 40th birthday, she posed for a photo shoot that introduced her to the world as the next Carlotta, 'Phantom's' talented, egotistical prima donna in the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic about a damaged genius who terrorizes a storied opera house to win the love of his protegee, Christine. And McConnell's service in the role over the next 6 1/2 years cemented her as the longest-running Carlotta ever on Broadway. At one point, she thought about quitting Broadway auditions to fit in different acting opportunities and more time with her side gig - Mary Kay cosmetics sales. The average actor can try out three times a day during a major season of casting calls. By her late 30s, McConnell had lost count of how many times she'd auditioned for Broadway roles. Over the next decade-plus, she kept trying for a starring spot in her dream production. The production kept her in their files, but she didn't land a role. Michele McConnell first auditioned for 'Phantom of the Opera' on Broadway when she was 27, just a few years after graduating from Butler University.

Phantom of the opera broadway auditions