The Phantom of the Opera Star Hugh Panaro Reveals His Obsessions with Meryl, Barbra, Sigourney & More

Theater stars know what’s hot in entertainment, fashion and pop culture, so Broadway.com decided it was high time to tap in to the after-hours obsessions of our favorite stage actors. Hugh Panaro is currently putting Broadway audiences under his spell as the title character in The Phantom of the Opera’s 25th-anniversary cast. When he’s not bringing “The Music of the Night” to the Majestic Theatre, Panaro can be found watching The Walking Dead, listening to Barbra Streisand and playing with his “furry child," Soot. Read below for more of this appealing star's obsessions!

TV SHOW: The Walking Dead
“The writers sure don’t pull any punches! I’m still not over Sophia’s death from season two!”

MOVIE: Alien
“I love me some Sigourney Weaver! And Ridley Scott makes you wait to see the creature the way Steven Spielberg makes you wait to see the shark in Jaws, my second favorite.”

SINGER: Barbra Streisand
“NO, it’s not just because I got to sing with her! For as long as I can remember, she has touched my soul. And while I love so many different artists, she will always be the ‘one.’”

BOOK: The Fat Flush Plan by Ann Louise Gittleman
“My makeup artist gave me the book ‘cause she got tired of hearing me complain about my love handles! Bottom line, it works. I’m wearing my 'skinny' tux to the Phantom gala!"

ATHLETE: Rafael Nadal
“He’s amazing AND he loves Phantom! He sees the show whenever he’s in town. And have ya seen the Armani ads?"

CELEBRITY: Meryl Streep
“Pretty much the acting equivalent to Barbra."

APP: Talking Tom
“I’m constantly torturing my co-workers with naughty Talking Tom videos."

BEAUTY PRODUCT: Mario Badescu’s Control Cream
"It helps soothe my red skin from all the glue and prosthetics I wear in the show."

RANDOM OBSESSION: Soot
“Far from random, but my biggest obsession without question is my 'furry child,' Soot! He is a constant reminder of what unconditional love is all about."