Currently: Making his Broadway debut as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, one third of the show's love triangle.
Hometown: Piscataway, New Jersey
Choir Boy: One of Gleason's older sisters, who didn't know it at the time, would end up shaping his career with one little action. “My oldest sister pulled me into the church choir when I was six. That's how I got started.” While neither of his sisters continues to perform, Gleason decided that after a few years in the business world, he wanted to pursue a career in the theater.
The First Time: Everyone remembers his or her first time seeing a Broadway show, and Gleason is no exception. Growing up so close to New York City, he was able to go to the theater often. But his first time with Phantom was a very special experience. “We had cancellation seats so they were separated,” he recalls. “They had two singles, one was in the balcony, and one was in the first row. I'll never for get sitting in the first row thinking how cool it was. It was amazing.” That night was also another first experience for Gleason. “We went around the corner, and I had one of my first drinks ever. Because I was in New York, they served me, even though I looked like I was 12.”
Unfortunate Rhythm: Gleason has been waiting for his turn on Broadway for a while. He was supposed to have had it in The Rhythm Club, but after a run in Virginia, the Broadway mounting did not materialize. “That was really tough,” Gleason says. “It took me a while to kind of pick myself back up. But you do because you have to. If you don't, you can't really survive in this business.”
Phantastic: Before hitting the Great White Way, Gleason hit the road. He was on tour with Phantom for over three years and saw the country. “Touring was amazing. What's great about Phantom is that it sits still. We sit at least four weeks in every single city.” But no matter if it is on tour or on the stage, there is at least one constant about Phantom: the fans! “We would travel from city to city, and I would see the same people that were in San Francisco that I would then see in Peoria. There aren't too many of them, but it's enough for you to recognize them. They're the reason we have jobs.”
Toy Story: Walk into Gleason's dressing room at the Majestic Theatre, and he will proudly show off his newest toys: a mini Diet Pepsi machine and his Play Station Portable. When not singing his heart out onstage, Gleason relaxes by watching another one of his favorite toys. “I have a big fat 50-inch plasma TV that I like to watch movies on,” he exclaims. “I'm a big movie guy. For me a DVD collection is like a bookcase, where what you display says something about who you are.”
History in the Making: Phantom will likely surpass Cats as the longest-running show in Broadway history in January 2006—a fact that finds Gleason ecstatic. But history in the making is not all that excites Gleason about being on Broadway. “It's amazing to be able to walk out the stage door into Times Square everyday,” he says. “I feel like this is where I belong, which is a nice feeling.”
