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==Death==
==Death==
Barton died on July 21, 2001 in Bremen, Germany at the age of 47.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/28/arts/steve-barton-actor-47.html | title=Steve Barton -- Actor, 47 | publisher=The New York Times | date=July 28, 2001 | accessdate=12 August 2014}}</ref> While his death was initially attributed to heart failure, according to obituary information released by the press office for the New York production of ''The Phantom of the Opera'', it was later ruled a suicide by the district attorney in Bremen.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/61510-Report-Phantom-Actor-Steve-Bartons-Death-Was-a-Suicide | title=Report: Phantom Actor Steve Barton's Death Was a Suicide | publisher=Playbill | date=3 August 2001 | accessdate=12 August 2014}}</ref>
Barton died on July 21, 2001 at the age of 47 in [[Bremen]], [[Germany]] of [[heart failure]]. Some sources falesly claim it was a suicide since it was also falsely claimed that he suffered from [[bipolar disorder]]. The same sources also falsely claim there was no autopsy report. The autopsy report states that there were no empty bottles of medication nearby. There were heart and painkiller medication bottles, none of them empty, and none had anything to do with his death, as forensic blood tests confirmed there was no alcohol or drugs in Steve Barton's blood when he died. All that was discovered was a minimal maintenance dose of anti-depressant and the daily normal dose of blood pressure and painkiller medication he took. His ashes were buried in his native country in [[Texas]], [[USA]], in August 2001.


== Stage roles ==
== Stage roles ==

Revision as of 02:12, 31 January 2015

Not to be confused with Steve Burton.
Steve Barton
Born(1954-06-26)June 26, 1954
Hot Springs, Arkansas
DiedJuly 21, 2001(2001-07-21) (aged 47)
Bremen, Germany

Steve Barton (June 26, 1954 – July 21, 2001) was an American actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, stage director and teacher.

Biography

Steven Neal Barton was born on June 26, 1954, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States, the youngest of three children of Tom and Mary Barton. He was raised in Nederland, Texas.

He won a scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, where he majored in theater, dance and singing, appearing in over 30 productions with the University of Texas and with the Ballet of Austin. Barton graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where he now has an endowed Presidential Scholarship named after him, and went to Europe, getting his first job at St. Gallen, Switzerland, and then playing in major Swiss, German and Austrian theater companies.

He played leading roles in West Side Story, Godspell, Romeo and Juliet, The Fantasticks, The Threepenny Opera, Oklahoma!, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Guys and Dolls, and Camelot, before playing the role of Munkustrap in the original Vienna cast of Cats, at the Theater an der Wien. At the Theater des Westens in Berlin, he played roles in Guys and Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar (as Jesus), La Cage aux Folles (as both Jean Michel and Albin/Zaza) and was playing Robert in Company when he had an audition for Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera in London, where he originated the role of Raoul.

Barton was married to, but later separated from, swing dancer and choreographer Denny Berry, (Dance Supervisor for the North American productions of The Phantom of the Opera), whom he met at college. A son, Edward, was born in Vienna in 1984. Barton had a Presidential Scholarship at the University of Texas named for him. He has also been named an Honorary Chairperson of the Steadman/Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation and was an honorary member of the Board of Education at the University of Texas in Austin.

In 1996, Barton returned to Vienna, where he took over the part of the Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. He originated Graf von Krolock in Roman Polanski's Tanz der Vampire, (Music: Jim Steinman, Lyrics: Michael Kunze), a role which brought him in 1998 an IMAGE (International Music Award Germany). He played Graf von Krolock until January 17, 1999, in Vienna. In 1997, Barton celebrated his 30-year onstage anniversary during his run as von Krolock. Tanz der Vampire was also the last musical in which Barton appeared on a stage.

Death

Barton died on July 21, 2001 in Bremen, Germany at the age of 47.[1] While his death was initially attributed to heart failure, according to obituary information released by the press office for the New York production of The Phantom of the Opera, it was later ruled a suicide by the district attorney in Bremen.[2]

Stage roles

  • Broadway
  • International
    • Cats, 1983 and 1984, in Vienna, Austria, (as Munkustrap/Dance Capitan)
    • The Phantom of the Opera, 1986, in London, UK, (as Raoul)
    • Die Schöne und das Biest, 1996/97 in Vienna, Austria, (as Biest)
    • Tanz der Vampire, 1997 - 1999 in Vienna, Austria, (as Graf von Krolock)
  • Regional
    • The Phantom of the Opera, 1990 and 1991, Los Angeles, (as Raoul)
    • Anastasia: The Musical, 1991 and 1992, (as Prince Paul)
    • Six Wives, 1993, (as Henry VIII)
    • Der Glöckner von Notre Dame, 1993, (as Quasimodo)
    • Kiss Me, Kate, 1994, (as Fred Graham and Petruchio), Goodspeed Opera House, CT
    • Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, (as Sweeney Todd), Jan. and Feb. 1996, in Pittsburgh
    • Let's Do It, a new A. R. Gurney Show with Cole Porter music and lyrics which workshopped at the Long Wharf Theater, New Haven, CT, USA, April and May 1996, (as Nick Cameron, alias the Count of Luxemburg).

Television guest roles

Selected discography

Musicals

  • 1983: Cats, Original Vienna Cast Recording, as Munkustrap, in German language
  • 1987: Highlights from The Phantom of the Opera, Original London Cast, as Raoul
  • 1987: The Phantom of the Opera, Original London Cast Recording, as Raoul
  • 1988: Show Boat, as Steve Baker
  • 1998: Anastasia - The Musical, as Prince Paul
  • 1998: Tanz der Vampire – Die Höhepunkte der Welturaufführung, Original Vianna Cast, as Graf von Krolock, in German language
  • 1998: Tanz der Vampire – Die Gesamtaufnahme, Original Vienna Cast Recording, as Graf von Krolock, in German language

Guest appearances

Other recordings

  • 1991: Cole Porter Centennial Gala Concert
  • 1995: Living Water, duets with Mother Teresa and Brian Sutherland
  • 1999: Danke - Songs und Lieder zum Kirchentag 1999, includes the song "Reach Out", a duet with Brian Sutherland
  • 2002: Steve Barton – Memorial Concert, "Simply Flying" and "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"
  • 2004: Broadway's Fabulous Phantoms, "I've Got You Under My Skin"
  • 2009: Only for a While, compilation
  • 2010: Encore: The Private Collection, compilation of outtakes, demos and rehearsals

See also

References

  1. ^ "Steve Barton -- Actor, 47". The New York Times. July 28, 2001. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  2. ^ "Report: Phantom Actor Steve Barton's Death Was a Suicide". Playbill. 3 August 2001. Retrieved 12 August 2014.

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