"John Katsilometes listens in as longtime local performer Tina Walsh talks of her quest to join the cast of 'Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular'

And the role of Madam Giry goes to ...

[hear the podcast here]

By JOHN KATSILOMETES

Call it a Phantom punch. Wednesday's announcement of the cast for "Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular" was absent one familiar name: Tina Walsh. Walsh recently told podcaster Steve Friess on "The Strip," a weekly interview program at www.thestrippodcast.com, that she auditioned for the production and fell just short of being cast in the role of Madame Giry.

It wasn't the first or only time Walsh, who has been performing in Las Vegas nearly nonstop for 20 years (including a well-received run as Donna Sheridan in "Mamma Mia!" at Mandalay Bay"), has been disappointed while pursuing roles in new Las Vegas productions. "I was hoping to get into 'Hairspray' or 'Phantom,' " she said. "As it was, for 'Phantom' - I was very close. I auditioned all the way, they flew me up to New York. It was between me and another girl ... for Madame Giry, and I didn't get it. That's just the way the business is."

At the Venetian, Madame Giry will be played by Rebecca Spencer.

When asked if there was a stigma attached to Las Vegas performers seeking roles in Broadway-styled productions, Walsh said, "There is a stigma, but it is the producers' prerogative to hire whoever they want."

Suffering from a neck injury, Walsh left "Mamma Mia!" in January 2005 and took some rare time off. She has since worked as a freelancer, including a tour with an ABBA tribute band, while seeking a role with a local production.

"Vegas is a very funny town," she said. "Something you're certain is a sure fit sometimes doesn't work out ... It's a cyclical town, it changes all the time."

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