The Phantom of Collingswood

The PHANTOM

of Collingswood

Well-traveled playwright, singer, actor John Smitherman proudly settled down in Collingswood

BY ANTHONY J. MAZZIOTTI III

Except for the kidnapping and living underneath the Historic Collingswood Theatre or the Scottish Rite Auditorium, the borough has the next closest thing to the Phantom of the Opera in town.

In the 1909 novel of the same name, written by Gaston Leroux, it was learned the Phantom traveled to multiple countries including France, Russia, Persia and even Vietnam. In the musical, the Phantom is known to be an “Angel of Music.”

A talented singer, actor and playwright residing within the 08108, has been seen wearing a mask covering part of his face and has traveled the world from Spain to Germany to Peru. He had been up and down the east coast from Florida to Baltimore and Washington D.C. before moving to Philadelphia and settling down in Collingswood.

Coincidence? I think not.

Though the Phantom’s name is never revealed in the musical, but written as Erik in the novel, John Smitherman is proud to share his name whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Smitherman is a native of Neptune Beach, FL and originally planned to study criminology at Jacksonville University. After some discussion with his parents, he decided to major in commercial art. Then, after a family friend told him he sounded similar to Mario Lanza and gifted him a pair of opera records, coupled with learning one could study music in college, he changed his major one final time in an effort to pursue his passion.

His parents were silently supportive of his decision as they were unaware of how one could make a career in music even though he found work in local theatres upon graduation.

“I knew they were there if I needed them but they stayed out of the way so much they didn’t know how I was making money after college,” Smitherman recalled. “I remember telling them I was buying a house in Venice, Florida and they didn’t know I was making money doing theatre.

Smitherman found work in theatres up and down the east coast, on Broadway, off Broadway and on cruise ships. He’s been cast as Jean Valjean in a production of “Les Miserables”, Lt. Joseph Cable in “South Pacific” , and even was, you guessed it, the Phantom in a semi-staged production of “Phantom of the Opera” in Germany.

“I’ve been really lucky, there’s so many ridiculously talented people out there,” he said of his conquests. “It’s about being in the right place at the right time. I’ve been very straight with myself – there’s a bunch of people like me, I just happen to be lucky.”

please see SMITHERMAN, page 25