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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” is here! The longest-running show in Broadway history and will resume at the Majestic Theatre on October 22.
The Phantom of the Opera is here!
This Tony Award-winning musical was directed by the late Harold Prince. And it has been closed due to a pandemic since March 2020. Under the continuous musical supervision of David Caddick, the complete Phantom Orchestra—Broadway’s largest orchestra—has also returned.
The Phantom of the Opera has music by Lloyd Webber. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (additional lyrics by Richard Steele), and a book by Steele and Lloyd Weber. The work also includes Gillian Lynn’s music stage and choreography. Maria Bjornsen’s scene and costume design, Andrew Bridge’s lighting design, and Martin Levine’s sound design, with Caddick acting as the music director. Cameron Mackintosh and Lloyd Webber’s The Really Useful Group served as producers.
This Broadway show from London won seven Tony Awards in 1988, including best musical. The preview of Broadway began on January 9, 1988, and officially opened on January 26. The original Broadway cast included Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Judy Kaye, and the late Steve Button.
Cast
Returning to lead the cast are Ben Crawford as The Phantom, Meghan Picerno as Christine Daaé, and John Riddle as Raoul, with Bradley Dean as Monsieur André, Craig Bennett as Monsieur Firmin, Raquel Suarez Groen as Carlotta Giudicelli, Maree Johnson as Madame Giry, and Carlton Moe as Ubaldo Piangi. Sara Esty joins the company as Meg Giry.
Also joining the production in her Broadway debut is Emilie Kouatchou, who plays the role of Christine Daaé at certain performances. Kouatchou is the first Black actor to play the role of Christine in the Broadway production. Lucy St. Louis recently became the first Black actor to play the role when she reopened the London production of Phantom as Christine in July.
Ensemble
The ensemble members include Giselle Alvarez, Polly Baird, Janinah Burnett, Xiaoxiao Cao, David Michael Garry, Chris Georgetti, Kelly Jeanne Grant, Katharine Heaton, Satomi Hofmann, Ted Keegan, Kfir, Kelly Loughran, Scott Mikita, Greg Mills, Justin Peck, Patricia Phillips, Richard Poole, Jessica Radetsky, Lindsay Roberts, Janet Saia, Paul A. Schaefer, Carly Blake Sebouhian, Jeremy Stolle, Carrington Vilmont, Jim Weitzer, Elizabeth Welch, and Erica Wong.
Credits: playbill.com; newyorktheaterguide.com
Credits featured image: Ajay Suresh, Flickr
