Principal cast changes have been announced for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the longest-running show in Broadway history. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. and directed by Harold Prince, the musical is in its phenomenal 23rd year in New York, playing at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street).
Broadway favorite Hugh Panaro will return to the title role starting Tuesday evening, September 7. Mr. Panaro has a long association with PHANTOM and is one of the few actors to have been cast as both The Phantom and Raoul in the Broadway production. He first joined the New York cast in December 1990 as Raoul, a role he would play for over two years and more than 900 performances. In February 1999 he was invited to take over the title role, which he played to rave reviews. With over 1,000 performances as The Phantom, he's so far performed in over 2,000 performances of the Broadway production.
Former PHANTOM National Tour star Sara Jean Ford will take over 
the leading role of Christine in the Broadway production, also beginning performances Tuesday evening, September 7. Ms. Ford originally made her PHANTOM (and Broadway) debut with the New York Company in March 2007 as the Mirror Bride and covering the role of Christine. In September 2007 she took over the role of Christine on the National Tour, playing it for nearly a year.
Mr. Panaro was the tenth of the twelve men cast as Broadway's "Man Behind the Mask." Ms. Ford is the fourteeth actress to be cast as Christine in the New York production.
A long-time romantic lead on Broadway, Hugh Panaro's other credits include the title role in Lestat, Buddy in Side Show, Gaylord Ravenal in Harold Prince's production of Showboat, Julian in The Red Shoes, Marius in the original production of Les Misérables and the title role in the American premiere of the Cameron Mackintosh production of Martin Guerre. An in-demand performer with symphony orchestras around the world (including touring Europe with Barbara Streisand), he's also worked in Regional productions across the country. His work at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre won him a Barrymore Award for his starring performance as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables and a second nomination for his performance as Fagin in Oliver!.
Sara Jean Ford's other Broadway credits include the current Broadway revival of A Little Night Music as MrS. Anderson (Anne/Petra cover) and Finian's Rainbow as Arlene (Sharon cover). Off-Broadway, she starred as Louisa in the new production of The Fantasticks and can be heard on the original revival cast recording. She's appeared in Wicked in Chicago (Glinda/Nessarose cover), as June in Anyone Can Whistle at City Center for Encores! and originated the role of Nellie Oleson in the national tour of Little House on the Prairie-The Musical.
Mr. Panaro succeeds John Cudia, who also boasts a long history with the musical. He first joined the National Tour in December 1999 and quickly took over the role of Raoul (two years on tour and two and a half years on Broadway), a role that on many occasions in New York he played opposite Mr. Panaro's Phantom. Mr. Cudia would go on to establish himself as a critically-acclaimed Phantom, first with the National Tour (over 900 performances) and then on Broadway (over 450 performances).
Ms. Ford succeeds Jennifer Hope Wills, who's played Christine both on Broadway and with the National Tour. She first joined the New York Company in April 2006 as the Christine Alternate. That summer she was invited to play Christine on tour before taking over as the Broadway production's leading lady in December 2006. Since that time, the popular performer has gone on to play the role over 850 times for New York audiences.
