Principal cast changes for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA go in effect today, June 3! Produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. and directed by Harold Prince, the musical phenomenon is in its 24th year in New York, playing at The Majestic Theatre.
A former principal cast member with the PHANTOM National Tour, Kyle Barisich will take over the romantic leading role of Raoul, beginning performances Monday evening, June 4. A current member of the Broadway cast and former member of the National Tour, he previously played the role of Raoul in Los Angeles and San Francisco. He first joined the tour for a year starting in October 2006 as a member of the Ensemble and covering Raoul. After several additional engagements in the touring Ensemble, he assumed the role of Raoul in November 2008, playing it for engagements in San Francisco and Los Angeles through February 2009. Since March 2008 and to date, he's also played several engagements with the New York Company in the Ensemble and covering Raoul. He succeeds current star Sean MacLaughlin, who's played the role of Raoul over 800 times in New York and on the road combined.
Current Broadway cast member Michele McConnell will assume the role of Carlotta starting Monday evening, July 11. Ms. McConnell first joined the Ensemble of the Broadway cast in February 2010 and has covered the role of the tempestuous opera diva since May 2010. She takes over the role from Liz McCartney, who will play her final performance on Saturday evening, July 9. In her two engagements with the Broadway cast, Ms. McCartney has played the role over 700 times.
Former PHANTOM National Tour principal cast member Jessica Bishop (formerly Jessi Ehrlich) will step into the role of inquisitive ballerina Meg Giry, beginning performances Monday evening, July 4. Ms. Bishop previously played the role on the National Tour from April 2008 to February 2010. She'll be playing the role during a leave of absence for current cast member Heather McFadden, who will play her final performance on Saturday evening, July 2. She is scheduled to return to the production in January 2012.
Mr. Barisich is the fifteenth actor to be cast as Raoul (not including understudies). He follows, in order and excluding return engagements: Steve Barton, Kevin Gray, Davis Gaines, Hugh Panaro, Keith Buterbaugh, Ciaran Sheehan, Brad Little, Gary Mauer, Jim Weitzer, Michael Shawn Lewis, John Cudia, Tim Martin Gleason, Ryan Silverman and Sean MacLaughlin.
Ms. McConnell is the fourteenth actress to have been cast as Carlotta in New York (not including understudies). She follows, in order and excluding return engagements: Judy Kaye, Marilyn Caskey, Elena Jeanne Batman, Geena Jeffries, Patricia Hurd, Kelly Ellenwood, Leigh Munro, Liz McCartney, Rebecca Eichenberger, Patricia Phillips, Julie Schmidt, Anne Runolfsson and Kim Stengel.
Ms. Bishop is the ninth actress to have been cast as Meg in New York (not including understudies). She follows, in order and excluding return engagements: Elisa Heinsohn, Catherine Ulissey, Tener Brown, Geralyn Del Corso, Joelle Gates, Heather McFadden, Kara Klein and Polly Baird.
Continuing in their roles with the New York Company are Hugh Panaro (The Phantom), Sara Jean Ford (Christine), George Lee Andrews (Monsieur André), David Cryer (Monsieur Firmin), Marilyn Caskey (Madame Giry) and Evan Harrington (Piangi). At certain performances, Marni Raab plays Christine.
Kyle Barisich was a member of the National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera, and played Raoul in Los Angeles and San Francisco engagements. Regional credits include South Pacific at the Hollywood Bowl, Cinderella's Prince in Into the Woods and Barrett in Titanic. Kyle co-created the lounge act parody A Touch of Vegas and he often performs the audience warm-up for "LIVE! with Regis & Kelly." He is also a published food writer, and frequently appears as a pop culture commentator for FOX News.
Michele McConnell made her Broadway debut in the Ensemble of The Phantom of the Opera. Her credits include the national tour of Camelot starring Robert Goulet; Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance and Josephine in HMS Pinafore (both at City Center); Beauty and the Beast in both Montreal and Las Vegas; as well as appearances with DiCapo Opera, Mobile Opera, Missouri Symphony and Skyline Theatre Company.
