Current LOVE NEVER DIES star Ramin Karimloo has revealed on Twitter that he will be donning the original Phantom's mask again for the show's planned 25th Birthday Celebration in October 2011. He is currently auctioning off two tickets to the events, no details of which have been publicly announced. The auction notes that "4. Ramin is offering two GREAT tickets to the Celebration of Phantom's 25th Birthday in October 2011 - when he will don the mask as the original Phantom one more time. And, if that wasn't enough, you get to CHAT with him afterwards. This is going to be one of the greatest nights in British Musical Theatre History - and you'll be in one of the greatest seats."
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The role of the masked and lovelorn 'Erik', The Phantom of the Opera' was created by Michael Crawford. Crawford won a 1987 Olivier Award, and a 1988 Tony, Drama Desk, Variety Club, Outer Critics' Circle and LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his legendary performance in the role.
Ramin, born in Iran, began his career in his hometown of Toronto, Canada, singing in rock bands, one being a tribute to his all-time favourite, The Tragically Hip.
Theatre includes: in the UK, the Phantom (Theatregoers' Choice Award nomination) and Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty's). He has won Whatsonstage and Broadwayworld.com Awards for Best Actor for his role as the Phantom in Love Never Dies and been nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actor. Also, Enjolras in Les Misérables (Queen's), Chris in Miss Saigon (UK tour), Pirate/Policeman in The Pirates of Penzance (Open Air, Regent's Park, and UK tour), Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance (Theatre Royal, Bath), Artie Green and understudy Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard (UK tour) and Feuilly and understudy Marius in Les Misérables (Palace). Ramin had the privilege of performing as Enjolras in Les Misérables - A Special Concert at Windsor Castle to celebrate the centenary of the Entente Cordiale, in front of Her Majesty The Queen, and at the Les Misérables 25th anniversary concert at The O2 (and DVD).
Film and television include: Christine's Father in The Phantom of the Opera directed by Joel Schumacher.
Recordings include: his own album Within the Six Square Inch and Love Never Dies (premiere symphonic recording).
Phantom's international success is represented by total worldwide grosses estimated at over $5 billion. This colossal figure makes PHANTOM the most successful entertainment venture of all time, surpassing not only any other stage production, but also far surpassing the world's highest-grossing film Titanic (at $1.2 billion) and such other blockbusters as The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars.
Worldwide, over 65,000 performances have been seen by 80 million people in 25 countries and 124 cities. There are currently ten productions around the world: London, New York, Budapest (Hungary), Osaka (Japan), Warsaw (Poland), Copenhagen (Denmark), Perth (Australia), Buenos Aires (Argentina), the U.S. National Tour and a revised production in Las Vegas at The Venetian.
