Sierra Boggess Joins THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Tonight

Tonight, Monday, January 21, 2013, the longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince and produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Company, Inc., will welcome Broadway and West End star Sierra Boggess to the New York cast. Ms. Boggess will play a strictly-limited engagement as leading lady Christine Daaé for 6 weeks through Saturday, March 2.

Ms. Boggess, whose long history with the musical began when she originated the role in the hit, revised Las Vegas production in 2006, has been specifically chosen by the creative team to join the cast in time for the production becoming the first Broadway show ever to celebrate 25 Years. She joins current stars Hugh Panaro (The Phantom) and Kyle Barisich (Raoul) as the musical's leading trio.

This appearance will bookend Ms. Boggess having also played the role of Christine for the London production's 25th Anniversary, which was marked by a special production at The Royal Albert Hall in October 2011. Greeted with tremendous acclaim, her performance was broadcast around the world and is available on DVD and the new live cast recording. Further cementing her status with the PHANTOM family, the American performer was also chosen to originate the role of Christine in Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, earning her a 2011 Olivier Award nomination.

Ms. Boggess joins the Broadway cast of The Phantom of the Opera direct from having starred in Cameron Mackintosh's original, record-breaking London production of LES MISERABLES as Fantine.

The Broadway production's 25th Anniversary will be marked by a Special Gala Performance the night of Saturday, January 26, 2013. While many of the evening's details are being kept under wraps, the special night will begin with an early 6:30 PM performance at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street), the musical's home for its entire run, followed by an exclusive and lavish celebration at The New York Public Library. Among the historic evening's audience will be hundreds of the musical's alumni cast members, as well as more than 200 theater-goers who won tickets through an online sweepstakes on the PHANTOM Facebook page as a Thank You to the musical's loyal "Phans."

For the Christine playing schedule during Sierra Boggess' engagement with the Broadway cast (as the actress playing Christine generally plays six performances and the Christine Alternate plays two), Ms. Boggess will play Tuesday-Friday evenings and both performances on Saturdays. During this time, Samantha Hill will play Monday evenings and Wednesday matinees. The exception is this week, the week of January 21, as the entire week's playing schedule has been altered to accommodate preparations for the 25th Anniversary celebrations. For this week only, Ms. Boggess will play Monday through Saturday evening and Ms. Hill will play the Wednesday and special Thursday matinees.

Sierra Boggess most recently starred on the London stage for a limited engagement as Fantine in Cameron Mackintosh's original production of LES MISERABLES. Prior to that, she starred in the 25th Anniversary Concerts of The Phantom of the Opera at Royal Albert Hall, played opposite Tyne Daly in the Broadway revival of Terrence McNally's Master Class and starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies (the musical sequel to his The Phantom of the Opera) in the West End, for which her performance as Christine Daaé received a 2011 Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Sierra's other New York theatre credits include originating the title role in the Broadway premiere of Disney's The Little Mermaid (Drama Desk and Drama League nominations and Broadway.com Award for Favorite Breakthrough Performance), the final cast of Off-Broadway's Love, Loss and What I Wore and in the City Center Encores! production of Music in the Air. She originated the role of Christine in the Las Vegas production of The Phantom of the Opera and has been seen regionally as Binky in Princesses (World Premiere, Goodspeed and 5th Avenue Theater, and in the national tours of LES MISERABLES and West Side Story. Concert appearances include The BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall, Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series: The Lyrics of David Zippel, New York Pops at Lincoln Center and Broadway by the Year at Town Hall. Sierra's television appearances include "The Today Show," "Good Morning America," "The View," "Entertainment Tonight," "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" and "The 62nd Annual Tony Awards." She also appeared in People Magazine and on the cover of USA Weekend alongside Megan Mullally and Mario Lopez. Recordings include the 25th Anniversary Concert of The Phantom of the Opera (also on DVD), the Symphonic Recording of Love Never Dies, the Original Cast Album for The Little Mermaid and Andrew Lippa's A Little Princess. She holds a BFA from Millikin University.

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