Pitcher Succeeds Joseph as Phantom's Christine, April 17

Rebecca Pitcher will succeed Sandra Joseph as angelic-voiced Christine Daae in the Broadway company of The Phantom of the Opera on April 17th.

In addition, Jennifer Hope Wills (The Woman in White, Wonderful Town) will step into the show on Thursday, April 20th as the alternate for Christine.

Joseph departs the show having played the young opera singer for more performances than any other actress--almost 1,300 of them. Pitcher is currently the Christine alternate, and has been seen in the role on the show's national tour.

The Phantom of the Opera recently welcomed two more performers to the Paris Opera House: Michael Shawn Lewis as love interest Raoul and Roland Rusinek as Piangi. The show also currently features Howard McGillin as the Phantom, Anne Runolfsson as Carlotta, George Lee Andrews as Monsieur Andre, David Cryer as Monsieur Firmin, Marilyn Caskey as Madame Giry and Heather McFadden as Meg Giry.

The Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006, when it played performance #7486, surpassing the record run of Cats (also created by Phantom composer Lloyd Webber, producer Cameron Mackintosh and choreographer Gillian Lynne). It has since become the first production in Broadway history to surpass 7,500 performances (which it did on January 21) and reach 18 years (which it did on January 26). The show is directed by Harold Prince.

Based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de L'Opéra by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera "tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command," according to press notes.

The Phantom of the Opera had its world premiere on October 9, 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, winning every major British theatre award including the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards. The New York production, starring London stars Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, opened on January 26, 1988. The musical won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

The Las Vegas production--with Brent Barrett and Anthony Crivello to alternate in the title role--will open at The Venetian Resort • Hotel • Casino in a 95-minute version in June.

The performance schedule for The Phantom of the Opera is Monday and Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. For tickets, call Tele-charge at (212) 239-6200, visit www.telecharge.com or visit The Majestic Theatre box office (247 West 44th Street). Visit www.thephantomoftheopera.com for more information.

Photo of Howard McGillin and Rebecca Pitcher by Joan Marcus