Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera to Welcome Michael Shawn Lewis and Roland Rusinek
By: BWW News Desk Mar. 31, 2006
Two 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. The musical is in its 19th year in New York, playing at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street).
Phantom favorite Michael Shawn Lewis will return to the role of the romantic lead Raoul beginning Monday evening, April 3. Lewis has performed the role with five different companies: on Broadway (where he made his Broadway debut in 2001, becoming the tenth actor to be cast in the role), with the U.S. national tour, in Belgium and with two productions in Germany. He most recently appeared on Broadway as an original cast member of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman in White (in the ensemble and covering the lead role of Walter Hartwright). Internationally, he has appeared as Marius in Les Misérables and as Franz Joseph in Elisabeth. Tim Martin Gleason, who is leaving the Broadway production to originate the role of Raoul in the upcoming Vegas production, will play his final New York performance on Saturday evening, April 1.Roland Rusinek will take over the role of Piangi, the vainglorious opera tenor, this Friday evening, March 31. Rusinek will make his Broadway debut, but is no stranger to Phantom, having played the role of Piangi for a year in the Toronto production in the mid-90s. His other credits include the national tour of Kiss Me, Kate; Kismet at Encores!; Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden; Beauty and the Beast in Montreal; and three productions at New York City Opera: Sweeney Todd (Beadle), The Most Happy Fella (Giuseppe) and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (Royal Chef). He replaces Larry Wayne Morbitt, who has the distinction of having played the role of Piangi on Broadway more than any other actor, at over 2,300 performances. Morbitt already played his final performance Wednesday evening, March 29 and will originate the role of Piangi in the Vegas production.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.
