John Barrowman Mulls Possible Barnum and Phantom 2 Roles

The Cherwell, Oxford University's student newspaper reports that renowned UK singer and performer John Barrowman is mulling the choices to star as either P.T. Barnum in a late-2009 West End revival of the musical Barnum or join the upcoming "Phantom 2", Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to his mega hit, The Phantom of the Opera, which is currently in it's early stages of development. In an interview with the paper, Barrowman reveals he is in talks with Andrew Lloyd-Webber about the Phantom sequel but is also being wooed by Cameron Mackintosh, who wants him to play the title role in Barnum.

Barrowman is a common face in English house-holds, having been a judge on UK reality TV shows "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" and the BBC program "I'd Do Anything" (to cast stars of Oliver!). He is also the star of the hit TV series "Torchwood."

Barrowman appeared on the West End in 2005 in A Few Good Men. His many other West End credits include Anything Goes (both in 1989 and in its 2003 revival), Grease!, The Phantom of the Opera, The Fix, Hair, Aspects of Love, Miss Saigon, Beauty and the Beast and Chicago, and he has appeared in the States in two Sondheim shows--Broadway's Putting It Together and as Bobby in Company at the Kennedy Center, as well as in Sunset Boulevard. Barrowman has appeared on TV on "Central Park West," and "Titans," and currently plays Captain Jack Harkness on the BBC series "Doctor Who." Film credits include De-Lovely and The Producers.

Barnum, with a book by Mark Bramble, lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, debuted at Broadway's St.JamesTheatre on April 30, 1980. Jim Dale took home the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical as the iconic and larger-than-life American showman. Michael Crawford later staged the role at the London Palladium in 1981.

For the upcoming sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Ben Elton will write the show's book alone. Glen Slater (lyricist, The Little Mermaid) will write the lyrics and Andrew Lloyd Webber will be writing the music. Jack O'Brien (Hairspray) will direct. Andrew Lloyd Webber's original The Phantom of the Opera, which was directed by theater legend Harold Prince and produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Company, Inc., is the most successful stage musical of all time, with worldwide ticket sales exceeding $3.2 billion (far surpassing the highest-grossing film of all time, Titanic, which has grossed $1.2 billion worldwide).Phantom is also the longest-running show in Broadway history.On January 9, 2006, it played performance #7,486, surpassing the then-record run of Cats.It has since surpassed that milestone by over two years.

The winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the New York production has been seen by over 12.5 million people and grossed over $675 million.On April 4, 2007, it became the first show in Broadway history to reach 8,000 performances, and earlier this year, on January 26, 2008, it became the first show in Broadway history to celebrate 20 years.