Norm Lewis, Broadway's First African-American 'Phantom', Ends Run in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Tonight

The Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince, says goodbye to its history-making 'Phantom' Norm Lewis tonight, February 7, 2015. Lewis is the 14th actor and first African-American to star in the title role in the Broadway production.

Lewis has earned rave reviews for his performance, most recently by Charles Isherwood in The New York Times, who said, "Mr. Lewis makes a fine meal of the role. His Phantom is imposing in his willfulness, as his lustrous voice comes booming down from the heavens, and touching in his energetic but unrequited love for Christine. The moment of anguish when she instinctively recoils in disgust as his disfiguration struck a note of sharp pathos. In his big solo 'The Music of the Night,' Mr. Lewis's supple phrasing and power combined to gorgeous effect."

The longest-running show in Broadway history and one of the most successful stage productions of all-time, PHANTOM this year surpassed 11,000 performances in New York - an unprecedented feat achieved by no other Broadway show. The Broadway production has played to more than 16 million people at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street), the musical's home for more than 26 record-breaking years.

PHANTOM will welcome Broadway star James Barbour when he takes over the title role beginning Monday, February 9, 2015. He will join Julia Udine as Christine and Jeremy Hays as Raoul. The musical co-stars Laird Mackintosh (Monsieur André), Tim Jerome (Monsieur Firmin), Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Linda Balgord (Madame Giry), Christian Šebek (Piangi) and Kara Klein (Meg Giry). At certain performances, Kaley Ann Voorhees plays Christine.

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.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group, has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed by Harold Prince. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The Phantom of the Opera has production design by the late Maria Björnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound design by Mick Potter with original sound by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy