Tony Nominee Norm Lewis Extends Run in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA; Sierra Boggess' Successor Announced

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group today announced several principal cast changes for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince. The longest-running show in Broadway history and the most successful stage production of all-time, PHANTOM recently surpassed the milestone of performance #11,000 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.

Updates include:

Current star, Tony Award nominee Norm Lewis has extended his stay as the title character through Saturday evening, January 31, 2015. This extension enables him to be with the production for the musical's 27th Anniversary on Monday, January 26, 2015.

Mr. Lewis, who is only the 14th actor to star in the title role in the Broadway production, is the first African-American performer to star as The Phantom in the Broadway production. (In 1990, Tony Award nominee Robert Guillaume played the role when he succeeded original star Michael Crawford in the Los Angeles production.) Please note that due to previously-scheduled professional obligations, Mr. Lewis will not appear in the musical on Monday, October 6; Monday, October 20; Saturday, November 15; Thursday, December 11 through Saturday, December 13; Thursday, December 30 matinee. Schedule subject to change. Broadway's next Phantom will be announced in the coming months.

As previously announced, Broadway and West End star Sierra Boggess will play her final performance in the leading role of Christine Daaé on Saturday evening, September 6, 2014. One of the most popular cast members in the history of the musical, Ms. Boggess has received tremendous acclaim starring in the original cast of the Las Vegas production and in both the musical's London 25th Anniversary production at Royal Albert Hall and the Broadway 25th Anniversary cast last year.

Beginning the week of September 8, current Christine Alternate Mary Michael Patterson will succeed Ms. Boggess as the Principal Christine. Ms. Patterson, who originally joined the production in July 2013, will stay with the production through Saturday evening, December 13.

That same week, joining the production as the Christine Alternate in her PHANTOM and Broadway debuts will be new cast member Kaley Ann Voorhees. A 20 year-old actress from Aurora, OH, Ms. Voorhees becomes the first leading actress in the history of the New York production to be born after the musical's Broadway opening. She succeeds Mary Michael Patterson.

Beginning the week of December 15, Julia Udine, the acclaimed original and current star of the National Tour of the spectacular new production of PHANTOM, will join the Broadway Cast as the Principal Christine. She will succeed Mary Michael Patterson. Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune called Ms. Udine, "Earnest and appealing, a young, beautiful, thrilling singer." Don Aucoin in The Boston Globe wrote, "She brings a radiant energy to the role of the gifted soprano Christine."

Kara Klein, who went on maternity leave last December, will return to the role of Meg Giry beginning September 22, succeeding Deanna Doyle.

Continuing in their roles are current co-stars Jeremy Hays (Raoul), Laird Mackintosh (Monsieur André), Tim Jerome (Monsieur Firmin), Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Ellen Harvey (Madame Giry) and Christian Šebek (Piangi).

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.

The performance schedule for The Phantom of the Opera is Monday evenings at 8, Tuesday evenings at 7, Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8, with matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays at 2. Ticket prices range from $27 - $142 with Premium Tickets also available. To order tickets, visit www.Telecharge.com or call (212) 239-6200.

Photo by Matthew Murphy