Ben Lewis, Kelly Mathieson, Jeremy Taylor, and Amy Manford to Lead THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

As the musical heads into its 32nd year, the producers have just announced key cast changes for "THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA". Joining the cast from 4 September are Ben Lewis who will play the title role of 'The Phantom', Kelly Mathieson as 'Christine Daaé' and Jeremy Taylor as 'Raoul'. Joining them is Amy Manford as the alternate 'Christine Daaé',

Ben Lewis played 'The Phantom' in the original Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's, "Love Never Dies". Ben's most recent theatre credits include the role of Frank Butler in the Crucible's production of "Annie Get Your Gun". He was also in the original UK cast of "Love Me Tender" and starred in "Forbidden Broadway" and "Candide" at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Kelly Mathieson will be making her West End debut in the production. Previously Kelly trained at the Scottish Ballet Company and the Royal College of Music. Previous Opera credits include "Le Nozze de Figaro", "Agrippina", "Orpheus and the Underworld", "Die Zauberflöte" and "Carmen".

Jeremy Taylor's previous theatre credits include, 'Fiyero' in "Wicked" and 'Galileo' in "We Will Rock You", both in the West End. He also starred in the UK tours of "Evita" and "The Sound of Music", as well as appearing in the Palladium production.

Amy Manford has sung internationally as a soloist with the London Handel, London Cello and the Perth Symphony Orchestra's. Amy recently graduated with a Masters of Performance in Vocal Performance from The Royal College of Music and she will be making her West End debut.

The above join LAra Martins as 'Carlotta Giudicelli', Siôn Lloyd as 'Monsieur Firmin', Mark Oxtoby as 'Monsieur Andre', Jacinta Mulcahy as 'Madame Giry', Paul Ettore Tabone as 'Ubaldo Piangi', Georgia Ware as 'Meg Giry' and Scott Davies as the standby 'Phantom'.

New to the cast this September is Matt Bateman, Jade Davies, Hannah Grace, Andrei Teodor Iliescu, Jordan Simon Pollard, Una Reynolds, Emily Smith, Rachel Spurrell and John Stacey.

From the 4 September the full cast will be Matt Bateman, James Roxby Brown, Bridget Costello, Scott Davies, Jade Davies, Hadrian Delacey, Morven Douglas, Hannah Grace, Lori GilChrist, Philip Griffiths, Hettie Hobbs, Grace Horne, Lily Howes, Andrei Teodor Iliescu, Ellen Jackson, Richard Kent, Adam Robert Lewis, Ben Lewis, Siôn Lloyd, Amy Manford, Kelly Mathieson, LAra Martins, Luke McCall , Leo Miles, Tim Morgan, Fiona Morley, Jacinta Mulcahy, Mark Oxtoby, Danielle Pullum, Jordan Simon Pollard, Una Reynolds, Emily Smith, Rachel Spurrell, John Stacey, Tom Sterling, Paul Ettore Tabone, Jeremy Taylor, Claire Tilling, Victoria Ward and Georgia Ware.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the longest running show in Broadway history on 9 January 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance, surpassing the previous record holder "Cats". This coincided with the Broadway and the US national touring company celebrating an unprecedented 20,000 performances in the United States. On 26 January 2013 the Broadway production celebrated an amazing 25 years on Broadway and on 28 November 2016 it celebrated its 12,000th performance. In October 2016 the London production celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a special gala performance at Her Majesty's Theatre. In October 2011 the London production celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a spectacular staging of "The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall which was screened live in cinemas all over the world and subsequently released on DVD and in August 2015 the show celebrated 12,000 performances in the West End. The production has now been playing for over 30 years.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has won over 70 major theatre awards, including seven Tony's on Broadway and four Olivier Awards in the West End. It won the 'Magic Radio Audience Award', voted by the public, in the 2016 Laurence Olivier Awards. The Phantom of the Opera, which opened at Her Majesty's Theatre on 9 October 1986 starred Michael Crawford as 'The Phantom' and Sarah Brightman as 'Christine.' It is produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Theatre Company Limited.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the first stage production to reach worldwide grosses of $6 billion. Revenues far surpass the world's highest-grossing film "Avatar" (at $2.8 billion), as well as such other blockbusters as "Titanic", "The Lord of the Rings", "Jurassic Park" and "Star Wars". Worldwide, over 140 million people have seen The Phantom of the Opera in 37 countries and 172 cities in 16 languages.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is currently showing in London, New York, Budapest, and on tour in the US.

Performance times for "THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA" are Mondays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets are priced from £23.00 - £72.50 and are available from Her Majesty's Theatre box office on 0844 412 2707 or visit "THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA" website www.thephantomoftheopera.com.