Marcus Lovett will take over from Peter Jöback as the mysterious masked murderer in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit production of The Phantom Of The Opera at Her Majesty’s theatre next month.
Joining him in one of the most successful musicals of all time are Lara Martins, who will step into the shoes of Wendy Ferguson as Carlotta, Anna O’Byrne who will play Christine, taking over from Sofia Escobar, and Simon Thomas, who will replace Killian Donnelly as Christine’s childhood friend Raoul.
The musical quartet will join the tale of the fear-inducing phantom whose spectral presence casts a shadow over the Paris Opera House from 3 September.
Lovett, who made his Broadway debut in the original US production of the equally legendary Les Misérables, has previously been seen on the West End stage in Whistle Down The Wind at the Aldwych theatre where he originated the role of The Man.
Thomas, who was last seen in the West End in Legally Blonde The Musical at the Savoy theatre, also appeared in the Olivier Award-winning production of Into The Woods at the Regent’s Park Open Air theatre.
Martins and O’Byrne have both enjoyed successful careers abroad. O’Byrne will step into a familiar role in London having made her professional debut covering the role in the Australian production of the long-running show and returning to the character for the Australia premiere of Love Never Dies, while Martins returns to the London stage following her performance in pantomime Dick Whittington And His Cat at the Bloomsbury theatre.
The winner of more than 50 major theatre awards including three Olivier Awards, The Phantom Of The Opera will celebrate its 26th anniversary in the West End later this year.