The Phantom Of The Opera will undergo major cast changes on 8 September before Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical celebrates its 22nd birthday at Her Majesty’s theatre on 9 October.
Ramin Karimloo and Heather Jackson continue to play the Phantom and Madame Giry, though every other major part will be played by a new cast member.
Simon Bailey, member of musical theatre boy band Teatro, returns to the London theatre scene to play Raoul. Bailey has previously appeared in Les Misérables, Romeo And Juliet The Musical and We Will Rock You. He is joined in the new cast by Gina Beck, who will play the object of the Phantom’s passion, Christine. Beck has also previously appeared in Les Mis, playing Cosette.
Among the other cast members joining The Phantom Of The Opera are Barry James (Monsieur Firmin), Gareth Snook (Monsieur Andre), Kate Radmilovic (Carlotta), Rohan Tickell (Piangi) and Tori Johns (Meg Giry).
James and Snook are West End veterans with a wealth of experience between them. James’s previous credits include Cabaret, Little Shop Of Horrors and Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, while Snook has appeared in Assassins, Company and Sunset Boulevard. Tickell, whose credits include Mamma Mia! and Whistle Down The Wind, returns to a role he has previously played.
Both Radmilovic and Johns make their West End debuts in The Phantom Of The Opera. Radmilovic has an operatic background, previously appearing in productions of La Traviata, La Bohème and Don Giovanni, while Johns trained with the Royal Ballet School.
Lloyd Webber’s enduring gothic musical The Phantom Of The Opera received its world premiere in London at Her Majesty’s theatre on 9 September 1986, starring Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. The tale of a ghostly presence who haunts a Paris opera house and wreaks havoc when his wishes are not fulfilled has captured the imagination of audiences worldwide for more than two decades, winning more than 50 major theatre awards including the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical in 1986 and a special Most Popular Show Audience Olivier Award in 2002. The musical has now been seen in 124 cities around 25 countries.
The Phantom Of The Opera is booking at Her Majesty’s theatre until 25 April 2009.
MA