London is to get its youngest ever Phantom when 28 year old Ramin Karimloo takes over the title role in The Phantom Of The Opera at Her Majesty’s on 10 September.
Iranian-born Canadian actor Karimloo is currently the standby Phantom, and played Raoul in 2003. He has also starred as Enjolras in Les Misérables at the Queen’s, and played Chris in the 2005 UK tour of Miss Saigon.
At the same time, Australian Alex Rathgeber will make his West End debut as Raoul. He has performed in many musicals at home, including Fiddler On The Roof, Kiss Me Kate and Camelot. Benjamin Lake takes over the role of Piangi, while Robyn North and Leila Benn continue to share the role of Christine.
The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, which tells the story of a beautiful singer who becomes the obsession of a hideously disfigured and mysterious musical genius hidden in the depths of the Paris Opera House, opened at Her Majesty’s on 9 October 1986, starring Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman.
The Phantom Of The Opera is currently booking in London until September 2008.
JFC