NewsSierra Boggess Announces Phantom Departure; Norm Lewis Extends Broadway RunSierra Boggess, who returned to the role of Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera last spring alongside Tony Award nominee Norm Lewis in the titular masked role, will depart the Broadway production Sept. 6. Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group have announced that Lewis will extend his run into early 2015.
By
Adam Hetrick
September 03, 2014
Lewis, who is the first African American actor to portray the Phantom on Broadway (Robert Guillaume succeeded Michael Crawford in the original Los Angeles production), began performances at the Majestic Theatre May 12. He will now stay with the production through Jan. 31, 2015.
Boggess, who earned acclaim for her performance as Christine, returned to join Lewis in the Broadway cast of Phantom on May 12 as well. She takes her final bow Sept. 6. The engagement marks a return to the musical following her appearance in the 25th Anniversary Broadway cast of Phantom in 2013, as well as the 25th Anniversary production at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Boggess will be succeeded by Mary Michael Patterson, who previously played Christine in the Broadway production of Phantom. She is contracted through Dec. 13. Julia Udine, who stars in the touring production, will assume the role Dec. 15.
Also joining the Phantom cast is 20-year-old newcomer Kaley Ann Voorhees, who will make her Broadway debut as the Christine alternate. Voorhees is the first leading actress in the history of the New York production to be born after the musical’s Broadway opening.
Phantom will also welcome the return of Kara Klein to the role of Meg Giry, succeeding Deanna Doyle, Sept. 22. The Broadway cast also stars Jeremy Hays (Raoul), Laird Mackintosh (Monsieur André), Tim Jerome (Monsieur Firmin), Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Ellen Harvey (Madame Giry) and Christian Šebek (Piangi).
The Phantom of the Opera is produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group, has music by 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.
It 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 are by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.