The production, starring Anthony Warlow, then plays nationally and jets to Auckland, New Zealand.

More than 115,000 tickets have been sold prior to the first performance.

Warlow became a star in the masked role Down Under. He's joined this time around by Ana Marina as Christine, John Bowles as Raoul, John O'May as Monsieur Firmin, Derek Taylor as Monsieur Andre, Andrea Creighton as Carlotta, Jackie Rees as Madame Giry, David Rogers-Smith as Piangi, Julie Goodwin as the alternate Christine and Nadia Komazec as Meg Giry.

The Phantom of the Opera is presented in Australia by The Really Useful Company Asia Pacific and The Gordon/Frost Organisation.

Producer John Frost of Gordon/Frost stated, "When associate director Arthur Masella was in Australia for the auditions, he enthused about the wealth of talent we have and is thrilled with the final casting. He has steered 15 productions of The Phantom under director Harold Prince, yet he still treats each new opening with the reverence it deserves and the auditions were pain-staking and meticulous. And that has all paid off. It is a great cast." The troupe also includes Sean Andrews, Eleanor Brasted, Deborah Caddy, Rebekah Davey, Donna-Maree Dunlop, David English, DJ Foster, Todd Goddard, Mietta Gornell, Natasha Hunter, Simon Meadows, Kathleen Moore, Michael Lee Porter, Simon Pryce, Anna Lee Robertson, Chloe Smith, David Somervile, Georgia Taylor, Natasha Usmar, Sophie Viskich and Roy Weissensteiner.

The musical supervisor is Guy Noble. The Phantom orchestra will be conducted by Vanessa Scammell.

For ticket information, visit www.thephantomoftheopera.com.au.