The company will also include Barry James as Monsieur Firman, Gareth Snook as Monsieur André, Liz Robertson as Madame Giry and Wynne Evans as Piangi. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, the production will be directed by Laurence Connor with musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne. The Royal Albert Hall will be transformed with a design by Matt Kinley inspired by Maria Björnson's original design. Lighting is by Patrick Woodroffe and Andrew Bridge and sound by Mick Potter. The original London production was directed by Hal Prince.
In a press statement, producer Cameron Mackintosh commented, "It is amazing to think that the extraordinary success of The Phantom of the Opera is about to celebrate 25 years. From the very first performance, audiences have fallen in love with the unique alchemy of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s gorgeous score and Maria Björnson’s fabulously beautiful design, so brilliantly staged by Hal Prince and Gillian Lynne. The success of the show has become the stuff of theatrical legend so Andrew and I felt we needed to create a really special performance to celebrate the 25th anniversary."
He continues, “One of the great strengths of The Phantom of the Opera is that being set in an opera house, its production is totally theatrical. So we felt that there could be no better 19th century theatrical auditorium in London for this occasion than the Royal Albert Hall. With its Victorian red plush and celebrated magnificent organ it is the perfect place for The Phantom to haunt. Though this special staging will naturally be drawn from the brilliant original, it will be both a spectacular and unique production with a cast and orchestra of over 200 headed by Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess. Both artists have been an outstanding Phantom and Christine in recent productions and have also enjoyed huge success together as the stars of Love Never Dies. I have no doubt that these three performances at the Royal Albert Hall will be a thrilling celebration of the Music of the Night.”
In addition to previously appearing in the London production of The Phantom of the Opera as both Raoul and the Phantom and creating the role of the Phantom in Love Never Dies, Karimloo has also appeared in the West End in Les Misérables, and starred as Enjolras both in Les Misérables – A Special Concert at Windsor Castle to celebrate the centenary of the Entente Cordiale, in front of Her Majesty The Queen and reprised the role for the 25th Anniversary celebration of Les Misérables at The 02. He has recently signed with a major label and is currently recording his first solo album.
Boggess is currently starring opposite Tyne Daly in the Broadway revival of Terrence McNally's Master Class. Prior to that, she starred as Christine in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies in the West End. She has also played the same role in Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular at the Venetian Hotel. Other New York appearances include starring in the title role of Disney’s The Little Mermaid and in the City Center Encores! production of Music in the Air. The Phantom of the Opera originally opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End on Oct. 9, 1986, where it has been running ever since. In October 2010 it celebrated its 10,000th performance there. The show became the longest-running show in Broadway history on Jan. 9, 2006, when it celebrated its 7,486th performance, surpassing the previous record holder Cats. Worldwide, the show has grossed over £3.2 billion. The box office revenues are higher than any film or stage play in history, including "Titanic," "ET" and "Star Wars". It has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries and played to over 100 million people. There are currently productions running in London, New York, Budapest, Las Vegas and Kyoto.
Tickets for the Royal Albert Hall performances go on sale July 4. To book, contact the box office on 0845 401 5045, or visit www.phantom25th.com.
