Phantom: Heather McFadden returns as Meg Giry



Cast member Heather McFadden returns to the role of the inquisitive ballerina 'Meg Giry' on 16 Jan 2012, in the longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.

McFadden assumes the role from Jessica Bishop, who played her final performance on 14 Jan 2012.

McFadden first took over the role of 'Meg' with the Broadway Company in August 2003, after having previously played the role on the National Tour. Her other New York credits include the Broadway productions of 'Carousel' (Louise u/s) and 'Dance of the Vampires' and playing 'Jou-Jou' in the Metropolitan Opera production of 'The Merry Widow' starring Placido Domingo. Other national tours include 'Carousel,' 'Evita' and 'Jesus Christ Superstar.'

The company now features Hugh Panaro (The Phantom), Trista Moldovan (Christine Daae), Kyle Barisich (Raoul, Vicomte de Chagn), Aaron Galligan-Stierle (Monsieur Andre), Kevin Ligon (Monsieur Firmin), Michele McConnell (Carlotta Giudicelli), Cristin J. Hubbard (Madame Giry), Christian Sebek (Ubaldo Piangi), Heather McFadden (Meg Gir).
The role of Christine Daae is played by Marni Raab at some performances.

The most successful stage musical of all time, the Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince, will celebrate its 24th anniversary on the Great White Way on 26 Jan 2011.

In addition to its longevity records, The Phantom of the Opera is also the most successful stage musical of all time, with worldwide grosses to date estimated in excess of $5 billion. The winner of seven 1988 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the New York production has played over 9,700 performances, been seen by nearly 14.5 million people and grossed over $835 million.

Worldwide, over 65,000 performances of The Phantom of the Opera have been seen by 100 million people in 27 countries and 144 cities. There are currently six productions around the world: London, New York, Budapest (Hungary), Tokyo (Japan), Cape Town (South Africa), and a revised production in Las Vegas at The Venetian. The original cast-recording, with over 40 million copies sold worldwide, is the best-selling cast recording of all time.

The Phantom of the Opera opened at the Majestic on 26 Jan 1988, following previews from 9 Jan, and went on to sweep the 1988 Tony Awards, winning seven, including Best Musical.

Based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de L'Opéra by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command.

The Phantom of the Opera has music by Andrew 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.

The show's production design is by the late Maria Björnson, with lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Heather McFadden as Meg Giry

Originally published on

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