Linda Balgord is Broadway's next Madame Giry

The Phantom of the Opera, Broadway's longest-running show of all time, currently playing at the Majestic Theatre, will welcome a new Madame Giry in the form of Linda Balgord. Ms Balgord is currently starring in the musical's US National Tour and she will begin performances in the Broadway production on 15 December 2014. She takes over the role from Ellen Harvey, who plays her last performance on 13 December.

Ms Balgord was last seen on Broadway as Queen Elizabeth I in 'The Pirate Queen' in 2007. Her other Broadway credits include 'La Cage aux Folles', 'Passion' and 'Cats'.

In other news, Norm Lewis has once again extended his engagement as The Phantom and will now don the famous mask through to 7 February 2015.

The current cast of The Phantom of the Opera includes Norm Lewis (The Phantom), Mary Michael Patterson (Christine Daaé), Jeremy Hays (Raoul), Timothy Jerome (Monsieur Firmin), Laird Mackintosh (Monsieur André), Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Ellen Harvey (Madame Giry), Christian Sebek (Piangi), and Kara Klein (Meg Giry).
(Kaley Ann Voorhees plays Christine Daaé 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, celebrated its 26th anniversary on 26 January 2014.

The Phantom of the Opera opened at the Majestic on 26 January 1988, following previews from 9 January, 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 musical has production design by the late Maria Björnson, 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.

- by Tom Millward