Phantom announces two principal cast changes

Principal cast changes have been announced for the longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.

National Tour star Trista Moldovan will be making her Broadway debut when she assumes the leading role of 'Christine Daae' beginning 9 Dec 2011, assuming the role from Sara Jean Ford. Moldovan is the fifteenth actress to take over as the Broadway production's leading lady.

Cast member Heather McFadden will return to the role of inquisitive ballerina 'Meg Giry' beginning 16 Jan 2012, assuming the role from Jessica Bishop. McFadden will reunite with onstage "mom" Cristin J. Hubbard, who recently returned to the role of mysterious ballet instructor Madame Giry on 31 Oct 2011.

Trista Moldovan has a long history with The Phantom of the Opera, having first joined the National Tour in June 2008 as a member of the Ensemble and covering the role of 'Christine.' She quickly assumed the role of Christine only two months later, earning a Denver Ovation nomination as Best Actress. She continued to perform the role for over two years, most notably having the distinction of playing it as part of the closing company in Los Angeles in Oct 2010.

The Phantom of the Opera will mark Moldovan's Broadway debut. Her other stage credits include 'Cosette' in the Regional premiere of 'Les Misérables,' 'Maggie' in 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,' 'Louise' in 'Gypsy,' 'Sally' in 'Cabaret,' 'Sarah' in 'Guys and Dolls,' 'Billy Dawn' in 'Born Yesterday' and 'Carla' in 'Nine.' She also worked with 'Julie Andrews' in the musical 'Simeon's Gift' at The Bay Street Theatre.

Heather 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.

Cristin J. Hubbard first joined the Broadway production as a member of the Ensemble in Jan 2009, playing her first engagement as 'Madame Giry' in June 2009. She had previouslt appeared on Broadway in 'The Pirate Queen.' Regional work includes both 'A Little Night Music' and 'Man of La Mancha' at Goodspeed Opera House and a tour of 'The Boyfriend' directed by Julie Andrews.

Continuing in their roles with the New York Company are Hugh Panaro (The Phantom), Kyle Barisich (Raoul, Vicomte de Chagn), Aaron Galligan-Stierle (Monsieur Andre), Kevin Ligon (Monsieur Firmin), Michele McConnell (Carlotta Giudicelli), Cristin J. Hubbard (Madame Giry) and Christian Sebek (Ubaldo Piangi).
At certain performances, Marni Raab plays 'Christine.'

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 23rd 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 five productions around the world: London, New York, Budapest (Hungary), Kyoto (Japan) 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.