‘Phantom of the Opera’ Launches National Tour in November
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“Phantom of the Opera” celebrated its 25th year on Broadway last month, and a new North American tour will continue the celebrations when it is launched later this year.
The traveling show will be a new production with updated staging and scenic design, and is set to kick off in Providence, Rhode Island in November. Exact dates and additional cities will be announced at a later date, though the tour is scheduled to play more than 20 multi-week engagements. The tour marks the first national tour of “Phantom” in three years.
“It’s wonderful to have a new production of Phantom touring America in the same year that the show celebrates 25 years on Broadway,” said Andrew Lloyd Webber in an interview with The Stage. “Director Laurence Connor has done an amazing job and this production has received huge critical acclaim in the UK.”
Cameron Mackintosh was also quoted, saying he believes the new production will be loved by North American audiences, whether they’ve seen the production before or not.
“After a glorious celebration last month of 25 phenomenal years on Broadway with no end in sight, I’m delighted to be able to bring this dazzling new production of Phantom – which has been phenomenally well-received by both audiences and critics in the UK this past year – to America,” Mackintosh said. “With an exciting new design and staging, retaining Maria Björnson’s amazing costumes, I am confident American audiences will fall in love with the Phantom in his new guise – for the first time or all over again.”
Sierra Boggess is currently starring as Christine in the Broadway version of “Phantom of the Opera.” She joined the Broadway cast in late January to help celebrate the 25th anniversary. Boggess originated the role of Christine in Lloyd Webber’s sequel to “Phantom,” “Love Never Dies.” It is reported that the Broadway production alone has grossed more than $890 million to date.