Julia Udine Makes Broadway Debut as 'Christine' in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Tonight

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group's Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince, is the longest-running show in Broadway history and one of the most successful stage productions of all-time. PHANTOM this year surpassed 11,000 performances in New York - an unprecedented feat achieved by no other Broadway show. The Broadway production has played to more than 16 million people at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street), the musical's home for more than 26 record-breaking years.

Two stars from the spectacular new production of PHANTOM now on North American Tour -- Julia Udine, who plays Christine Daaé, and Linda Balgord, who plays Madame Giry -- join the Broadway Company beginning today, December 15. This will represent the first time cast members from the tour -- which features new staging and design elements. Ms. Udine and Ms. Balgord will become the first principals to have performed in both versions of the musical in the U.S.

Broadway favorite Linda Balgord will return to Broadway as PHANTOM's mysterious ballet mistress Madame Giry, joining direct from the North American Tour. Ms. Balgord has a rich history performing the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber. She starred as Norma Desmond in the first national tour of Sunset Boulevard (Jeff Award nomination), as Rose Vibert in the U.S. and Canadian tour of Aspects of Love (Helen Hayes Award nomination) and was chosen by the creative team to be the final Grizabella in Cats on Broadway. Her other Broadway credits include Queen Elizabeth I in The Pirate Queen (Drama Desk nomination), Mamma Rose in Gypsy (standby for Patti LuPone), Marie Dindon in the 2005 revival of La Cage aux Folles and the original company of Passion. She was most recently seen in New York in Death Takes a Holiday and Myths and Hymns.

Ms. Udine succeeds Mary Michael Patterson as the Principal Christine. (Kaley Ann Voorhees continues as the Christine Alternate.) Ms. Balgord succeeds Ellen Harvey as Madame Giry.

In addition, current star Tony Award nominee Norm Lewis has again extended his stay as the musical's title character. Originally extended through Saturday evening, January 31, 2015 (including the musical's 27th Anniversary on Monday, January 26), he'll now play one extra week through February 7, 2015. Mr. Lewis is the 14th actor and first African-American to star in the title role in the Broadway production. (In 1990, Tony Award nominee Robert Guillaume played the role when he succeeded original star Michael Crawford in the Los Angeles production.)

Mr. Lewis has earned rave reviews for his performance, most recently by Charles Isherwood in The New York Times, who said, "Mr. Lewis makes a fine meal of the role. His Phantom is imposing in his willfulness, as his lustrous voice comes booming down from the heavens, and touching in his energetic but unrequited love for Christine. The moment of anguish when she instinctively recoils in disgust as his disfiguration struck a note of sharp pathos. In his big solo 'The Music of the Night,' Mr. Lewis's supple phrasing and power combined to gorgeous effect."

Continuing in their roles are current co-stars Jeremy Hays (Raoul), Laird Mackintosh (Monsieur André), Tim Jerome (Monsieur Firmin), Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Christian Šebek (Piangi) and Kara Klein (Meg Giry).

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 is produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group, 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 Phantom of the Opera has production design by the late Maria Björnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound design by Mick Potter with original sound by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy