THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA to Welcome Pair of Principals to Broadway Company

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group announced today principal cast changes for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince. The longest-running show in Broadway history, and one of the most successful stage productions of all-time, PHANTOM will welcome two new principal actors beginning Monday, April 4.

Rebecca Eichenberger previously played the role of PHANTOM opera diva Carlotta for more than 700 performances, from April 2001 to June 2003. She will now return to the New York production, this time taking on the role of Madame Giry, the mysterious ballet mistress. Ms. Eichenberger joins direct from the original cast of An American in Paris. Among her many other Broadway credits are Evita, 1776, A Grand Night for Signing, The Frogs and Carousel, as well as the national tour of Ragtime. Regional credits include Margaret in The Light in the Piazza, Little Edie in Grey Gardens and Dot in Sunday in the Park with George.

Four-time Grammy Award recipient John Easterlin will make his Broadway debut in the role of opera tenor Ubaldo Piangi. His international opera credits include multiple productions with the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Wiener Staatsoper, ROH Covent Garden, ENO, Teatro Real, Bolshoi and COC Toronto, in addition to the Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington, Houston and Dallas Opera. Mr. Easterlin created the role of Andy Warhol in Philip Glass' The Perfect American and Larry King in the U.S. premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage's Anna Nicole.

Ms. Eichenberger succeeds Linda Balgord as Madame Giry. Ms. Balgord's history with PHANTOM initially began when she originated the role of Madame Giry in the new North American touring production, which premiered in November 2013. She joined the Broadway production direct from the tour in December 2015.

Mr. Easterlin succeeds long-time cast member Christian Šebek as Piangi. Mr. Šebek joined the Broadway production in September 2011 and has played the role over 1,500 times.

This year, the Broadway production celebrated 28 Years - an unprecedented feat achieved by no other Broadway show. The New York production has played over 11,700 performances to more than 17 million people at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street) and grossed a staggering $1 billion.

In other cast news, Michele McConnell recently played her 1,701st performance as Carlotta, becoming the longest-running actress to play the role in the Broadway production. She surpasses the previous record of 1,700 performances set by former cast member Marilyn Caskey.

Continuing in their roles are current stars James Barbour (The Phantom), Julia Udine (Christine), Jeremy Hays (Raoul) and co-stars Laird Mackintosh (Monsieur André), Craig Bennett (Monsieur Firmin), Michele McConnell (Carlotta) and Kara Klein (Meg Giry). At certain performances, Rachel Zatcoff plays the role of Christine.

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.

The performance schedule for The Phantom of the Opera is Monday evenings at 8, Tuesday evenings at 7, Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8, with matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays at 2. Ticket prices range from $27 - $155 with Premium Tickets also available. To order tickets, visit www.Telecharge.com or call (212) 239-6200. A daily digital lottery with $28 tickets for all performances is available by visiting www.PhantomBroadwayLottery.com.