George Lee Andrews News

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. and directed by Harold Prince, The Phantom of the Opera is in its 23rd year in New York, playing at The Majestic Theatre. On September 7, Broadway favorite Hugh Panaro returned to the title role alongside former Phantom National Tour star Sara Jean Ford as Christine. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you production photos of the pair in performance!

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. and directed by Harold Prince, The Phantom of the Opera is in its 23rd year in New York, playing at The Majestic Theatre. Last night, Broadway favorite Hugh Panaro returned to the title role alongside former Phantom National Tour star Sara Jean Ford as Christine. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

In a new interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in which Hal Prince reflects on the current state of musical theatre, the influx (and 'need') of Hollywood stars on Broadway for limited runs and more, Prince also talked about plans to revise and continue work on Paradise Found, noting that:

Principal cast changes have been announced for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the longest-running show in Broadway history. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. and directed by Harold Prince, the musical is in its phenomenal 23rd year in New York, playing at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street).

George Lee Andrews holds the Guinness World Record for the longest run in the same Broadway show in history for Phantom of the Opera - 22 years to be exact. He was in the Broadway company when the production opened in 1988, is still in the current cast. He has been playing the role of André since 2000, having played Firmin for the preceding decade. Below, Andrews talks Phantom, and what it has meant to him these past two decades.

Paradise Found runs 19th May - 26th June 2010. The Book is by Richard Nelson, Lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh, Music by Johann Strauss II. The show is adapted & Arranged by Jonathan Tunick

Theatre legends Hal Prince and Susan Stroman, in an interview with The Times Online, discuss their opinions and frustrations on the state of the musical and theatre, their pasts and their directorial collaboration on Paradise Found, set to begin previews this week at London's Menier Chocolate Factory.

Harold Prince and Susan Stroman will direct an all-American cast in the world premiere of Paradise Found at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Based on the novel The Tale of the 1002nd Night by Viennese author Joseph Roth, Paradise Found previews from 19 May with press night on 26 May. With music by Johann Strauss II, adapted and arranged by Jonathan Tunick, Paradise Found has book by Richard Nelson and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh. The production will run until 26 June. Set design is by Beowulf Boritt, with costumes designed by Judy Dolan, lighting by Howell Binkley and sound by Gareth Owen.

Harold Prince and Susan Stroman will direct an all-American cast in the world premiere of Paradise Found at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Based on the novel The Tale of the 1002nd Night by Viennese author Joseph Roth, Paradise Found previews from 19 May. With music by Johann Strauss II, adapted and arranged by Jonathan Tunick, Paradise Found has book by Richard Nelson and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh. The production will run until 26 June. Set design is by Beowulf Boritt, with costumes designed by Judy Dolan, lighting by Howell Binkley and sound by Gareth Owen.

Hal Prince is currently taking on a new challenge very different from many of the shows he has worked on in the past. In the process of bringing PARADISE found to an eventual home on Broadway, Prince understands he may have to compete against several of his own shows.

Rehearsals begin yesterday, Monday, April 5 for the World Premiere production of PARADISE FOUND, a new musical under the combined direction of Theater legend and 21-time Tony Award winner Harold Prince (the original productions of Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, The Phantom of the Opera, Company, Follies, Evita) and 5-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Crazy For You, Show Boat, The Producers, Contact). This is their first collaboration since the landmark, Tony Award-winning revival of Show Boat. Following the New York rehearsal period, the production will open at London's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory with performances running May 19 through June 26. BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the introductory event!

Rehearsals begin today, Monday, April 5 for the World Premiere production of PARADISE FOUND, a new musical under the combined direction of Theater legend and 21-time Tony Award winner Harold Prince (the original productions of Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, The Phantom of the Opera, Company, Follies, Evita) and 5-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Crazy For You, Show Boat, The Producers, Contact). This is their first collaboration since the landmark, Tony Award-winning revival of Show Boat. Following the New York rehearsal period, the production will open at London's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory with performances running May 19 through June 26.

'Gene's Time' is a web-series that has been started at RAGTIME. The show has expanded Gene's reach so to speak and now has him 'joining' the casts of multiple Broadway and Off-Broadway shows this year.

The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, last week broke the house record at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street) to have its best weekly gross in the production's nearly 22 year history.

The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA reached another new milestone as musical became the first Broadway show ever to reach 9,000 performances. The occasion was marked with a special presentation during the 2PM matinee's curtain call.

The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA reached another new milestone as musical became the first Broadway show ever to reach 9,000 performances. The occasion was marked with a special presentation during the 2PM matinee's curtain call. Now in its phenomenal 22nd Year, the Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. production, directed by Harold Prince, continues to play at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street), with no end in sight.

The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber?s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, is set to reach another unprecedented milestone. With its 8PM evening performance on Thursday, September 17, 2009, the musical will become the first Broadway show ever to reach 9,000 performances. The occasion will be marked the previous afternoon, Wednesday, September 16, with a special presentation during the 2PM matinee?s curtain call. The post-show presentation promises a few on stage surprises for that day?s audience. Now in its phenomenal 22nd Year, the Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. production, directed by Harold Prince, continues to play at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street), with no end in sight.

The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber?s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, is set to reach another unprecedented milestone. With its 8PM evening performance on Thursday, September 17, 2009, the musical will become the first Broadway show ever to reach 9,000 performances. The occasion will be marked the previous afternoon, Wednesday, September 16, with a special presentation during the 2PM matinee?s curtain call. The post-show presentation promises a few on stage surprises for that day?s audience. Now in its phenomenal 22nd Year, the Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. production, directed by Harold Prince, continues to play at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street), with no end in sight.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA star Howard McGillin will sing his last 'music of the night' this evening as he ends his long run in the production's title role. Now, after 10 years since his first of many engagements with the production, he has decided to pursue other theatrical ventures and will play his final performance tonight Saturday, July 25th.

Beginning Monday evening, July 27, there will be a new ?man behind the mask' in the Broadway production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, which is the longest-running show in Broadway history. John Cudia, the current star of the National Tour, will take over the role on Broadway after a nearly decade-long association with the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, directed by Harold Prince.