Hadley Fraser News

Today we are fortunate enough to feature an illuminating discussion with the star of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL - PHANTOM 25 for short - who is also known for her appearances on Broadway and the West End in shows like THE LITTLE MERMAID, MASTER CLASS and the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA sequel itself, LOVE NEVER DIES - the one and only Sierra Boggess! In this PHANTOM-based conversation, Sierra and I analyze the phenomenal live PHANTOM 25 performance itself - to go along with our pre-performance chat from last year (available here) - and she describes all of the time, talent and art that went into putting it all together in celebration of the show's 25th year onstage - led by legendary producer Cameron Mackintosh, of course. In addition to a complete performance rundown, we also dissect the character of Christine and the importance of her journey over the course of the musical thriller to its themes of social acceptance, the power of musical performance, and, above all else, love - which, as we know, never dies. Additionally, she shares her ample enthusiasm for the simply tremendous DVD and Blu-ray experience of PHANTOM 25 (also, my SOUND OFF review of the live performance is available here) and details the experience of having now played Christine in three distinctly different PHANTOM-based experiences - PHANTOM in Las Vegas, LOVE NEVER DIES in the West End and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT THE ALBERT HALL.

For all those silver and golden Broadway babies, young and green gleeks and plain old all-around entertainment enthusiasts of any age on your holiday shopping lists this year, today we have a SOUND OFF Special Edition 2011 Giving Gifts Guide sure to fulfill the wants, wishes, dreams and desires of your nearest and dearest theatre-loving family and friends with a white and red spotlight on the absolute essential must-haves for this holiday season! Among the festivities: we have GLEE taking on Joni Mitchell and Elvis; two charity albums benefiting arts-related causes and featuring Broadway's best; the most spectacular production of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA you are ever likely to see; candles coming in the six scents from THE SOUND OF MUSIC's beloved "My Favorite Things"; and, of course, Sondheim's massive new tome of the lyrics from the second act of his career - "with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Digressions, Anecdotes and Miscellany," no less - topping the list at #1! Plus, the most important gift of all!

Broadway's longest-running production of all time celebrates a triumphant quarter century on stage with The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, coming to Blu-rayTM - with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound- DVD, On Demand and Digital Download on February 7, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. On October 2, 2011, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh marked the 25th anniversary of their beloved musical extravaganza, "The Phantom of the Opera," with a lavishly staged production at London's legendary Royal Albert Hall that was beamed live via satellite to cinemas across the globe.The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall marks the first time a live performance of the blockbuster musical has been made available for home viewing, making it a must-have anniversary release for fans everywhere.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a concert featuring: Hadley Fraser as ‘Raoul', Kiera Duffy as ‘Carlotta', Sergei Polunin as ‘Slave Master' and Daisy Maywood as ‘Meg Giry', Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom', Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine', Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin', Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André', Liz Robertson as ‘Madame Giry' and Wynne Evans as ‘Piangi', together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances by original cast members including Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman and Phantom alumni from Colm Wilkinson to Anthony Warlow. Click below to check out a sneak peek of Boggess and Karimloo's performance of 'The Point of No Return' as featured in the special DVD!

Broadway star Christiane Noll, Tony nominated for her role as Mother in the revival of Ragtime, and Composer/Lyricist Scott Alan have released a brand new Christmas song which is now available on iTunes.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a concert featuring: Hadley Fraser as ‘Raoul', Kiera Duffy as ‘Carlotta', Sergei Polunin as ‘Slave Master' and Daisy Maywood as ‘Meg Giry', Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom', Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine', Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin', Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André', Liz Robertson as ‘Madame Giry' and Wynne Evans as ‘Piangi', together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances by original cast members including Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman and Phantom alumni from Colm Wilkinson to Anthony Warlow. Click below to check out a sneak peek of Boggess' performance of 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again' as featured in the special DVD!

Les Mis Gives…at Christmas is hosted by Scott Garnham, joined this time by fellow comperes Carl Mullaney and Hadley Fraser. The cabaret audience will be treated to some fun, intimate performances from some of the show's stars including Caroline Sheen, Liam Tamne, James Charlton, Mary Cormack, Fra Fee, Craig Mathers, Lisa-Anne Wood and more.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a concert featuring: Hadley Fraser as ‘Raoul', Kiera Duffy as ‘Carlotta', Sergei Polunin as ‘Slave Master' and Daisy Maywood as ‘Meg Giry', Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom', Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine', Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin', Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André', Liz Robertson as ‘Madame Giry' and Wynne Evans as ‘Piangi', together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances by original cast members including Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman and Phantom alumni from Colm Wilkinson to Anthony Warlow. Click below to check out a sneak peek of Karimloo's performance of 'The Music of the Night' as featured in the special DVD!

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary wit ha concert featuring: Hadley Fraser as ‘Raoul', Kiera Duffy as ‘Carlotta', Sergei Polunin as ‘Slave Master' and Daisy Maywood as ‘Meg Giry', Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom', Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine', Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin', Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André', Liz Robertson as ‘Madame Giry' and Wynne Evans as ‘Piangi', together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances by original cast members including Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman and Phantom alumni from Colm Wilkinson to Anthony Warlow. Click below to check out Boggess and Karimloo's performance of the title song!

We talk to the actress who's played Christine in both parts of the Phantom saga about her co-stars - including Ramin Karimloo, Hadley Fraser and Tyne Daly...

According to Whatsonstage, theatre star Ramin Karimloo, who will soon star as Val Jean in the West End production of LES MISERABLES, will 'produce and lead 'Houdini, the Musical,' which is aiming for a West End run at the end of 2012.

Ramin Karimloo will star as ‘Jean Valjean' in the legendary musical 'LES MISERABLES' at the Queen's Theatre from Tuesday 29 November 2011- Saturday 3 March 2012. Ramin joins the current West End company which includes Hadley Fraser as ‘Javert', Caroline Sheen as ‘Fantine', Alexia Khadime as ‘Eponine', Craig Mather as ‘Marius', Cameron Blakely as ‘Thénardier', Katy Secombe as ‘Madame Thénardier', Liam Tamne as ‘Enjolras' and Lisa-Anne Wood as ‘Cosette'.

Click below to watchMusic of the Night by Colm Wilkinson, Anthony Warlow, John Owen-Jones, Peter Loback, Ramin Karimloo and the Ensemble sing an encore of 'Music of the Night' at the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 25th Anniversary performance.

I just broke one of my self-imposed rules: Never watch a movie alone again in the United States, more so in New York City. But, who could possibly let go of the opportunity to join the audience (although virtually) at Royal Albert Hall during Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's 25th anniversary presentation of their longest-running musical together, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA?

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more! For last week's biggest events: visit THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: September 24-30!

United International Pictures, through Solar Entertainment Corporation, will release the film format of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh's 25th anniversary production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Royal Albert Hall in selected digital cinemas starting Wednesday, October 12.

This past weekend, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL Albert Hall celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Check out video from the celebration below including composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, producer Cameron Mackintosh and choreographer Gillian Lynne; Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, who played The Phantom and Christine in the 25th Anniversary production; and special guests Colm Wilkinson and John Owen-Jones!

Presented by NCM Fathom and Omniverse Vision, a fully staged THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL event is being broadcast to select theaters for an exclusive four-night run beginning with the LIVE broadcast on Sunday, October 2 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT; followed by pre-recorded broadcasts on Wednesday, October 5; Thursday, October 6 and one final encore on Tuesday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m. local time. The first box office numbers are in and, according to the UK Film Council, The Phantom of the Opera screenings took in £550,955 over the weekend alone. Final tallies for the addition screenings should be in by the end of the week.

This past weekend, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL Albert Hall celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Check out photos from the celebration below!

This past weekend, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL Albert Hall celebrated its 25th Anniversary, and in the video below, AndrewLloydWebber.com went behind the scenes of the celebration with Sierra Boggess, Cameron Mackintosh, and more. Click below to check it out!