BWW Around the world: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA to premiere in Norway this fall

"The Phantom of the Opera" to finally haunt Norwegian audiences, as the musical will premiere in Oslo this fall. "I am thrilled that we can finally bring the phantom to Norway. It has been a long period of negotiating. We have been working for five years to get the rights," says producer Karianne Jæger.

This is not be a replica-production of all too familiar original, and will be helmed by Australian born Stephen Barlow, who has already directed the Romanian 2015 premiere in Bucharest. He brings with him the rest of the creative team from the very same production to Oslo, including Ewan Jones (choreography), Andrew Riley (Stage design and costumes) and Howard Hudson (Light designer).

- I guarantee a sexy and erotic musical. In a word the show is about sex and dark eroticism, Barlow told the Norwegian press last October when he was holding auditions for potential leads.

Of the three main leads only one Norwegian was cast; The Phantom will be played by seasoned musical theatre performer, Espen Grjotheim, who was last seen in the Norwegian premiere of "Kristina" by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Finish soprano Mira Ormala will be playing Christine, and her knight in shining armor, Raoul, will be played be Swedish born Carl Lindquist.

Former Internationally renowned opera and concert singer Solveig Kringlebotn will be playing the furiously nasty diva, Carlotta Giudicelli.

- My character, Carlotta is a parody of my own profession. But I have never been a diva.

I have always been sociable and sometimes "too kind", so maybe I should have been a bit more diva sometimes, she said when her casting was revealed last fall. The former Opera-star has played 13 leading roles in the actual Le Opera Garnier in Paris.

I have sung many main roles over the years and know the building. Has been far below ground, it was a spine-chilling experience, says Kringlebotn.

The show will premiere September 7th at Folketeatret (Norway's former main Opera house)

The rest of the cast will include Markus Bjørlykke, Hans Marius Mittet, Arvid Larsen, Jannike Kruse, Charlotte Brænna, Trygve Svinland, Trond Teigen, Øyvind Boye Løvold, Liv-Unni Larsson Undall, Jonathan Böiers, Andreas Hoff, Astrid Giske, Aurora Louise H. Itland, Birgitte Velsvik, Egil Solberg Smørås, Fransiska Sveinall, Inger Øverebø Uberg, Kamilla Tell Aronsen, Kristoffer Grua Pedersen, Malin Skjolde, Marius Grønsdal, Marte Golten, Mare Jahren, Samuel Brandt, Sofia Skjønneberg, Stine Mari Langstrand, Thomas Ottersen, and Tine Bariås.

Sources: Dagbladet 7/3-17 and 10/26-17 by Anders Grønneberg.