THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Casting Change Announcement #BroadwayInChicago

COOPER GRODIN TO ASSUME THE TITLE ROLE IN THE SPECTACULAR NEW PRODUCTION OF

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

BEGINNING JANUARY 9 AT THE CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE IN CHICAGO

CHICAGO 

The producers of the spectacular new national touring production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA announced today that Cooper Grodin will assume the title role in the musical beginning January 9 in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Grodin steps in for Mark Campbell, who is no longer touring with the production due to personal reasons. He joins Julia Udine as ‘Christine Daaé,’ Ben Jacoby as ‘Raoul,’ Jacquelynne Fontaine as ‘Carlotta Giudicelli,’ Craig Bennett as ‘Monsieur Firmin,’ Edward Staudenmayer as ‘Monsieur André,’ Linda Balgord as ‘Madame Giry,’ Frank Viveros as ‘Ubaldo Piangi’ and Hannah Florence as ‘Meg Giry’.

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group, the spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is directed by Laurence Connor (the 25th Anniversary production of Les Misérables coming to Broadway March 2014, Jesus Christ Superstar) with choreography by Scott Ambler, set design by Paul Brown, Tony Award-winning original costume design by Maria Björnson, lighting design by Tony Award-winner Paule Constable, sound design by Mick Potter and musical supervision by John Rigby. The production is overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will play Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W Randolph) January 9, 2014 through March 2, 2014.

The Ensemble includes Adam Bashian, Nick Cartell, Dan Debenport, Amy Decker, Mark Emerson, Michael Thomas Holmes, Celia Hottenstein, Christopher Howard, Merritt David Janes, Amy Justman, Edward Juvier, Dustin Layton, Luke Lazzaro, Jay Lusteck, Katie McCreary, Grace Morgan, Christy Morton, Quinto Ott, Eric Ruiz, Allan Snyder and Marguerite Willbanks. The Corps de Ballet includes Morgan Cowling, Anjelica Bette Fellini, Ramona Kelley, Abigail Mentzer, Lily Rose Peck, Tara Sweeney and Micki Weiner.

Cooper Grodin has recently been seen in Shakespeare in the Park’s Into The Woods, the Drama Desk-nominated Best Revival of The Golden Land and across the country in the National Tour of Les Misérables. His debut original album “It’s The Little Things” was released in 2012. Julia Udine makes her touring debut with PHANTOM. Regionally, she starred as Maria in West Side Story and appeared on “Law and Order SVU.” Chicago native, Ben Jacoby has performed at the Marriott Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, Maine State Music Theatre and the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

There are currently six productions of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA around the world: the flagship London production (27 Years and counting), New York (approaching 26 years), Budapest (Hungary), Hamburg (Germany), the Asian Pacific Tour and the all-new North American Tour.

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.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

The performance schedule for THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is as follows: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at 2 & 7:30 p.m. (Note: no 2 p.m. performance on January 15) Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. (additional 2 p.m. performance on January 16) Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m. (additional 7:30 p.m. performances on January 12 and January 19)

Please note: Ticket prices and performance schedule are subject to change.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com or www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com/ustour

ACT OUT OPENING: Phantom of the Opera at Cadillac Palace #BroadwayInChicago

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

IN A SPECTACULAR NEW PRODUCTION BY

CAMERON MACKINTOSH

 TO PLAY CHICAGO’S CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE

JANUARY 9 – MARCH 2, 2014

Broadway In Chicago, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group are delighted to announce the opening of the spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.  THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will play Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W Randolph) January 9, 2014 through March 2, 2014.

Mark Campbell portrays the man behind the mask, ‘The Phantom,’ with Julia Udine as ‘Christine Daaé,’ Ben Jacoby as ‘Raoul,’ Jacquelynne Fontaine as ‘Carlotta Giudicelli,’ Craig Bennett as ‘Monsieur Firmin,’ Edward Staudenmayer as ‘Monsieur André,’ Linda Balgord as ‘Madame Giry,’ Frank Viveros as ‘Ubaldo Piangi’ and Hannah Florence as ‘Meg Giry’.

Mark Campbell has been seen across the country in the National Tours of Mamma Mia! and Guys & Dolls. His regional credits include The Old Globe, Cape May Stage, Virginia Stage Company and Arkansas Rep.  Julia Udine makes her touring debut with PHANTOM. Regionally, she starred as Maria in West Side Story and appeared on “Law and Order SVU.” Chicago native, Ben Jacoby has performed at the Marriott Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, Maine State Music Theatre and the Utah Shakespeare Festival.  Jacquelynne Fontaine’s stage and opera credits include The Student Prince (Kathie, Pittsburgh CLO), A Little Night Music (Charlotte, Indiana Rep), La Traviata (Violetta) and was Miss California 2006.  Craig Bennett’s Broadway credits include A Tale of Two Cities, South Pacific and Miss Saigon. Edward Staudenmayer’s Broadway credits include Wonderland, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me and Beauty and the Beast (1^st National Tour).

Linda Balgord received a Drama Desk Award nomination for The Pirate Queen and has also been seen on Broadway in Gypsy, La Cage Aux Folles, Cats and Passion.  Frank Viveros originated the roles of Bloat The Blowfish in Disney’s Finding Nemo: The Musical and Iron Chef in Yellow Brick Road.  Hannah Florence appeared in Scandalous (Broadway) as well as Where’s Charley (Encores!), Anna Nicole (NYC Opera/BAM) and Mary Poppins (1^st National Tour). 

The Ensemble includes Adam Bashian, Nick Cartell, Dan Debenport, Amy Decker, Mark Emerson, Cooper Grodin, Michael Thomas Holmes, Celia Hottenstein, Christopher Howard, Merritt David Janes, Amy Justman, Edward Juvier, Dustin Layton, Luke Lazzaro, Jay Lusteck, Katie McCreary, Grace Morgan, Christy Morton, Quinto Ott, Eric Ruiz and Marguerite Willbanks. The Corps de Ballet includes Morgan Cowling, Anjelica Bette Fellini, Ramona Kelley, Abigail Mentzer, Lily Rose Peck, Tara Sweeney and Micki Weiner.

For more information on the production, please visit www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said, “It’s wonderful to have a new production of PHANTOM touring America in the same year that the show celebrates 25 years on Broadway.  Director Laurence Connor has done an amazing job and this production has received huge critical acclaim in the UK.”

Cameron Mackintosh said, ''After a glorious celebration of 25 phenomenal years on Broadway with no end in sight, I'm delighted to be able to bring this dazzling new production of PHANTOM -- which has been phenomenally well-received by both audiences and critics in the U.K this past year  -- to North America.  With an exciting new design and staging, retaining Maria Björnson’s amazing costumes, I am confident North American audiences will fall in love with the PHANTOM in his new guise -- for the first time or all over again.”

The new production of PHANTOM has been an enormous hit on its inaugural UK tour with audiences and critics alike…

“An intense and spectacular new production with a stunning new design,

fresh drama and added momentum.”

“Cameron Mackintosh’s flawless new PHANTOM is the best production of this musical ever.”

“Take a deep breath and prepare to be dazzled; this kind

of gorgeous escapism is exactly what audiences need.”

“A PHENOMENON.”

“Andrew Lloyd Webber’s luscious music - a great theatrical experience PHANTASTIC.”

This new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is directed by Laurence Connor (the 25^th Anniversary production of Les Misérables coming to Broadway March 2014, Jesus Christ Superstar) with choreography by Scott Ambler, set design by Paul Brown, Tony Award-winning original costume design by Maria Björnson, lighting design by Tony Award winner Paule Constable, sound design by Mick Potter and musical supervision by John Rigby. The production is overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh.  THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber.  Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA continues its record-breaking runs in London and on Broadway. There are currently five productions around the world: the flagship London production (26 Years and counting), New York (25 years and counting - PHANTOM celebrated its 25^th Anniversary on Broadway on January 26 of this year), Budapest (Hungary), Kyoto (Japan, also celebrating 25 years and counting), and Seoul (Korea).

Since its debut, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has grossed over $5.6 billion worldwide, with over 65,000 performances that have been seen by 130 million people in 29 countries and 150 cities in 13 languages. The show has won more than 70 major theater awards.

The new touring production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will be the first to tour the U.S. in three years.   There have been three previous U.S. National Tours that grossed over $1.5 billion in combined box office sales and played 216 engagements in 77 cities for an unprecedented total of 36 years and over 14,500 performances to 31 million people.

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.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

The performance schedule for THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is as follows:

Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesdays at 2 & 7:30 p.m. (Note: no 2 p.m. performance on January 15)

Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.  (additional 2 p.m. performance on January 16)

Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m.

Sundays at 2 p.m. (additional 7:30 p.m. performances on January 12 and January 19)

Please note: Ticket prices and performance schedule are subject to change.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at the Cadillac Palace Theatre range from $23-$93.  A select number of premium seats are also available for many performances.  Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710.  Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. 

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com or www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com.

EXTENDED DUE TO EARLY INTEREST & POPULAR DEMAND!