Kyle Barisich, Jessica Bishop, Michele McConnell to Join Principal Cast of Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera

Three principal cast changes have been announced for the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera, at the Majestic Theater.

Kyle Barisich will take over the role of romantic lead Raoul, beginning performances Monday, June 4. A current member of the Broadway cast and former member of the National Tour, he previously played the role of Raoul in Los Angeles and San Francisco. He succeeds current star Sean MacLaughlin.

Jessica Bishop will play ballerina Meg Giry, beginning performances Monday, July 4. She previously played the role on the National Tour from April 2008 to February 2010. She takes over the role during a leave of absence of current cast member Heather McFadden, who will depart the show following the July 2 performance, and is scheduled to return to the production in January 2012.

Current Broadway cast member Michele McConnell will assume the role of opera diva Carlotta starting Monday, July 11. She first joined the Ensemble of the Broadway cast in February 2010 and has covered her role since May 2010. She takes over from Liz McCartney, who will play her final performance on July 9.

Continuing in their roles are Hugh Panaro (The Phantom), Sara Jean Ford (Christine), George Lee Andrews (Monsieur André), David Cryer (Monsieur Firmin), Marilyn Caskey (Madame Giry) and Evan Harrington (Piangi). At certain performances, Marni Raab plays Christine.

Based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de L’Opéra by Gaston Leroux, the show features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe), and book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It has production design by the late Maria Björnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge, and sound by Martin Levan. Direction is by Harold Prince and musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

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