Howard McGillin to Don Phantom Mask Again

Howard McGillin will return to the title role in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera on October 3, having already played the part for over 1,200 performances — more than any other performer. He’ll succeed Hugh Panaro, who will leave the show on October 1 to star in the Broadway-bound musical Lestat.

A two-time Tony Award nominee for his performances in Anything Goes and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, McGillin has starred in Kiss of the Spider Woman and The Secret Garden on Broadway and in Mack & Mabel in the West End. He is currently playing Captain Hook in the national tour of Peter Pan.

The Phantom of the Opera opened on January 26, 1988, with Michael Crawford as the Phantom and Sarah Brightman as Christine. The show won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Since that time, a total of 11 men have played the Phantom, including Timothy Nolen, Cris Groenendaal, Mark Jacoby, and Davis Gaines. The current cast of the Broadway production also includes Sandra Joseph as Chrsitine, Tim Martin Gleason as Raoul, George Lee Andrews as André, Marilyn Caskey as Madame Giry, and Anne Runolfsson as Carlotta.