Opera Australia has announced the cast who will bring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera to Sydney Harbour in a new show-stopping, outdoor extravaganza.
One of the longest-running and most successful musicals of all time, the trio playing the iconic leads will be Melbourne-born Joshua Robson as The Phantom, Brisbane performer Georgina Hopson as Christine and acclaimed West End and Broadway musical theatre performer Callum Francis as Raoul Vicomte de Chagny.
As the first major outdoor production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hugely successful The Phantom of the Opera in the show’s 35-year history, all eyes will be on this cast as they take to Sydney’s iconic over-water stage in March.
OA’s Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini AM is thrilled to be announcing such a talented cast. “These young artists are at the top of their game and in-demand, so it’s really terrific that we’ve been able to secure them for this year’s season of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour,” he said.
“Joshua Robson is a great talent, he’s going to really blow away the audiences, and Georgina will be just spellbinding as Christine and with Callum in the role of Raoul, it really is dream casting, we couldn’t be happier.
“They are all phenomenally talented, the chemistry between Joshua and Georgina was just amazing and I think Callum was born to sing Raoul, seriously this is going to be the hottest ticket in town this year,” said Mr Terracini.
In addition to these three leads, talented Australian performer Maree Johnson, currently playing the role of Madame Giry on Broadway, will return home to reprise the role and Naomi Johns will be taking on the role of Carlotta.
They will be joined by classical cross-over artists Paul Tabone playing Piangi, seasoned musical theatre performer Michael Cormick playing Firmin, with Martin Crewes as Andre and Kelsi Boyden as Meg Giry.
OA’s own Daniel Macey will play Buquet, while Lachlan O’Brien plays Reyer, Raphael Wong is Passarino, Matt Heyward as the Hairdresser, Tod Strike as the Jeweller and Elliot Baker as Don Attilo.
They will be joined on stage by an impressive ensemble cast including Johanna Allen, Sarah Bakker, Ben Clark, Jack Connor-Rowan, Andrew Coshan, Emma Dawson, Sarah Dimas, Pedro Donoso, David Duketis, Jack Evans, Trina Farrelly, Keane Fletcher, Lewis Francis, Allie Graham, Giselle Graham, Caitie Hawkins, Tianna Koolloos, Elisha Zion Lee, Michaela Leisk, Josephine Lonergan, Imogen-Faith Malfitano, Douglas McRae, Sarah Murr, Annabelle Rosewarne, Amelia Sanzo, Megan Schoenmaker, Andy Seymour, Bree Stephens, Maddison Toomey and Georgia Wilkinson.
The Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour season of The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Simon Phillips with set and costume design by Gabriela Tylesova, will open on Friday 25 March 2022.
Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said having the production cast finalised was exciting for Sydney. “I am delighted the cast has been announced for The Phantom of the Opera and this fantastic production is a step closer to lighting up the harbour on Sydney’s iconic over-water stage,” he said.
“The return of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is an unmissable event on the NSW annual events calendar and will showcase Sydney’s unique convergence of culture and nature.”
“The NSW Government is committed to investing in world-class productions like The Phantom of the Opera to deliver on our goal of making NSW the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific,” said Mr Ayres.
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW and Dr Haruhisa Handa through the International Foundation for Arts and Culture.
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour – The Phantom of the Opera
Fleet Steps – Mrs Macquaries Point, Sydney
Season: 25 March – 24 April 2022
Information and Bookings: www.opera.org.au
Image: Joshua Robson as The Phantom, Georgina Hopson as Christine Daaé & Callum Francis as Raoul in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour’s 2022 production of The Phantom of the Opera – photo by Daniel Boud