World news – Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has its Australian premiere at the Sydney Opera House

Opera Australia, in collaboration with The Really Useful Group, will present Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and will finally have its expected premiere at the Sydney Opera House.

It has been almost 35 years ago that it opened in London’s West End before it became one of the most successful musicals of all time. It will be the first time in the show’s history that it will be played at the legendary Joan Sutherland Theater, Australia’s home of the opera, when it opens in September. Production will open in September 2021 with tickets on April 19, 2021.

This spectacular new production by Cameron Mackintosh premiered with a record-breaking UK sales tour, followed by a seven-year tour of the US that sold over 400 million US dollars. Raised dollars and delighted critics and audiences alike. Australia is now only the third country where this new PHANTOM can be seen with its popular and exciting score, including hits The Music of the Night, Everything I Ask of You and Masquerade. With stunning new staging and scenic design, Maria Björnson’s iconic original costumes and lots of special effects, including a spectacular new realization of the show’s chandelier. It is performed in Australia by a cast and orchestra of 65 people, making it one of the greatest musical productions of all time in Australia.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh said, « We are very excited to have this exciting new production with its spectacular new production from director Laurence Connor and fabulous designs from Paul Brown and Maria Bjornson. The show has already proved a sensational box office hit on national tours of the UK and the US. It is a great pleasure for both of us that a new production that takes our beloved Phantom in a completely original way, received as much enthusiasm as the brilliant original.

« Our wonderful cast is led by the great Australian star Josh Piterman, who recently had a great personal triumph in the role of the Phantom in London before we had to close due to the pandemic n. So let our opera begin in the opera house! « 

Josh Piterman is an established music theater performer and classical crossover artist who has worked consistently on the Australian and British stages for the past 15 years. One of his previous merits is participation on the international pop opera group The Ten Tenors, Tony in the Australian production of Westside Story 2010, Bustopher Jones / Gus / Growltiger in the 2015/16 Australian Cats season (a role that earned him the Green Room) Best Supporting Actor Award in a musical), Corny Collins on Hairspray’s UK tour and Gerry Goffin on Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’s 2017-18 Australian tour, made his impressive West End debut when he played the most coveted role in 2019 as The Phantom in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA took over.

« Words can’t describe how I feel on this Sydney Opera House season of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. The role of The Phantom was truly a lifelong dream of mine and putting the mask on on the West End stage in such a legendary production was magical in every way. Experiencing the global impact of the pandemic, especially on the theater industry, over the past year has been difficult for so many, which makes it an even greater honor to be able to now play The Phantom at home and help revitalize our industry and bring people back in our theaters, « said Josh.

Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini commented, » We are delighted that Opera Australia is presenting such an iconic piece of musical theater at the Sydney Opera House. We look forward to working with Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber to bring this new production to life in Australia that is creating incredible theater for the audience and an opportunity for many art professionals to return. « 

The NSW government is proud to support this new production of PHANTOM through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.

Stuart Ayres, Minister for Labor, Investment, Tourism and West Sydney, New South Wales said: « Musicals and theater productions are an important part of the visitor economy in New South Wales. So we’ve worked with Health and the live performance community to make this sector secure and thrive.

« THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is a cultural icon and we anticipate the upcoming season at the Sydney Opera House will attract more than 10,000 visitors, staying more than 25,000 nights and spending nearly $ 6.14 million. We are delighted to have secured this significant coup for Sydney, which also reinforces our vision to have Sydney and NSW as the premier event destination in the Asia Pacific. « 

Directed by Laurence Connor, 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 and sound design by Mick Potter, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe), book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber, orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. This new production is overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh.

The Phantom of the Opera in Australia is staged by Seth Sklar-Heyn and produced by Cameron Mackintosh, The Really Useful Group and Opera Australia.

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 under the catacombs of the Paris Opera House and exercises a reign of terror over all residents. Falling madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, he dedicates himself to creating a new star by promoting her extraordinary talents and using all methods available to him.