The London production 2

Killian is leaving too. Gareth is staying and I think Barry is as well. Not sure about any others, oh Simon Shorten is staying which I'm happy about because I really want to see him as the Phantom.

I was just thinking of people who could possibly be the next Phantom and I was thinking that Tim Rogers would be good what does everyone else think? And he's just finished in Jekyll and Hyde so would be available for Phantom, it probably won't happen but would be cool.

A little bit of news, a guy called Peter Dukes is joining the cast as a swing and he starts rehearsals on 6th August. So the new principals have most likely been cast now, so hopefully we'll hear pretty soon.

Thanks for the start!

I've just found out that the new cast won't be announced until the week before they start, so around 27th August. Although I'm sure that we might have heard something by then from twitter or something. And André, Firmin, Piangi, Mme Giry and Meg are also staying on. So the only major changes are Phantom, Raoul, Carlotta and Christine alternate. I'm sure there'll be a few changes in the ensemble too.

Hm... I find that so strange. I always feel it's better to announce new people sooner to generate excitement. But it is their prerogative.

I am glad McAvoy is staying on. She is one of the more intriguing Girys I have seen. Her Giry has very, very specific point of view on her role in the opera community, and she seems to almost enjoy it at the beginning of the show.

Some info about the upcoming cast change:
http://cosettepontmercy.tumblr.com/post/27332875604/ok-so-im-sorry-if-this-post-involves-a-lot-of

phantom cast change (west end): they asked hadley to take over as raoul, but he refused.
ben lewis wanted to audition to play the phantom (apparently he even flew over here to do so!) but they didn’t let him??
someone who has previously played the phantom on broadway (approximately a year ago? i’m not that familiar with broadway phantoms oop) is auditioning and looks set to get the role.
she couldn’t tell me who’s taking over as christine, but apparently it is someone who has played christine before, and it is someone notable. (and it’s not gina beck or katie hall. sobs)

I don't find this very trustworthy, but interesting anyways.

sounds fishy to me also. but if it were true...............

christine who played it before (but will be coming in only as alternate) could they be bringing back Celia, or Rachel? there is also Robyn and maybe Leila. wouldnt it be wierd if they brought in someone from way back.

as for a phantom on broadway a year ago, that is pretty much nobody, unless maybe they meant John Cudia, which would be a nice change. Howard left more than a year ago and I dont think he has any plans on coming back.

MajesticPhantom wrote:I am glad McAvoy is staying on. She is one of the more intriguing Girys I have seen. Her Giry has very, very specific point of view on her role in the opera community, and she seems to almost enjoy it at the beginning of the show.

I'm so pleased she's staying too. I've been lucky enough to see her quite a few times now, and I always really enjoy her portrayal. I'm glad I'll get to see her again.

sounds fishy to me also. but if it were true...............

christine who played it before (but will be coming in only as alternate) could they be bringing back Celia, or Rachel? there is also Robyn and maybe Leila. wouldnt it be wierd if they brought in someone from way back.

I can't think of any other relatively recent London Christines. If it's true, Leila would be my choice.

I've just found out that the new cast won't be announced until the week before they start, so around 27th August. Although I'm sure that we might have heard something by then from twitter or something.

In the meantime, we'll just have to be patient and have fun guessing!

Helen wrote:
I can't think of any other relatively recent London Christines. If it's true, Leila would be my choice.

I really hope it's Leila too even though it feels like such a long shot. Her acting was amazing and her voice is the cutest thing. Though whoever it is, it would be as alternate since Sofia signed for another year, right?

Something tells me if Ben Lewis wanted to audition, -outside of a visa issue- he would absolutely be allowed to audition if he isn't practically guaranteed the role (given ALW's love for his LND people and the influence he would obviously have on casting).

So I'm more than a little skeptical.

Viscountess wrote:Though whoever it is, it would be as alternate since Sofia signed for another year, right?

Yes, Sofia's staying on as principal Christine.

Something tells me if Ben Lewis wanted to audition, -outside of a visa issue- he would absolutely be allowed to audition if he isn't practically guaranteed the role (given ALW's love for his LND people and the influence he would obviously have on casting).

I meant to ask this earlier, who's Ben Lewis?

Helen wrote:

Something tells me if Ben Lewis wanted to audition, -outside of a visa issue- he would absolutely be allowed to audition if he isn't practically guaranteed the role (given ALW's love for his LND people and the influence he would obviously have on casting).

I meant to ask this earlier, who's Ben Lewis?

He was the Phantom in the Australian LND.

Viscountess wrote:

Helen wrote:

Something tells me if Ben Lewis wanted to audition, -outside of a visa issue- he would absolutely be allowed to audition if he isn't practically guaranteed the role (given ALW's love for his LND people and the influence he would obviously have on casting).

I meant to ask this earlier, who's Ben Lewis?

He was the Phantom in the Australian LND.

In my world, he is the brother of Alexander Lewis, Raoul in the World Tour.

Seriously though, Ben Lewis has a dark, nice voice, I would like to hear him in the original. But he needs to work on his acting, and especially that crazy eyes look.

I don't think I believe alot of what was said by the mystery person. For starters, I doubt very much that Ben Lewis fly over because he wanted to audition without actually having an audition so to say he flew over wanting to audition but they wouldn't let him sounds far fetched. Plus I'm sure they would definitely let him audition for the role even if they ended up not casting him. John Cudia was asked on twitter recently if he would return to Phantom and he said he had no plans too. But then he may have just meant the Broadway production, or maybe it was just to throw people off? But then we don't know for sure it was John Cudia that they were talking about. And they also said that Gerard wasn't singing in the movie, you could tell it was him his his accent came through a lot and if they were going to dub him then why not get someone with an amazing voice?
So I'm a bit skeptical about the "news".

^ Agreed

I have a feeling if Ben Lewis wanted the role...I know he's mentioned he would love to do it on Broadway; that he would get it mainly for the fact he is on the blu-ray-dvd of LND, and obviously Webber liked something about him. We know Peter auditioned for LND, and was later called in for londons new Phantom; so I highly doubt he couldnt audition, because in all reality he probably wouldnt even have to.

I agree that Ben - or anyone else in a similar position - wouldn't just fly to London hoping to get an audition...that sort of thing would be scheduled by an agent before the flight was even booked.

Not to mention that previously mentioned claim about dubbing the 2004 movie made me

Now, I did see a second claim on Twitter that the next London Phantom is an American with previous experience in the show and his name begins with M.

It's probably a coincidence, but Marcus Lovett has been posting status updates on Facebook using "ph" instead of "f."

That would be a blast from the past. He hasn't played the role in 18 years, and it was only for about 9 months. Would love to see what he can do with it now. It'd also be his first theater role in a number of years; I think he's only been doing commercial voiceovers since the late 90s or early 00s.

Edit: What Twitter feed were you looking at? This is the only one I found: https://twitter.com/marcuslovettmlo

I would absolutely love it if Marcus was the new Phantom! I've heard bits of him in Phantom and liked what I heard also he was brilliant in WDTW. So that would be awesome, I think maybe it's a long shot though especially as SenorSwanky said, he hasn't done any shows for a long time.

Nadim Naaman announced that he is leaving at Cast Change. He wasn't offered full-time Raoul (but was offered a renewal of his 1st cover status), which indicates they outsourced, again (could be a return or newbie, who knows!). He's a wonderful Raoul, and I theorize he wasn't cast due to timing, not because he isn't amazing.

No News about the new Cast?

SweetChristine wrote:No News about the new Cast?

Given that the rehearsals start on Monday, it's kind of high time to announce the new cast

Not sure if it's true but apparently Anna O'byrne is the new alternate Christine. I've had a look to see if I can confirm this. On her Twitter she has said the other day that she is in rehearsals for her new project in London. And I know that August 6th was the rehearsals start date given by a member of the ensemble but it's possible the principals have already started?

London-Phan wrote:Not sure if it's true but apparently Anna O'byrne is the new alternate Christine. I've had a look to see if I can confirm this. On her Twitter she has said the other day that she is in rehearsals for her new project in London. And I know that August 6th was the rehearsals start date given by a member of the ensemble but it's possible the principals have already started?

It´s all so mysterious. I hope we know soon who will following and what Anna will do.

Simon Shorten was asked on twitter if any Aussies were joint the cast and he said the lady who was Christine in LND in Australia. So I guess that probably means she's the new alternate Christine. Hopefully now rehearsals are underway we'll find out about Phantom and Raoul before the official announcement at the end of the month.

I'd believe it, then. That's exciting. She's a gorgeous actress, and has a beautiful sound. I look forward to seeing her this December!

London-Phan wrote:Simon Shorten was asked on twitter if any Aussies were joint the cast and he said the lady who was Christine in LND in Australia. So I guess that probably means she's the new alternate Christine. Hopefully now rehearsals are underway we'll find out about Phantom and Raoul before the official announcement at the end of the month.

That would be great. One LND (Claire Lyon) Christine plays in Manila, one (Erin Hasan) works on her album and hopefully Anna will be alternate in London.
I am in London in september. Maybe I must book a matinee.

The alternate Christine regularly plays Monday and Friday nights in London.

MajesticPhantom wrote:The alternate Christine regularly plays Monday and Friday nights in London.

That´s my chance. Hope we know the new cast soon.
That would change some plans.

Ok guys I've been doing some searching and I went on Marcus Lovett's facebook page and there is lot of pictures of London that he's posting and his location when posting a status says London,which means he in london and he posted some pics of him getting a face cast done a couple of days ago and someone commented saying "phacial". So it looks like he's our new Phantom! How awesome is that, I can't wait!!

London-Phan wrote:Ok guys I've been doing some searching and I went on Marcus Lovett's facebook page and there is lot of pictures of London that he's posting and his location when posting a status says London,which means he in london and he posted some pics of him getting a face cast done a couple of days ago and someone commented saying "phacial". So it looks like he's our new Phantom! How awesome is that, I can't wait!!

Wow - very exciting!

I have never heard Marcus sing - I know very little about him.

Could someone give some info on him - what are your views?

Is he comparable to previous Phantoms?

Very excited to see someone 'new' in the role - he last played Phantom in 1993!