Jennifer Hope Wills is Phantom's New Christine; Hanson Returns as Alternate

Jennifer Hope Wills, best known for playing sister Eileen to the Ruth Sherwood of Brooke Shields in the last Broadway revival of Wonderful Town is the new leading lady of The Phantom of the Opera. Starting December 12, Wills will take over the role of Christine. Julie Hanson will also return to the production as the Christine alternate, performing the part twice a week.

Wills has been the Christine alternate in Phantom since April, apart from a nine-week engagement as Christine in the national tour over the summer. She made her Broadway debut in the ensemble of Beauty and the Beast, understudying the lead role of Belle. Prior to Phantom, she was also seen in The Woman in White on Broadway. In addition to Wonderful Town, Wills' other credits include the Encores! staging of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and regional productions of Carousel, Noises Off!, Rumors, Oklahoma!, Camelot, Jekyll and Hyde, The Secret Garden and Grease.

Hanson has been the Christine alternate of the Broadway production of Phantom on and off since September 2003, and has also appeared as Christine in the national tour. She recently played Esther Smith in the the Stages St. Louis production of Meet Me in St. Louis.

The Phantom of the Opera, which plays at Broadway's Majestic Theatre, also stars Howard McGillin as The Phantom, Michael Shawn Lewis as Raoul, Anne Runolfsson as Carlotta, George Lee Andrews as Monsieur Firmin, David Cryer as Monsieur Andre, Marilyn Caskey as Madame Giry, Ronald Rusinek as Piangi and Heather McFadden as Meg Giry.