John Cudia Puts On the Phantom Mask

John Cudia will assume the title role in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera on July 27 at the Majestic Theatre.

Cudia as been part of Phantom for almost a decade, beginning in November 1999 as a Swing and Raoul cover in the national tour. He assumed the role of Raoul on tour eight months later and met his future wife, actress Kathy Voytko, then played Raoul on Broadway for two and a half years. He took over as the Phantom in the touring production in April 2006 played the title role on Broadway for 10 weeks in 2008. He returned to the tour last fall for critically acclaimed engagements in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and will play his final tour performance on May 24 in Minneapolis. 

In addition to his work on Phantom, Cudia has played Jean Valjean inLes Misérables on Broadway and in Chicago and has starred in regional productions of Master Class, Jesus Christ Superstar, My Fair Lady and South Pacific and in concert appearances of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Cudia is only the 12th actor to take over the title role on Broadway since the production opened in 1988. He follows Michael Crawford, Timothy Nolen, Cris Groenendaal, Steve Barton, Kevin Gray, Mark Jacoby, Marcus Lovett, Davis Gaines, Thomas James O’Leary, Hugh Panaro and McGillin, as well as temporary replacements Jeff Keller, Ted Keegan, Brad Little and Gary Mauer.