Trista Moldovan Tapped to Play Christine in The Phantom of the Opera

Trista Moldovan will make her Broadway debut as leading lady Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera on December 9, replacing Sara Jean Ford, who will depart the production on December 3. In other Phantom casting news, Heather McFadden will return to the role of ballerina Meg Giry on January 16, replacing Jessi Bishop, who will play her final performance on January 14. Phantom continues its record-breaking run at the Majestic Theatre, where it opened on January 26, 1988.

Continuing in the Broadway company are Hugh Panaro (The Phantom), Kyle Barisich (Raoul), Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Aaron Galigan-Stierle (Monsieur André), Kevin Ligon (Monsieur Firmin) and Christian Sêbek (Piangi). At certain performances, Marni Raab plays Christine.

Moldovan, who will become the fifteenth actress to play Christine on Broadway, joined the show’s national tour in June 2008 in the ensemble and assumed the role of Christine two months later. She was part of the closing company in Los Angeles in 2010 at an event featuring composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and original star Sarah Brightman. Other stage credits include Cosette in the regional premiere of Les Misérables, Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Louise in Gypsy, Sally in Cabaret, Sarah in Guys and Dolls, Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday and Carla in Nine.

McFadden assumed the role of Meg on Broadway in August 2003 after a stint in the national tour. Other New York credits include the Broadway productions of Carousel and Dance of the Vampires and the Metropolitan Opera production of The Merry Widow. She has toured in Carousel, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar.