Long-Running Phantom Howard McGillin to Return to Opera 10/3

Howard McGillin will again return to The Phantom of the Opera on October 3. He takes over for Hugh Panaro, who is leaving to star in the Broadway-bound musical Lestat.

McGillin holds the record for the most performances by an actor in the role of the Phantom at the Majestic Theater. McGillin took over for Panaro as the title role in The Phantom of the Opera in August 1999. McGillin left Phantom Panaro returned to the role on April 14, 2003 to perform in another Harold Prince-helmed musical, Bounce, first at the Goodman Theatre and then at the Kennedy Center. McGillin has since filled in for Panaro twice. McGillin will be the Phantom when The Phantom of the Opera becomes the longest-running production in Broadway history on January 9, 2006 when it plays performance #7,486 and breaks the record set by current champ, Cats.

McGillin is currently appearing as Captain Hook in a tour of Peter Pan. He earned a Tony Award nomination and a Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. He also earned a Tony nomination for his lead work in Anything Goes. His other Broadway credits include The Secret Garden, Kiss of the Spider Woman, She Loves Me and Sunday in the Park with George.

In addition to Panaro, The Phantom of the Opera currently stars Sandra Joseph as Christine and Tim Martin Gleason as Raoul, Jeff Keller as Firmin, George Lee Andrews as André, Anne Runolfsson as Carlotta, Marilyn Caskey as Madame Giry, Larry Wayne Morbitt as Piangi and Kara Klein as Meg Giry. At certain performances, Rebecca Pitcher plays Christine.