John Cudia Tapped as Broadway's Next Phantom of the Opera

John Cudia will assume the title role in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera on July 27, succeeding Howard McGillin, who is bowing out on July 25 after a run of 10 years and a record-setting total of more than 2,450 performances. Phantom continues its run at the Majestic Theatre, directed by Harold Prince.

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, writing about his experiences in the show in a First Person essay for Broadway.com. 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. Cudia and Voytko are expecting their first child this summer, just before he joins the Broadway company.

In addition to his work on Phantom, Cudia has played Jean Valjean in Les 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.

The Broadway cast of Phantom includes Marni Raab Christine; to be replace Jennifer Hope Wills on June 1, Ryan Silverman Raoul, George Lee Andrews Monsieur André, David Cryer Monsieur Firmin, Patricia Phillips Carlotta, Rebecca Judd Madame Giry, Evan Harrington Piangi, Heather McFadden Meg Giry and Elizabeth Loyacano Christine at certain performances.

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber recently confirmed that he has greenlit production on a sequel to the show, Phantom: Love Never Dies.