Directed by the late theater legend Harold Prince, “The Phantom of the Opera” has been a New York City landmark, playing at The Majestic Theatre on West 44th Street for its entire run. The production, known for its lavish sets and costumes, large cast, and Broadway’s largest orchestra, has long been considered one of the most beautiful and spectacular productions in history.

Producer Cameron Mackintosh said, “The response to the news that ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ is finally going to end its record-breaking original Broadway run after 35 years has been as phenomenal as the show itself.” In light of the demand for tickets, all performances for the final ten weeks will be on sale, except for a major charitable event on April 14 and the final performance on April 16. Proceeds from the charity performance will go to several Broadway charities as a thank-you from the “Phantom” team to the Broadway community.

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber said, “I am delighted that, after such an incredible reaction from audiences, ‘Phantom’ at The Majestic is extending. If only the theatre wasn’t closing for a major refurbishment, we’d be there for an awful lot longer.”

Tickets for the extension will go on sale on Wednesday, November 30, and can be purchased through the box office, Telecharge.com, or by calling (212) 239-6200. Don’t miss your chance to see this legendary production before it concludes its record-breaking run on Broadway.

The New York production currently stars Ben Crawford as ‘The Phantom,’ Emilie Kouatchou as ‘Christine,’ Jason Forbach as ‘Raoul’ (Paul Adam Schaefer returns December 7 and John Riddle returns January 2), Nehal Joshi as ‘Monsieur André,’ Craig Bennett as ‘Monsieur Firmin,’ Raquel Suarez Groen as ‘Carlotta Giudicelli,’ Maree Johnson as ‘Madame Giry,’ Carlton Moe as ‘Ubaldo Piangi’ and a rotating cast as ‘Meg Giry’ (Sara Etsy returns from a leave of absence January 2).  At certain performances, Julia Udine plays the role of ‘Christine.’

The Ensemble features Giselle O. Alvarez, Polly Baird, Jessica Bishop, Janinah Burnett, Xiaoxiao Cao, Joseph DePietro, Kanisha Marie Feliciano, David Michael Garry, Chris Georgetti, Kelly Jeanne Grant, Satomi Hofmann, Ayaka Kamei, Ted Keegan, Kfir, Kelly Loughran, Scott Mikita, Greg Mills, Justin Peck, Patricia Phillips, Lindsay Roberts, Janet Saia, Carly Blake Sebouhian, Jeremy Stolle, Stephen Tewksbury, Carrington Vilmont, Jim Weitzer, Elizabeth Welch and Erica Wong.

The post <em>The Phantom of The Opera</em> Announces The First & Only Extension Possible appeared first on Broadway Black.

It was a moment many had been hoping for and believed was long overdue. Although that was the climax of Williams’ appearance at the pageant, another highlight of the evening, and less talked about by mainstream media, was her stirring rendition of Amy Grant’s “Oh How the Years Go By” with the Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV).

The BIV joined Williams center stage for the opening performance of the pageant. Their performance of the moving ballad caused the audience to erupt into thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

What a great night!! Performing with friend and @bivoices supporter @vwofficial #missamerica #nbc http://t.co/MEefaUnVN8

— Broadway Insp Voices (@BIVoices) September 14, 2015

Broadway Inspirational Voices is a multi-ethnic, multi-denominational choir ensemble made up of actors and musicians from Broadway and off‐Broadway shows such as Aladdin, Book of Mormon, Cinderella, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots, The Lion King, Motown, Phantom of the Opera and Wicked. The BIV’s mission is “strengthening and unifying the New York community through the transcendent power of music. “

The choir was founded in 1994 by Tony nominee, actor, singer, and director Michael McElroy and became the place where he could express his unique arrangements of known and unknown songs in and out of the American gospel and theatre songbooks. In 2005, McElroy received a Grammy nomination for his work on the choir’s holiday CD, “Great Joy: A Gospel Christmas.”

The BIV is next scheduled to perform at Pope Francis’ Mass at Madison Square Garden on September 25. Other performers scheduled to appear include Harry Connick Jr., Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Hudson, Kelli O’Hara, Martin Sheen, James (D Train) Williams, and Norm Lewis.

The post Vanessa Williams Performs at Miss America Pageant with Broadway Inspirational Voices appeared first on Broadway Black.