South African Phantom, Australian Christine Headline International Cast of The Phantom of the Opera-Manila

By Gibbs22manila @gibbscadiz
Philippine audiences will be able to enjoy outstanding performances from some of the leading actors in the international theater industry when the world’s greatest musical, “The Phantom of the Opera”, opens at the CCP Main Theater in Manila from August 25. These include:
JONATHAN ROXMOUTH as The Phantom. South African-born Jonathan has received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career. For his outstanding performance as The Phantom for the show’s South African season, he was awarded Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical in the 2012 Fleur Du Cap Awards. He also won the Fleur Du Cap Award, as well as the highly respected Naledi Award, for Best Performance in a Musical for the lead role of Gaston in “Beauty and the Beast”. For the lead role of Danny Zuko in “Grease”, he received a Naledi Award Nomination for Best Performance in a Musical, and nominations for both a Naledi Award and Fleur Du Cap Award for his performance in “A Handful of Keys”.
Jonathan has performed lead and principal roles in numerous award-winning musicals such as “Cats”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “The King and I”, “Grease”, “The Buddy Holly Story” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” in USA, Hong Kong and New Zealand. In addition to his credits as a leading musical theater performer, Jonathan is an accomplished concert pianist, performing at concerts and corporate events in South Africa.
CLAIRE LYON as Christine. Classically trained Claire graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts at the University of Melbourne in Australia, with a Bachelor of Music Performance. She performed the role of Christine numerous times in the new and highly acclaimed Australian production or Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Love Never Dies”, the sequel to “The Phantom of the Opera”.
Prior to joining the cast of “Love Never Dies”, Claire was a renowned member of Australia’s national opera company, Opera Australia, performing in numerous classic operas such as “The Merry Widow”, “Madame Butterly”, “Aida”, “La Traviata”, “Peter Grimes”, “Tosca” and “Carmen”. She also performed the roles of Ida in “Die Fledermaus” and Barbarina in “The Marriage of Figaro”, and performed in the world premiere of Opera Australia’s “Bliss”, which went on to enjoy success at The Edinburgh Festival.
As a soprano soloist, Claire has performed in oratorio works such as Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solenelle” and Bach’s B Minor Mass and Cantata Number 149 with the Victorian College of the Arts Orchestra.

ANTHONY DOWNING as Raoul. A highly accomplished actor, singer, dancer, pianist and composer, Anthony trained in South Africa and London, and has performed in musicals, dance productions, film and TV, and performs with a seven-part acappella group.
JAMES BORTHWICK as Monsieur Firmin. James is a seasoned actor with many of South Africa’s prestigious theater, film and TV awards to his credit, capped by the Naledi and Fleur Du Cap Awards for Best Performance in a Musical (2010) for his role as Peron in “Evita”.
JASON RALPH as Monsieur Andre. Following his first Fleur Du Cap nomination as Most Promising Student while at the University of Cape Town’s Drama Department, Jason has gone on to receive numerous nominations and awards from both the Fleur Du Cap and Naledi Awards during his long career. He won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “The Rocky Horror Show” and toured to China, Taiwan and Jakarta in “High School Musical”. He makes regular appearances on TV and film in South Africa.

ANDREA CREIGHTON as Carlotta.
An international opera singer, Andrea returns to the role she last played during the 2007-09 Australasian Tour of “The Phantom of the Opera”. New Zealand-born, she has sung principal roles in numerous classic operas for many international opera companies, including Opera National de Paris and New Zealand Opera. Her concert and recital work has taken her around the world, from engagements with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra to the Orchestre National de Paris to the UK’s Halle Orchestra. Andrea has won numerous awards and scholarships during her singing career.
REBECCA SPENCER as Madame Giry. American-born Rebecca premiered the role of Madame Giry in the acclaimed “Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular” which has played to full houses for more than six years. Her romance with “The Phantom of the Opera” began when she was cast in the role of Carlotta in the German production in Hamburg. Rebecca has performed more than 50 principal roles in operas and musicals across the USA and Canada, and has appeared on television and in film. She has performed as a soloist for numerous American Symphony Orchestras, has performed solo concerts in New York, and has recorded two critically acclaimed albums.
THABISO MASEMENE as Piangi. He most recently performed the role of Don Basilio in Opera Africa’s “Le Nozze di Figaro”. He has also performed as Nemorino in “L’Eisir d’Amore”, Ernesto in “Don Pasquale” and Beppein in “Pagliaci”. Thabiso is part of a successful group called the Gaabo-motho Tenors, with whom he has performed internationally.
DONDI ONG as Piangi (in some performances). Dondi holds a degree in Music, major in Voice, from the UP College of Music. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and class valedictorian. As a performer, he has played lead and prominent roles in various Filipino plays, zarzuelas and musicals and has traveled to the US, Europe and Japan to perform for foreign audiences.
CAT LANE as Meg Giry. UK-born Cat has performed in numerous musicals in London’s West End and internationally, including “Grease”, “Cats”, “Footloose”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Saturday Night Fever”. She has also performed in “Spirit of the Dance on its US tour, and in pantomimes such as “Cinderella”.

Presented in Manila by Smart Infinity and Citibank in cooperation with Philippine Airlines as the official carrier, “The Phantom of the Opera” in Manila is produced by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, Hi-Definition Radio, Inc. and Concertus in association with The Really Useful Group.
Asian Hospital Charities Inc. will open the season on August 25, 8 PM as part of their fundraising to help support the medical needs of the underprivileged. Book your tickets at the Asian Hospital Lobby or call 771-9000 local 8202 and take this opportunity to extend your hand to those who are in need.
Asian Hospital Charities Inc. will open the season on August 25, 8 p.m., as part of its fundraising to help support the medical needs of the underprivileged. Book your tickets at the Asian Hospital Lobby or call 7719000 local 8202 and take this opportunity to extend your hand to those who are in need.
“The Phantom of the Opera” runs August 25-September 30 at CCP Main Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
Tickets are P7,280; P6,032; P4,680; P3,640; P2,340; and P1,820. Family packages are available.
Tickets available at TicketWorld's Facebook Fan Page via TicketWorld’s BarkadaTix (http://www.facebook.com/ticketworldmanila). Or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph, www.facebook.com/TicketWorldManila, www.facebook.com/POTOManila
Ticketworld hotline is 8919999.