Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| Cast of the international tour of 'The Phantom of the Opera' which will perform in Busan, Seoul and Daegu / Courtesy of S&CO |
Jonathan Roxmouth to play titular role
By Kwon Mee-yoo
"The Phantom of the Opera," one of the world's most successful musicals, will arrive in Korea in December, seven years after its sold-out run in Seoul in 2012.
The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, based on the 1910 French novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux, is set at the Paris Opera House and tells the story of young soprano Christine Daae and a mysterious masked figure living under the theater through dramatic melody.
The highly anticipated tour will start its journey in Korea at the newly built Dream Theater in the southern port city of Busan. This is the first time the worldwide hit musical is being staged in Busan.
This is part of a world tour of the Webber musical, started in February this year in Manila, the Philippines, with following destinations of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tel Aviv and Dubai. This is one of the musical's largest international tours, covering Asia and the Middle East, including four cities where the show is arriving for the first time.
The Really Useful Group (RUG), which produces all of Webber's works including Phantom, said Korea holds a special place in the production's history since it premiered here back in 2001.
 |
| Poster for 'The Phantom of the Opera' |
In Korea, the famous masked figure will be performed by Jonathan Roxmouth. The South African is the youngest English-speaking Phantom, being 25 when he first took on the role. He has been cast in six Webber musicals, including Che in "Evita," Pharaoh in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Joe Gillis in "Sunset Boulevard," Judas in "Jesus Christ Superstar" and Munkustrap in "Cats." He will once again wear the mask in the international tour, vowing to portray the Phantom's marginalized character.
Claire Lyon will reprise her role as the talented young soprano Christine, following her stint in the 25th anniversary tour in Korea in 2012. Lyon, a former principal artist with Opera Australia, has performed in various operas and toured with pop singer Josh Groban as a guest artist for his world tour.
Broadway actor Matt Leisy will play the role of Raoul de Chagny, the viscount who patronizes the Paris Opera and is the childhood sweetheart of Christine.
The Phantom will raise its curtain at the Dream Theater in Busan in December, Blue Square in Seoul in March 2020 and Keimyung Art Center in Daegu in July 2020.
