James Barbour Named Broadway's Newest Phantom

Drama Desk Award nominee James Barbour (A Tale of Two Cities) has been named Broadway's latest Phantom of the Opera, taking on the title role in the long-running Andrew Lloyd Webber musical at the Majestic Theatre beginning February 9. Norm Lewis, who made history last year when he became the first African-American performer to play that role in New York, departs the cast as scheduled on February 7.

Barbour's many Broadway credits include Carousel, Beauty and the Beast, Jane Eyre, Urinetown, and Assassins. He received the LA Ovation Best Actor Award for playing Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. Barbour is married to Phantom alum Dana Stackpole, who has appeared as a member of the Ballet Chorus in both the Broadway and national touring companies.

Phantom celebrates its 27th anniversary on Monday, January 26, and has currently played more than 11,000 performances. Directed by Harold Prince and based on the novel by Gaston Leroux, the show features music by Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, and a book by Richard Stilgoe and Lloyd Webber. The production is designed by Maria Björnson, with lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound design by Mick Potter (original sound by Martin Levan). Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Lloyd Webber.

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