Following the final curtain on 3 June, the show will be packed and shipped to Manila in the Philippines – the first stop on an international tour that features the South African cast and crew. The first performance at the CCP Main Theatre in Manila will on 25 August and South Africa's local Phantom company are looking forward to performing on the international stage.

Having played to more than 100 million people in 149 cities around the world, this full-scale production, directed by Harold Prince, is arguably the most popular musical of all time. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sweepingly romantic score includes 'Music of the Night' and 'All I Ask of You', and is performed by a stellar South African cast that includes Jonathan Roxmouth as the Phantom, Anthony Downing (Raoul), Robin Botha and Magdalene Minnaar (Christine), James Borthwick (Monsieur Firmin), Jason Ralph (Monsieur Andre), Pauline du Plessis and Hanlee Louw (Carlotta), Angela Kilian (Madame Giry) and Thabiso Masemene (Piangi). The international creative team includes Arthur Masella, associate director; Rainer Fried, assistant director; Guy Simpson, musical supervisor; Patti Merrin, associate choreographer and Jee Jee Noh, assistant choreographer. For the South African production, Anton Luitingh is the resident director and Louis Zurnamer is the musical director.

The Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom Of The Opera – already the longest-running show in Broadway history – reached another milestone on 11 February: its 10 000^th performance. The historic performance at the Majestic Theatre included a giant cake and a special curtain call with a video link to the London company on the stage of Her Majesty’s Theatre. The original London production celebrated its 25^th anniversary on 1 October last year and is now in its 26^th sell-out year.

Worldwide, The Phantom of the Opera has grossed over 3.2-billion pounds. The box office revenues are higher than any film or stage play in history, including Titanic, ET, Star Wars and Avatar. It has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries and played to over 130-million people.

The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a disfigured musical genius known only as ‘The Phantom’ who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House. Mesmerised by the talents and beauty of a young soprano – Christine - the Phantom lures her as his protégé and falls fiercely in love with her. Unaware of Christine’s love for Raoul, The Phantom’s obsession sets the scene for a dramatic turn of events where jealousy, madness and passions collide.

Visit the Phantom website for more: www.phantomsa.co.za.

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Performances: Tuesdays to Fridays at 20:00, Saturdays at 15:00 and 20:00, Sundays at 13:30 and 18:30.