Alright this is kinda interesting, Long time Phantom in Andrew Llyod Webbers The Phantom of the Opera after a 10 year on and off run of the production making a record breaking 2,450 performance (wow!). John Cudia was the Phantom for a ten week stint in 2008 while Howard McGillin took sometime off to pursue other projects, which I wouldn’t doubt is the reason why he is offically bowing out of the show.
John Cudia has been with Phantom for almost 10 years joining the national tour as a swing, u/s Raoul in 1999 then taking over Raoul 8 months later meeting his future wife. Then he joined the Broadway production for 2 and a half years as Raoul, took over for Gary Mauer (long time tour and short stint phantom) in the 2006 national tour. In the fall of 2008 he rejoined the tour as the Phantom where he will play his final performance May 24.
Cudia has been seen on Broadway and regional theater in Les Miserables as Jean Valjean (and i believe he was a broadway enjolras for a while), Jesus Christ Superstar, The Music of Andrew Llyodd Webber
Cudia will be the 12 actor to permantly take over the Role of the Phantom, a total of 16 actors have played the role on the great white way but 4 of the 16 were only temporary fill ins including Gary Mauer.
side note: many of the lead performers of Phantom where in Les Miserables before Phantom, Gary Mauer (Enjolras). Colm Wilkinson “toronto phantom” (Original Jean Valjean) John Cudia (Jean Valjean) Simon Bailey “current london Raoul (les mis 21st anniversary Enjolras), John Owen Jones “Longest running west end Phantom” (Long running Valjean, not even in the show for a year in 1999 before he was given Valjean), Rebecca Caine “toronto Christine” (Original London Cosette)
