Emilie Kouatchou, who made history in October 2021 as the first Black actor to play the role of Christine Daaé in the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, will again secure her place in the record books when she takes over the role full-time.
Formerly the Christine alternate, Kouatchou succeeds Meghan Picerno beginning January 26, the night the musical celebrates its 34th anniversary on Broadway. Kouatchou will join Ben Crawford as The Phantom, John Riddle as Raoul, Bradley Dean as Monsieur André, Craig Bennett as Monsieur Firmin, Raquel Suarez Groen as Carlotta Giudicelli, Maree Johnson as Madame Giry, Carlton Moe as Ubaldo Piangi, and Sara Esty as Meg Giry.
Watch a new highlights video from the Broadway production—featuring Kouatchou, Crawford, Riddle, and the current company—above.
The ensemble includes Giselle Alvarez, Polly Baird, Janinah Burnett, Xiaoxiao Cao, David Michael Garry, Chris Georgetti, Kelly Jeanne Grant, Katharine Heaton, Satomi Hofmann, Ted Keegan, Kfir, Kelly Loughran, Scott Mikita, Greg Mills, Justin Peck, Patricia Phillips, Richard Poole, Jessica Radetsky, Lindsay Roberts, Janet Saia, Paul A. Schaefer, Carly Blake Sebouhian, Jeremy Stolle, Carrington Vilmont, Jim Weitzer, Elizabeth Welch, and Erica Wong.
Directed by the late Harold Prince, The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running show in Broadway history. Following the pandemic shutdown, the musical reopened October 22, 2020.
