'Phantom of the Opera' Main Actor Out, Understudy Laird Mackintosh Will Step in For Final Performance on Broadway!
Laird Mackintosh is stepping in for the final Broadway performance of Phantom of the Opera.
The Canadian actor will be stepping into the titular role on Sunday (April 16)’s performance in the evening, as principal Phantom Ben Crawford remains on vocal rest, following doctor’s orders, via Playbill.
Keep reading to find out more…
“Due to a bacterial infection, Ben Crawford has been on vocal rest, per doctor’s orders. As a full recovery is expected in the coming days, Ben and The Phantom Company had hoped he’d be able to return for the closing performance. To our regret, he’s required to take a little more time,” a spokesperson said.
Laird actually started in the production playing Raoul, understudying the Phantom in the Canadian production from 1993 to 1998 before becoming the principal André in the Broadway production while understudying the Phantom starting in 2013 on Broadway.
He would later have a run as the principal Phantom from December of 2017 to January of 2018. He’s played the Phantom over 200 times overall!
The classic musical plays its 13,981th performance at the Majestic Theatre before finally coming to a close over the weekend.