He succeeds Tim Martin Gleason, whose final performance was April 23. Gleason will join the Phantom national tour on May 26, playing the title role.

Silverman recently performed the role of Karl in the Encores! production of Music in the Air opposite Kristin Chenoweth and Sierra Boggess.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince and produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc., recently celebrated an unprecedented 21 years on Broadway, where it plays The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street).

The Broadway production currently stars Howard McGillin in the title role with Marni Raab as Christine and co-stars George Lee Andrews (Monsieur André), David Cryer (Monsieur Firmin), Patricia Phillips (Carlotta), Evan Harrington (Piangi) and Polly Baird (Meg Giry). At certain performances, Elizabeth Loyacano plays Christine.

Heather McFadden returns as Meg Giry on May 4. She returns from a maternity leave, during which time she gave birth to a son, Henderson. It's the second child for her and her husband, performer (and current Billy Elliot cast member) Kevin Bernard. Polly Baird will play her final performance as Meg on May 2. *

Silverman left the 90-minute Vegas production, having played Raoul Aug. 20, 2007-Feb. 10, 2008. He's one of three stars of the Vegas production to join the Broadway company, following Tim Martin Gleason (who created the role of Raoul there and who Silverman replaced) and Elizabeth Loyacano (who created the role of Christine there and who has been the Christine alternate on Broadway since December 2007).

In the Broadway production, Silverman becomes the 13th actor to be cast as Christine's rich, emotionally functional love interest Raoul (not including alternates and understudies). He follows, in order: Steve Barton, Kevin Gray, Davis Gaines, Hugh Panaro, Keith Buterbaugh, Ciaran Sheehan, Brad Little, Gary Mauer, Jim Weitzer, Michael Shawn Lewis, John Cudia and Tim Martin Gleason.

Ryan Silverman just returned from London, where he performed at the Olivier Awards, having starred as Tony in the Olivier-nominated West End engagement of West Side Story. That run was part of the musical's 50th anniversary International Tour, in which Silverman also starred. Silverman made his Broadway debut in Cry-Baby, and his other New York credits include both The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King u/s) and The Most Happy Fella at New York City Opera. He toured nationally as Sky in Mamma Mia! and was a cast member of the Chicago production of Wicked (Fiyero understudy).

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The Phantom of the Opera is the winner of seven 1988 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Since its Broadway debut on Jan. 26, 1988, the musical has grossed over $715 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history.

Based on the novel "Le Fantôme de L'Opéra" by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera "tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it," according to the producers. "He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command."

The show has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed by Harold Prince. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

For tickets, priced $26.25-$121.50, call Tele-charge at (212) 239-6200, visit www.telecharge.com or visit The Majestic Theatre box office (247 West 44th Street). Visit www.thephantomoftheopera.com.