'Phantom' to bid farewell to original cast member

[September 01, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Saturday night's performance of "The Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway will be perhaps most memorable for someone who's seen the show a lot.

It will be the last one for actor George Lee Andrews, who will have wrapped up his 9,382nd show over 23 years. The show helped him capture the Guinness World Records title for the most performances in the same Broadway show.

Producers revealed this week that 68-year-old Andrews would not be continuing in the role of Monsieur Andre. Aaron Galligan-Stierle, who is Andrews' son-in-law, will take over the part beginning Sept. 5.

Andrews' other credits include the original Broadway productions of "On the Twentieth Century" and "A Little Night Music." He was an original cast member of "Phantom," the longest-running show in Broadway history.

[Associated Press]

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