Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess Preview Live Phantom 25th Anniversary Performance: 'It's a Huge Honor'

Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess are on the home stretch in preparation for playing the Phantom and Christine in the 25th anniversary performance of The Phantom of the Opera, to be broadcast live on October 2 to movie theaters around the world from London’s Royal Albert Hall. In separate interviews with Broadway.com, Karimloo and Boggess expressed no nervousness about playing roles they know well, from starring in Phantom in London (him) and Las Vegas (her) to their year-long stint together in the sequel Love Never Dies.

“I’m in heaven because I love the show and the character so much,” said Boggess, who was personally tapped by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber to star in the anniversary event. “It’s a huge honor, and I was over the moon to be asked. I sang Rodgers & Hammerstein [songs] at Royal Albert Hall last year; it is a beautiful theater, and it’s going to be incredible to do a fully staged production there.”

Karimloo will soon be able to brag that he’s appeared in two landmark 25th anniversary concerts: He played Enjolras in the October 2010 live broadcast of Les Miserables from the O2 Arena and was asked by producer Cameron Mackintosh to star in Phantom at Royal Albert Hall. “Talk about being blessed!” he exclaims. “Come October, there will be DVDs with me on them in two of the biggest shows in musical theater history. That’s better than any souvenir brochure I’ve saved of myself!”

The fully staged production, featuring more than 200 original and current cast members, will get a four-night run at select U.S. movie theaters beginning with the live performance on October 2 at 2:00 PM ET, followed by re-broadcasts on October 5, 6 and 11. In addition to Karimloo and Boggess, the cast will include Hadley Fraser as Raoul, Keira Duffy as Carlotta, Daisy Maywood as Meg Giry, Barry James as Monsieur Firmin, Gareth Snook as Monsieur Andre, Liz Robertson as Madame Giry, Wynn Evans as Piangi and Sergei Polunin as Slave Master.

The big question for Phantom fans worldwide is whether original stars Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman will take the stage at the anniversary event. Karimloo and Boggess insist they don’t know. “I certainly hope they will,” Boggess said. “I have met Michael, and he was everything I wanted him to be. Hello, Dolly! is one of my favorite films of a movie musical, so when I met him, I said, ‘You’re Cornelius Hackl of Yonkers, New York!’ He immediately started quoting the show, and I was in heaven. He is the nicest man.”

For Boggess, who'll be back on Broadway in the spring in the new musical Rebecca, the enduring appeal of Phantom is no surprise. “It's a powerful, passionate story about people who are dealing with obsession and love and art,” she said. “And, let's not forget, it's one of the most beautiful scores Andrew has ever written. The show is like chocolate: It's so good, and you can't get enough of it.”