South African theatre actor Jonathan Roxmouth has one of the most coveted roles on Broadway this season. He reprises his role as the Phamtom in Andrew Loyd Webber’s hit show, The Phantom of the Opera, that’s set to debut in Dubai this October.
Roxmouth shares a very interesting history with the show. At 32 years of age, this is the second time he has been called up to play the Phantom. The first time almost eight years ago in 2011. He was cast as one of the other characters in a South African production for six shows a week and as the Phantom in two shows a week.
But after the original Phantom left the production early, Roxmouth was called up to fill his shoes and the rest as they say is history. But the pressure for the theatre star is more so now than ever before.
In a recent interview with Esquire Middle East, Roxmouth said: “I still get very sentimental about it because I’m a fan of the show first. I always was. So it’s kind of like a star wars fan, getting to play Luke Skywalker every day. It’s like on another level for me. I still have those moments where I’ll be waiting to go on and walk to stage and I’ll walk past a mirror and I’ll see myself and I’ll go,” I’m the fan. I’m the Phantom, you know?” It still blows my mind.”
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