John Cudia
Encyclopedia
John Cudia is a musical theatre actor who has played many of the biggest roles in musical theatre on Broadway. He was born on September 21, 1970 in North Carolina
, but he graduated from Monsignor Donovan High School
in Toms River, New Jersey
.
Cudia began his career in regional theater. His credits include Jesus
in Jesus Christ Superstar
, Lieutenant Cable in South Pacific
and Tony in West Side Story. His first role on Broadway was Feuilly in Les Misérables
. He went on to play many of the lead male roles in Les Misérables, including Jean Valjean. Cudia's claim to fame is his critically acclaimed portrayal of the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera
.
His first encounter with Phantom occurred when he was cast as a temporary swing in the U.S. touring production in 1999. There, he met Kathy Voytko, an alternate Christine, who is now his wife. Nine months later, he was given the role the role of Raoul in the touring cast. He played Raoul on Broadway for 3 years (2003–2005), where he was an understudy for the Phantom. Finally he was cast as the "full-time" Phantom in the U.S. touring production in 2006. Cudia stayed with the touring company until Spring of 2008, when he left to portray Valjean in the Marriot-Lincolnshire Theater's production of Les Misérables.
John Cudia then returned to Phantom, this time playing the title role at Broadway's Majestic Theatre as a 10 week substitute for long-running Phantom, Howard McGillin
. Cudia played his first performance in the ten week stint on May 22, 2008 and continued until Howard McGillin returned on July 28, 2008. He then returned to the "Phantom of the Opera" national tour.
He left the tour in May 2009 to celebrate the birth of his first child. Cudia then became the "permanent" Phantom at the Majestic Theater, having taken over for Howard McGillin on July 27, 2009. Cudia is the only actor to have played both the Phantom and Valjean on Broadway. He concluded his run as the Phantom on September 4, 2010 and was replaced by Hugh Panaro
.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, but he graduated from Monsignor Donovan High School
Monsignor Donovan High School
Monsignor Donovan High School is the only Roman Catholic High School in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, and operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. Located in the coastal community of Toms River Township, the school originally opened in 1962 as St. Joseph...
in Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
.
Cudia began his career in regional theater. His credits include Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
in Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
, Lieutenant Cable in South Pacific
South Pacific (musical)
South Pacific is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The story draws from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book Tales of the South Pacific, weaving together characters and elements from several of its...
and Tony in West Side Story. His first role on Broadway was Feuilly in Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
. He went on to play many of the lead male roles in Les Misérables, including Jean Valjean. Cudia's claim to fame is his critically acclaimed portrayal of the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
.
His first encounter with Phantom occurred when he was cast as a temporary swing in the U.S. touring production in 1999. There, he met Kathy Voytko, an alternate Christine, who is now his wife. Nine months later, he was given the role the role of Raoul in the touring cast. He played Raoul on Broadway for 3 years (2003–2005), where he was an understudy for the Phantom. Finally he was cast as the "full-time" Phantom in the U.S. touring production in 2006. Cudia stayed with the touring company until Spring of 2008, when he left to portray Valjean in the Marriot-Lincolnshire Theater's production of Les Misérables.
John Cudia then returned to Phantom, this time playing the title role at Broadway's Majestic Theatre as a 10 week substitute for long-running Phantom, Howard McGillin
Howard McGillin
Howard McGillin is a Tony-nominated stage, screen and television actor, perhaps best-known for being the world's longest running Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera....
. Cudia played his first performance in the ten week stint on May 22, 2008 and continued until Howard McGillin returned on July 28, 2008. He then returned to the "Phantom of the Opera" national tour.
He left the tour in May 2009 to celebrate the birth of his first child. Cudia then became the "permanent" Phantom at the Majestic Theater, having taken over for Howard McGillin on July 27, 2009. Cudia is the only actor to have played both the Phantom and Valjean on Broadway. He concluded his run as the Phantom on September 4, 2010 and was replaced by Hugh Panaro
Hugh Panaro
-Life and career:Panaro was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and resided in the East Oak Lane section of the city with his family. As a schoolchild, he attended St. Helena’s parochial school in the adjoining Philadelphia neighborhood of Olney. He played organ for the parish church from age twelve...
.
External links
- John Cudia at Broadway World.com
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Cudia/12169693470?ref=nf
- http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129013-Cudia_Will_Succeed_McGillin_World's_Longest-Running_Phantom_on_Broadway