TDF Stages

Emilie Kouatchou and John Riddle chat about costarring in Broadway's longest running show

When The Phantom of the Opera premiered on Broadway in 1988, Emilie Kouatchou and John Riddle, the production's current Christine Daaé and Raoul, weren't even born! But both grew up loving the musical and dreaming of starring in it one day. Well, that day has arrived and, in Kouatchou's case, she's making history as the first Black performer to play Christine Daaé on Broadway. On stage they portray lovers whose relationship is threatened by a masked man who lurks beneath the Paris Opera House, but offstage they are close friends who constantly crack each other up. Join TDF on Wednesday, February 16 at 3 p.m. ET on our Facebook page or YouTube channel as Kouatchou and Riddle share Phan-tastic behind-the-scenes tales, including memorable on-stage mishaps, the power of representation and dancing to deejay Andrew Lloyd Webber. Captions will be available.

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Top image: John Riddle and Emilie Kouatchou in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Photo by Matthew Murphy.