Background
He was born on September 21, 1970 in North Carolina, but he graduated from Monsignor Donovan High School in Toms River, New Jersey.
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 United States. touring production in 1999.
Nine months later, he was given 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 United States. touring production in 2006.
Cudia stayed with the touring company until spring of 2008, when he left to portray Valjean in the Marriott-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.
Cudia then became the "permanent" Phantom at the Majestic Theater, having taken over for Howard McGillin on July 27, 2009. He concluded his run as the Phantom on September 4, 2010 and was replaced by Hugh Panaro.
Cudia returned to Broadway when he joined the closing cast of the Broadway revival of Evita, understudying Juan Peron. In April 2016, he will star in Evita at the Vancouver Opera as Peron.
He made his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Curly in its production of Oklahoma!.
He recently began his career as an operatic tenor. ·
John Cudia at the Internet Broadway Database
John Cudia at Broadway World.com
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