Michael Crawford

Get your tickets for the award winning international singing star Michael Crawford, he will be appearing at the Terrace Theater in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 10 at 8 p.m. Along with Mr. Crawford, who is notably remembered for his impassioned performance in Phantom of the Opera, will be his co-star, Dale Kristien.

Mr. Crawford has been charming audiences for years in numerous musicals and concert venues. Beginning at an early age, his first role of note was as Sammy the Sweep in Let's Make an Opera at his school. He later revived this role when Benjamin Britton hired him to play this lead at Scala Theater in London .

Continuing under the watchful eye of Benjamin Britton, Michael Crawford was cast in the role of Japeth in the opera, Noy's Flood for the English Opera Group. It was at this point that Mr. Crawford realized this was the career path he wanted.

Following these humble beginnings, Michael Crawford's talent led him to be cast in numerous plays such as Head of the Family, Change for the Angel, Out of the Frying Pan, Come Blow Your Horn, The Striplings, The Move After Checkmate, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Coriolanus, and Twelfth Night. At the same time, he was cast in many radio soap-operas on the BBC.

Following these successes, in 1962, Michael Crawford was asked to appear in a film opposite Steve McQueen called The War Lover. After filming, he returned to the stage until being offered a role in a British Television series called Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life. Other film roles followed including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with Zero Mostel.

In 1967, Michael Crawford made his Broadway debut in Black Comedy/White Lies with Lynn Redgrave who was also making her Broadway debut. Back in England , Michael Crawford enjoyed success in a new BBC comedy until 1978.

After the series ended, Mr. Crawford returned to the stage in plays and musicals. He appeared in Cy Coleman's Barnum in 1981 and in the title role of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera in 1986. Recognition of his talent was realized in 1988 when he received the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical, the Tony Award for Best Performance By An Actor in a Lead, Musical, and the Drama Desk Award for An Outstanding Actor in a Musical. During his time with Phantom, he performed The Music of the Night at the Inaugural Ball for President George Bush in 1989.

Mr. Crawford has also been awarded the OBE, The Order of the British Empire and been named Show Business Personality of the Year by The Variety Club of Great Britain.

After Phantom, Michael Crawford turned to performing in concerts. His tour, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, which he continues today, takes him throughout the United States and abroad. Don't miss out on getting tickets for Michael Crawford!