Cast members from the Broadway production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the longest-running show in Broadway history, will sing holiday songs live throughout Good Morning America on ABC, this coming Monday morning December 22. Led by PHANTOM star Patricia Phillips, the first-ever African-American to play opera diva Carlotta Giudicelli, the cast's performances are in recognition of the special 10th Anniversary of Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, the annual holiday CD which benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. On this year's CD, the cast of PHANTOM can be heard singing their folk version of "Away in a Manger," arranged by cast member and acoustic guitarist Geoff Packard.
Produced by Lynn Pinto for Rock-It Science Records, the Carols for a Cure series of recordings has raised over $2.5 million for BC/EFA since its inception in 1999, providing support and care for those suffering with AIDS, as well as lending support to women's health issues.
The two-disc special 10th Anniversary Edition of Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Vol. 10 offers 36 original and traditional holiday songs featuring the voices of Antonio Banderas, Harvey Fierstein, Idina Menzel, Bernadette Peters, Andréa Burns, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michael Longoria, Nick Jonas (currently of the Jonas Brothers in his first-ever studio recording), Rosie O'Donnell's Rosie's Broadway Kids and American Idol's Constantine Maroulis and Ace Young. Carols for a Cure Vol. 10 features 26 new recordings by stars and casts from virtually every show on Broadway, including the premiere of an original song by Elton John and Lee Hall, "Cold Christmas," recorded by the cast of Billy Elliot, as well as 10 bonus tracks offering highlights from Vols. 1-9.