Broadway.com: Phantom of the Opera's John Riddle played Carlotta in his bedroom, now he's Raoul on Broadway
The UC alum has been singing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s songs of love and loss for 25 years
University of Cincinnati alumnus John Riddle, who currently stars as Raoul in Broadway's "The Phantom of the Opera," has been singing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s songs of love and loss for 25 years. "Phantom" was the first show he ever saw, he told Broadway.com.
Riddle knew nothing about musicals until his father brought him to see "The Phantom of the Opera" in Toronto when he was five years old.
“I sat there the whole entire time at the edge of my seat, didn’t say a word,” he said. “I was wearing a tuxedo, too, 'cause that was back in the day when you would dress up to the theater. And I sat there, and I turned to [my father] after the show, and I said ‘I want to be an actor.’ ”
Riddle studied musical theater at UC's College-Conservatory of Music. He then joined the 2013 national tour of "Evita," was cast in the 2014 Kennedy Center production of "Little Dancer "and made his Broadway debut as Young Anton in the 2015 Broadway production of Kander and Ebb’s "The Visit." Riddle also originated the role of Hans in "Frozen" and joined "The Phantom of the Opera" in September.
Related Stories
CCM welcomes opera director and alumnus Jose Maria Condemi to...
May 5, 2025
UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras has announced the appointment of Jose Maria Condemi, MFA, as CCM's new Associate Professor of Opera. His faculty appointment officially begins on Aug. 15, 2025. Condemi has been a director and producer of opera and theater of exceptional artistic quality for over two decades, both in the United States and internationally. His work encompasses a diverse range of styles and periods, consistently lauded for its theatrical sophistication, distinct visual sensibility and innovative approach.
CCM welcomes new viola faculty member Brian Hong
May 1, 2025
UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras has announced the appointment of Brian Hong as CCM's new Assistant Professor of Viola. His faculty appointment officially begins on Aug. 15, 2025. Hong has established a notable career as a critically acclaimed performer, inspiring pedagogue and successful music administrator. As the violist of the GRAMMY-nominated Aizuri Quartet from 2023-2025, he premiered major new works on nationally renowned chamber music series and conducted residencies at universities across the United States.
Album by CCM faculty featured in the New York Times
April 25, 2025
Four CCM faculty members were recently highlighted in a New York Times roundup of notable new classical music albums. Entitled "5 Classical Music Albums You Can Listen to Right Now," the article spotlights the new album of Beethoven's string quartets performed by the Ariel Quartet, which has served as CCM's string quartet-in-residence since 2012. The ensemble is comprised of four CCM faculty members: Alexandra “Sasha” Kazovsky, violin; Amit Even-Tov, cello; Gershon Gerchikov, violin; and Jan Grüning, viola.