Anthony Downing Accepts BWW Award in Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand, May 27, 2013--South African actor Anthony Downing, who currently plays Viscount Raoul de Chagny in the international touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" (POTO), received his BroadwayWorld.com (Philippines) Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical May 18 at Parkview Restaurant, The Imperial Queen's Park Hotel in Bangkok, where POTO is now playing.

Downing also played Raoul, the Phantom's archrival, when POTO ran for almost three months at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last year.

"I would like to thank BroadwayWorld New York and BroadwayWorld Philippines for this kind gift," he said.

Present during the awarding of the framed certificate were South African actor Thabiso Masemene, who plays Ubaldo Piangi; Filipino actor/opera singer Dondi Ong, who plays an ensemble role and understudy for Piangi; and Filipino musician Mary Anne Espina, who plays the keyboard in the orchestra.

The BroadwayWorld.com Awards are theater fan choice awards, which garnered more than 4,000 nominations from the Philippines last year. Nominees were trimmed down to 125.

Offstage POTO, Downing performs with Perfect Score, an all-male a capella group. He studied music--singing and composition--at South African College of Music.

POTO plays at Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre until Sunday, June 9.

For tickets, visit thaiticketmajor.com.

Special thanks to Angelique Samonte and Dondi Ong