Penguin Random House and LW Entertainment, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s global entertainment company, are thrilled to announce a landmark publishing program celebrating the 40th anniversary year of Phantom of the Opera. One of the most enduring and beloved musicals of all time, Phantom is a global phenomenon seen by over 160 million people, staged in over 58 territories and in 23 languages. This new initiative will expand the Phantom story across a wide range of publishing categories, engaging longtime fans while inviting a new generation of readers into its world. The announcement was made today by Mallory Loehr, President, Random House Children’s Books, and Matt Inman, VP/Editorial Director, Entertainment and Special Projects, Crown Publishing Group.
The program will debut on September 1, 2026, with the publication of OUR STRANGE DUET, a young adult reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera by #1 New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig.
The novel will be published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. World rights to Erin A. Craig’s novel were secured via Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. by Wendy Loggia, VP/Publisher, Delacorte Press, who will also edit the book. A simultaneous UK edition will be released by Penguin Random House Children’s UK on September 3, 2026, in paperback, and with a special edition hardback available only in theatres and on andrewlloydwebber.com.
Developed in collaboration with those close to the production, OUR STRANGE DUET centers on Christine Daaé’s emotional journey and her agency within this sweeping, atmospheric story. It gives new depth to Christine’s experience in the Opéra Populaire, her ambition, her passion, and her love triangle with Raoul and the Angel of Music, the haunting presence that threatens to shape her destiny.
Erin A. Craig, whose acclaimed fantasy novels House of Salt and Sorrows and The Thirteenth Child have earned her a devoted readership, is a lifelong Phantom fan whose love of the musical sparked her passion for theatre and eventually led her to work as a stage manager at the Opera Memphis. She was selected for the project for her intimate understanding of the source material and her flair for emotionally rich gothic romantasy.
Erin A. Craig said:
“I’m over the moon to announce that I’ve teamed up with LW Entertainment and Delacorte Press to bring readers this iconic story reimagined for a new generation,”
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to explore the ‘strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera, a mystery never fully explained’ through the eyes of Broadway’s most beloved gothic heroine.”
“The creative pairing of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Erin A. Craig has been nothing short of magical—an alchemy that honors the romance and mystery that fans cherish while opening the door to something entirely new. By placing Christine at the heart of the story, the novel invites readers to experience Phantom in a way that feels both deeply familiar and thrillingly fresh, capturing the hearts of longtime fans while inviting new readers to fall in love with Phantom for the first time,” said Mallory Loehr.
“The cover of OUR STRANGE DUET, illustrated by Lisa Quine, captures the tension between Christine and the Phantom through the interplay of two distinct visual styles,” said Casey Moses, Assistant Art Director. “Ornate decorative elements evoke Christine, the Opera House, and the period setting, contrasted by the bold, iconic Phantom mask. Gold foil, embossing, sprayed edges and endpapers with gothic romantic character art by Fernanda Maya, and a ribbon bookmark make the hardcover edition a truly transportive experience.”
An immersive companion audiobook recording is in production from Penguin Random House Audio, with light dramatization, voiced by a full cast and enhanced with iconic music from the Phantom musical suite.
James McKnight, CEO of LW Entertainment, said:
“We are thrilled to partner with the brilliant teams at Penguin Random House to extend the world of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera into publishing and immersive audio. In Erin A. Craig, we have found a true collaborator—an incredible author and one of the show’s most dedicated fans. This iconic theatrical story, told through the eyes of the courageous and compassionate Christine Daaé, is in such good hands. OUR STRANGE DUET is truly a love letter to the show, for generations of fans, and celebrates the beautiful, gothic romanticism of the world of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s timeless masterpiece.”
Alongside the YA novel, Crown/Ten Speed Press in the U.S. and Ebury Press in the UK will publish a celebratory visual anthology to release on October 27, 2026.
This visually stunning volume will offer fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making and evolution of the iconic global musical, originally produced by Cameron Mackintosh, including archival sketches, photography, and interviews with cast, crew, and contributors through the years, from Cameron Mackintosh and Sierra Boggess to Michael Crawford and Rachel Zegler. The book also offers a special look at what’s next for Phantom as the franchise continues to evolve.
World rights were acquired by Matt Inman, VP/Editorial Director, Entertainment and Special Projects, The Crown Publishing Group, and the book will be edited by Dena Rayess. This edition will also be available on audio from Penguin Random House Audio.
“We’re thrilled to publish the ultimate celebration of the past, present, and future of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, a truly revolutionary musical that has meant so much to so many over the past forty years. Featuring the creative team who transformed Gaston Leroux’s novel into an inspired theatrical experience, the actors who brought Andrew Lloyd Webber’s characters to life, and every glittering detail in between, this coffee table book is a beautiful look at musical theatre history and a testament to the power of art,” said Matt Inman.
The program will also include the publication of the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Little Golden Book by Christy Webster (on sale September 1, 2026), the first of three Phantom books to be published in the beloved Little Golden Books line.
Featuring the iconic gold spine design, the first book is an accessible and delightful retelling of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical that will appeal to longtime fans and provide the perfect introduction of this timeless love story to young readers. Two additional Little Golden Books in the Phantom of the Opera line will follow in 2027.
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