Penguin Random House U.S. is launching a dedicated publishing program with LW Entertainment, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s global entertainment company, to mark the 40th anniversary of “The Phantom of the Opera.” One of the most successful musicals of all time, “The Phantom of the Opera” has been seen by more than 160 million people and staged in over 58 countries and in 23 languages. According to the publisher, the well-known story will now be expanded across a range of book categories, engaging longtime fans while also attracting a new generation of readers.
‘Our Strange Duet’ to be published on September 1
The first anniversary title, “Our Strange Duet,” will be published on September 1. It is a young adult reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” by “New York Times” bestselling author Erin A. Craig. The novel will be published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, which also holds world rights. A UK edition will be released on September 3, 2026, by Penguin Random House Children’s UK in paperback, alongside a special hardcover edition available exclusively in theaters and on andrewlloydwebber.com.
Author 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.”
‘Opening the door to something entirely new’
Mallory Loehr, President, Random House Children’s Books, said: “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.”
Penguin Random House Audio is producing an immersive companion audiobook recording – with light dramatization, voiced by a full cast and enhanced with 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. ‘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.”
‘Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera’
Alongside the young adult novel, Crown/Ten Speed Press in the US and Ebury Press in the UK will publish the illustrated anthology “Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera: A Behind-the-Mask Look at the Global Phenomenon,” scheduled for release on October 27, 2026. The volume offers fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creation and development of the iconic musical, including archival sketches, photographs, and interviews with cast, crew, and contributors.
Matt Inman, Vice President & Editorial Director, Entertainment and Special Projects, Crown Publishing Group, said: “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.”
Little Golden Books: ‘Phantom of the Opera’
The publishing program also includes “Phantom of the Opera” in the “Little Golden Books” series from Penguin Random House. It will be released on September 1 as the first of three titles planned for the series. The first volume is an accessible retelling of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical, designed to appeal to longtime fans while offering younger readers an ideal introduction to this timeless love story. The second and third volumes are scheduled for 2027.
