By Julian Ruiz

KU Presents! will be hosting world-renowned Broadway singer, actor and musician, Ramin Karimloo on April 14 at Schaeffer Auditorium. The event is scheduled to take place at 7:30 p.m.

Born in Iran and raised in Canada, Ramin Karimloo is quickly earning a name for himself as a leading man on Broadway. Karimloo has been performing in plays and musicals since the early 2000s but his recent roles have been getting him national attention and accolades.

He has played the leading roles of Jean Valjean in ‘Les Miserables’ and the Phantom in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. His work as the Phantom earned him the honor of being hand selected by Andrew Lloyd Webber himself to portray The Phantom again in its sequel, ‘Love Never Dies’.

Karimloo’s powerful presence on stage has earned him numerous awards and accolades including Best Actor in a musical from both Whatsonstage.com’s Theatregoers’ Choice Awards and Broadwayworld.com. He was even nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award in 2011 as well as the prestigious Tony Award in 2014 for his performance in ‘Les Miserables’.

This fall, Karimloo is set to headline the long-awaited ‘The Prince of Broadway’ in Japan. But this multitalented artist does not solely focus on theatre. He also has projects in other mediums. In 2012, he released his first solo album titled, ‘Human Heart’, in which he seamlessly blended the rugged sounds of rock with the homespun feeling of country. He also released a second album in 2014 titled ‘The Road to Find Out: East’.

Karimloo’s performance at Schaeffer is set to feature several different types of music, including everything from his self-described “broadgrass” style found on his solo albums, to Broadway classics, to contemporary pop hits.

Similar to every other KU Presents! event this past season, Ramin Karimloo’s performance has already sold out. KU senior Aubree Robitzer has been a fan of Karimloo since 2012 and is ecstatic about the performance.

“When I found out that he was coming to KU, I immediately jumped on it,” said Robitzer. “[I’m] hoping I can meet him.”

Students and members of the community can’t wait to see Broadway’s newest leading man on stage.