Editing Michael Crawford (section)

===2000s to present===
In 2001, Crawford sang [[Baby Mine (song)|Baby Mine]] from Disney's ''[[Dumbo]]'' on its 60th anniversary [[VHS]] and DVD.
Crawford had a short comeback to Broadway as the Count von Krolock in the short-lived musical ''[[Dance of the Vampires (musical)|Dance of the Vampires]]'' (2002–03). He originated the role of Count Fosco in Lloyd Webber's ''[[The Woman in White (musical)|The Woman in White]]'', which opened at the [[Palace Theatre, London|Palace Theatre]], London in September 2004. However, he was forced to leave the show three months later because of ill health caused by dehydration resulting from the enormous fat-suit he wore during the performance. He spent several months recuperating and was thus unable to reprise the role on Broadway.<ref>{{cite web |title=An Interview with Michael Crawford |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/An_Interview_with_Michael_Crawford_20060106|access-date=6 April 2009}}</ref> He learned he was suffering from the post-viral condition [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]] (ME), which debilitated him for six years.<ref name=":0" />

He later moved to New Zealand briefly, both to be near his daughter and her family in Australia<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moran |first1=Jonathon |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/the-secret-life-of-a-phantom-star/story-e6frfmqi-1226296026514 |title=The secret life of a Phantom star |newspaper=[[The Sunday Telegraph]] |via=News.com.au |date=11 March 2012 |access-date=3 April 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120310202157/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/the-secret-life-of-a-phantom-star/story-e6frfmqi-1226296026514 |archive-date=10 March 2012}}</ref> and to convalesce from his illness.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=http://www.sundaymercury.net/lifestyle-news/nostalgia-history-midlands/2012/03/11/play-it-again-michael-crawford-on-the-day-he-ended-up-on-spaghetti-junction-in-his-pyjamas-66331-30500070 |title=Play it Again: Michael Crawford on the day he ended up on Spaghetti Junction in his pyjamas. |newspaper=Sunday Mercury |access-date=8 May 2012 |date=11 March 2012 |archive-date=12 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112210429/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/sunday-mercury |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2006, Crawford attended the Gala Performance of the stage version of ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'' on Broadway at the [[Majestic Theatre (Broadway)|Majestic Theatre]] to celebrate the show's becoming the longest-running musical in Broadway history (surpassing the run of ''[[Cats (musical)|Cats]]''). He was delighted with it, stating this was the first time he had been an audience member of any of the shows he had done.<ref>{{cite web |last=Crawford |first=Michael |title=Michael Attends Record-Breaking Phantom |url=http://www.mcifa.com/indexmain.cfm |access-date=8 April 2009 |archive-date=12 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112200033/https://www.mcifa.com/indexmain.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 23 October 2010, Crawford attended the celebratory 10,000th performance of ''The Phantom of the Opera'' in London alongside composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Crawford spoke of his own memories of the first performance 24 years ago, and was then presented, along with Lloyd Webber, with a special cake to commemorate the landmark achievement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_Phantom_Celebrates_10000th_West_End_Performance_with_Michael_Crawford_Andrew_Lloyd_Webber_20101023 |title=Phantom Celebrates 10000th West End Performance with Michael Crawford Andrew Lloyd Webber |date=23 October 2010 |access-date=29 October 2010 |archive-date=30 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930061832/http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_Phantom_Celebrates_10000th_West_End_Performance_with_Michael_Crawford_Andrew_Lloyd_Webber_20101023 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Beginning with previews in February 2011, Crawford originated the part of the Wizard in the new [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]/[[Tim Rice]] musical version of ''[[The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' at the [[London Palladium]], which had its official opening on 1 March 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/8021358/Wizard-role-for-Michael-Crawford-in-new-Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-musical.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/8021358/Wizard-role-for-Michael-Crawford-in-new-Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-musical.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Wizard role for Michael Crawford in new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical |date=24 September 2010|access-date=24 September 2010 |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Anita |last=Singh}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He stated on ''[[This Morning (TV series)|This Morning: Sunday]]'', on 14 August 2011, that he had signed on for a further six months in the show.<ref>{{cite episode |title=This Morning |series=2011 |network=[[ITV1]] |airdate=14 August 2011}}</ref> He left the production on 5 February 2012; the same day as co-star [[Danielle Hope]] played her final performance as Dorothy. From 14 February, [[Russell Grant]] took over the role.<ref name=rt>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-01-23/russell-grant-to-join-andrew-lloyd-webber's-the-wizard-of-oz-stage-musical |title=Russell Grant to join Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Wizard of Oz stage musical |author=Tim Glanfield |date=23 January 2012}}</ref>

On 2 October 2011 Crawford made a special appearance during the finale of ''[[The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall]]'' — a fully staged production of the musical at the famous London venue – marking 25 years since the show received its world premiere. Although reunited with Sarah Brightman, he did no real singing as he had just finished performing in a matinee of ''The Wizard of Oz'' at the [[London Palladium]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SOUND-OFF-PHANTOM-25-Sweet-Intoxication-20111003 |title=SOUND OFF: PHANTOM 25 – Sweet Intoxication |first=Pat |last=Cerasaro |website=BroadwayWorld.com |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=12 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112200424/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SOUND-OFF-PHANTOM-25-Sweet-Intoxication-20111003 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 18 March 2016 Crawford and Dotrice reprised their roles in a one-off special of ''Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'', broadcast as part of the [[Sport Relief]] charity fundraiser event.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35595714 |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Michael Crawford to reprise Frank Spencer for Sport Relief |date=17 February 2016 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=31 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531040958/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35595714 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Crawford starred in the new West End musical ''[[The Go-Between]]'' which premiered on 27 May 2016 at [[Apollo Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/1740/Michael-Crawford-To-Star-In-The-Go-Between-London-Premiere-At-The-Apollo-Theatre.aspx |title=Michael Crawford To Star in the Go-Between London Premiere at the Apollo Theatre |publisher=London Theatre Direct |access-date=5 February 2016 |date=5 February 2016 |author=Porteous, Jacob |archive-date=12 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112200616/https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/michael-crawford-to-star-in-the-go-between-london-premiere-at-the-apollo-theatre |url-status=live }}</ref> He appeared in the 60th anniversary performance of Britten's ''Noye's Fludde'' in London in 2018, performing the Voice of God, and recalled in a BBC Radio 3 interview [[Benjamin Britten]]'s valuable support in his early career.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b8gf26 |title=BBC Radio 3 – Radio 3 in Concert, A Britten Celebration |access-date=3 July 2018 |archive-date=12 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112210427/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b8gf26 |url-status=live }}</ref>