Love Never Dies
Phantom: Love Never Dies is a sequel to Phantom of the Opera based on the second book of the story, set in New York. The musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber opens in spring 2010.
*** Book Love Never Dies Theatre Breaks from February 2010 ***
Love Never Dies Theatre Breaks
Recommending Love Never Dies Theatre Breaks
Love Never Dies is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s not exactly sequel to Phantom of the Opera. I saw it in previews, liked it very much but was not quite ready to recommend it for theatre breaks fans. I wanted to see if the show settled down and to let ‘his Lordship’ make the inevitable changes a preview period brings. Now the show has settled and people are happily booking their Love Never Dies theatre breaks and having a great time.
** Book Love Never Dies Theatre Breaks **
The Story of Love Never Dies
Set on Coney Island, New York some 10 years after the events of Phantom, Love Never Dies is a more grown-up story of love. It has lost some of the teenage fascination with the Gothic that is such a huge part of the power of Phantom and in its place there is a much more human set of characters.
There are plenty of places online where you can find a synopsis of the story but my advice is to go to the show without any preconceptions and enjoy it for what it is, a powerful piece of theatre, full of spectacle and gorgeous music.
Love Never Dies Music
I just adored the music. Some people thought there were not enough memorable tunes but my house rang to much whistling and humming for days after we saw the show. I think the music is more interesting and I actually enjoyed it more than Phantom (gasp!). Speaking of the gorgeous music just listen to the divine voice of Sierra Boggess:
Oh and how about the utterly wonderful Ramin Karimloo:
And that’s without mentioning the great performance of Summer Strallen as Meg Girey!
Love Never Dies theatre stage set
I thought the set was mostly wonderful. There’s good use of back projection and special effects but it’s the Art Nouveau aspects that just blew me away. Some of the sets looked like exquisite pieces of Art Nouveau jewelry or spectacular Tiffany lampshades. At times I was reminded of the film set of Moulin Rouge, but then I loved that too! It made a wonderful backdrop for the passionate story.
A big question: One show or two?
I know people were worried that they haven’t seen Phantom and would find it hard to follow the story.
In our party we had someone who had never seen Phantom and she said that within the first ten minutes she had worked out enough to make sense of what was happening. She didn’t feel that not knowing the back story spoiled her enjoyment at all.
Having read all the fuss about certain bloggers and forums I think there have been more problems with the devoted ‘Phans’. They’ve had to let go of their preconceptions about what the Phantom could be like and his relationship to Christine. People were too quick to judge a show that was still being ‘tweaked’ and seem to have forgotten that Phantom had its share of problems when it opened.
I’ve seen both shows and I think the ideal solution is a double show theatre break. No one is offering one yet but there are rumblings from one or two of the agencies. Never fear as soon as they are available I’ll let you know!
Love Never Dies Theatre Breaks On Sale
Love Never Dies Theatre Breaks
October 8th was the press launch for Love Never Dies which meant that tickets were released to agencies and so now we can show you how to get top seats at the Adelphi Theatre for performances of the new musical from as early as February 2010.
Theatre breaks to see Love Never Dies include top tickets for the date of your choice with a central London hotel for the same night. There’s a wide choice of hotels and you can add extra nights hotel stay at the time of booking, as well as taking advantage of optional discount rail travel. This always works out to be the best way to get good seats and be reassured that you’ll have a fantastic night out in London without having to worry about getting back after the show.
** Book Love Never Dies Theatre Breaks **
Love Never Dies is the first West End musical sequel, following characters from The Phantom of The Opea from Paris to New York. More details emerging from the build up to the opening of Love Never Dies in the West End are being covered on the Love Never Dies blog.
Love Never Dies Christine Announced
Sierra Boggess will play the leading role for Love Never Dies, the long awaited Phantom sequel. The new musical opens in London at the Adelphi Theatre on March 9th 2010 with previews starting on February 20th.
** Book Love Never Dies Theatre Breaks **
Sierra Boggess
Sierra played the title role of The Little Mermaid on Broadway. She is no stranger to the role of Christine and played her for 2 years in The Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
Sierra Sings Think of Me
I found a good video of Sierra which gives a sample of her vocal range. She has a very fine voice and it should combine beautifully with her co-star Ramin Karimloo.
Love Never Dies – fantasy cast
Love Never Dies – the casting process starts
The ‘breakdown’ has been posted for the casting of Love Never Dies. It gives us a few clues about the plot of Phantom 2.
Set in 1907 in New York, the mysterious “Maestro” (no prizes for guessing who he is!) runs the theatre at Coney Island. He arranges a special concert by Parisian soprano Christine Daaé. Christine arrives in New York with Raoul (now her husband) and their son Gustave.Victome de Chagny comes along too. Their encounters with the “Maestro”, bring the mysterious events of 10 years earlier at the Paris Opera back to haunt them.
There’s no dates or theatres confirmed as yet but they are expecting to do a try-out in Toronto first.
Casting Phantom, Christine and Raoul.
Here’s the game – we’ll tell you what they are looking for and you tell us who you’d cast 
Phantom:
Caucasian man, 35 – 40. As mysterious as ever, but thanks to his new surroundings and the private assistance of old supporters, he now enjoys the seeming freedom to walk among “the normal” as an entrepreneur in Coney Island, of all places! In fact, over the past 10 years, he’s achieved a place of power and success. But he is haunted by a creative passion that once filled his heart. Must possess effortless gravitas and sexuality. Powerful rock tenor singing voice. Must be able to sing to top B flat. STARRING ROLE.Christine:
Caucasian woman, mid – late 20s. Now a semi-retired opera superstar and a mother, Christine is still gorgeous, iconic, elegant, every inch a star. Although she has a curious echo of sadness and distance about her, she must possess an equal blend of technical superiority and raw emotionality. Glorious soprano singing voice. Must be able to sing to top B flat. STARRING ROLE.Raoul:
Caucasian man, 35 – 40. Christine’s husband. Now a functioning, stoic alcoholic with more than a glimmer of his previous self as an affluent and handsome aristocrat. Abeauty on the turn. Must possess domineering gravitas and sexuality. Powerful tenor singing voice, with an instinct for lyricism. Must be able to sing effortlessly to A flat.
So who would you cast? I’ll tell you mine in a couple of days but I’ll let you have first pick! Love Never Dies as cast by LTB readers:
Phantom of the Opera Ramin Karimloo
Ramin Karimloo – the man behind that famous Phantom mask
ramin
Ramin Karimloo currently plays The Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. Ramin is originally from Iran but he grew up in Peterborough, Canada. Although he started out playing in rock bands in his home town playing part of the Phantom is a boyhood ambition come true for him. He’s been playing the part for almost two years and plans to continue through to September 2009. Ramin says that he first told a friend when he was only 12 that some day he’d play the part of the Phantom.
And now in Phantom: Love Never Dies
Phantom: Love Never Dies is a sequel to The Phantom Of The Opera, set not in Paris but in New York, and Ramin Karimloo has been cast in the part of the Phantom alongside Sierra Boggess as Christine for the previews that may take place over a long period at the Adelphi Theatre this autumn, and possibly simultaneously in Broadway.
Other Parts Ramin Karimloo has played.
Enjolras in Les Misérables (Queen’s)
Chris in Miss Saigon (UK tour).
Aladdin in Aladdin (Chatham Theatre),
Pirate/Policeman in The Pirates of Penzance (Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, and UK tour),
Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance (Theatre Royal, Bath),
Artie Green and understudy Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard (UK tour)
Feuilly and understudy Marius in Les Misérables (Palace).
Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera
Phantom 2 or Once Upon Another Time – Nov 2009
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical, known till now as Phantom 2, will be provisionally called Once Upon Another Time. In an interview with the BBC today ALW revealed that the show will open in November 2009, if all goes well.
Ben Elton has already been suggested as the writer of the book for the new show, rather than Frederick Forsyth who was involved in the early stages. Glen Slater (Little Mermaid) will be the lyricist and Andrew Lloyd Webber himself will write the score.
It seems likely that Jack O’Brian (lately of Hairspray) will direct.
No further news yet of which theatre or confirmed dates.
No BBC Link Up
Lloyd Webber also said that it was unlikely that he would do a fourth BBC show in the near future, making it unlikely that Once Upon Another Time will be cast in quite such a high profile way. In fact he suggested that he might do some US television and “give Britain a year off.”
Thanks for reading Theatre Breaks articles about Love Never Dies on the London Theatre Breaks Blog
