Phantom 2 or Once Upon Another Time - Nov 2009 May 30, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Once Upon Another Time, news , trackbackAndrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical, known till now as Phantom 2, will be 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 confirmed 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.”
Well, I am sure that ALW knows what he is doing, and this musical will be a hit. I read the Phantom of Manhattan. It was not poorly written. The story-line was believable to the slightest degree, but still, not poorly written. If you just change the story-line just a bit for this musical, it is sure to be a hit. After all, none of us can predict the future, but it I could, I’d say it would be a bright one for Phantom 2.
Hi Frenchie, I agree. ALW knows his stuff and Ben Elton has a great track record. I might try reading Phantom of Manhattan, interesting. I wonder if they will base it on that. Hmmm.
I think that this would be a great project and I’ve been following this story since the begining. I read the book by Forsythe and it is not a bad book, except for a few plot holes for example, there is a part where Christine gets a music box and it plays the tune to Masquerade. Christine gasps “Masquerade”. Well how would Christine know the name of the song? It’s sort of a mixture of all literary ironies. I can’t wait. Best wishes to Lord Webber and I hope everything goes smoothly.
Thanks, LIndaH. ALW does know what he is doing and has created many great musicals in the past, plus I have read the plot of it. It sounds like a hit. And anyway, isn’t this the phenomenon we’ve all been looking forward too? I mean, every Phantom fan has been looking for an end that gives the Phantom some happiness, and love, and who knows, maybe this musical will have that ambition.
Yeah, we’re all suckers for a happy ending
but somehow I’m not sure that would really work. Maybe he could have a sort of doomed happiness, you know, knowing he was loved yet dying for example? It will be interesting whatever they do. Meanwhile it’s lots of fun speculating!
I’d like to think it will be a smash hit but nothing can surpass the success POTO has generated. But recently ALW hasn’t had much success with his more recent shows. Does Phantom really need a sequal? if it’s not broken don’t fix it. I only hope they see sense and don’t cast Gerard Butler as the Phantom. As regards Frenchies comment about the Phantoms happiness, in the book by Forsythe doesn’t Christine get killed.
I’ve heard that John Barrowman is being considered for the Phantom and Katherine Jenkins for Christine. John Barrowman I think would be perfect and much more suited than Gerard (who acted well but who’s voice was too shuddery). However, Katherine, being a mezzo-soprano and Christine being a soprano may not work and I’m not sure that Katherine Jenkins has that vulnerability that Christine possess.
I Agree that there should be a sequel. Some people wait to see what happened to these awesome characters. But I think that this will be tricky to make it the best it can be…As for the person that said that Christine gets killed in the book, I think that is true( my memory is a little blury) And then she tells her son to go with the man at the top of the hill because he is his real father or something while she is dying. I hope they change the name…I don’t really like the name Pierre for their son.
I don’t think that they will let her die though. On her tombstone in ALW Movie She had died at 63 or something… And i don’t think that her son would be living with her at age 63! I don’t know. I just think that there are a few problems still with the story.
N E Ways I think that there should be a sequel Because Adrew Lloyd Webber isn’t getting any younger and he better do this now and get the story finished.
These are just random thoughts……