Andrew Lloyd Webber launched “Love Never Dies,” his sequel to “The Phantom of the Opera,” at a press conference in London in October. While the composer pointedly refused to discuss the budget for the new show, It has been suggested the figure could reach £13 million, and that’s just for the London production, which will open on March 9th 2010.
The US Broadway production, set to open in November 2010, perhaps at the Neil Simon Theatre, will probably cost even more, almost matching the enormous $45 million budget spent on “Spider-Man”, the most expensive Broadway show of all time.
Here are a few examples of where some of the money is flowing out:
The concept album of “Love Never Dies” used a 95-piece orchestra. Listening to it one afternoon, Andrew Lloyd Webber suddenly decided he didn’t like the orchestrations in the second act. So he brought all the musicians back into the studio and re-recorded half the album.
There have already been several lavish workshops of the show, including one last month that was just to develop some special effects and cost almost £250,000.
The first round of sets didn’t meet with the lord’s approval, so everything was scrapped. Designer Bob Crowley was brought back to redo the entire show.
In this video Andrew Lloyd Webber talks about Love Never Dies, the twists in the story without giving anything away.
Coney Island was an amazing place, the great 8th wonder of the world. The Phantom has gone there and is now the big mogul, running the place. It’s there that our story starts. Andrew discussed the possibilities with Frederick Forsyth who came up with a book but the musical was abandoned. Three years ago he came back becuase here was a germ of an idea there. Working with Ben Elton on a project, he said the original chracaters neeed to be transported so we have all of the five – Raoul, Christine, Meg, Madam Giry and the Phantom they all appear plus we have one new character – Gustav the 10 year old child of Raoul and Christine’s. Ben unlocked it.
Who would be a great lyricist? Glenn Slater. Principals – Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess. The album has already been recorded. Love Never Dies was originally planned to be rolled out to three theatres at ate same time but casting was too difficult, so it’s going to be London in March, New York in November, Canada and the Far East already well planned. Love Never Dies all around the world.
This isn’t quite confirmed casting news for Love Never Dies but it’s interesting because Nicole Sherzinger is a high profile lead singer from the band “The Pussycat Dolls” who has also been associated with Formula 1 hero Lewis Hamilton.
Nicole Sherzinger
The news is that Hawaiian born Nicole Sherzinger is to work with Andrew Lloyd Webber on some aspect of the new musical, “Love Never Dies.” MTV.com confirms the news, but also cautions that it is still unknown just how involved she is in the production. Andrew Lloyd Webber also made the announcement about Nicole Sherzinger in a statement about Love Never Dies on October 9th.
At the Love Never Dies press launch yesterday, Ramin Karimloo sang the song ‘Til I Hear You Sing Once More’ while Sierra Boggess sat on her golden throne, silently.
Andrew LLoyd Webber, Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess at the Love Never Dies press launch
Love Never Dies – Till I Hear You Sing Once More – Lyrics by Glenn Slater
The day starts, the day ends
Time crawls by
Night steals in, pacing the floor
The moments creep,
Yet I can’t bear to sleep
Till I hear you sing
And weeks pass, and months pass
Seasons fly
Still you don’t walk through the door
And in a haze
I count the silent days
Till I hear you sing once more.
And sometimes at night time
I dream that you are there
But wake holding nothing but the empty air
And years come, and years go
Time runs dry
Still I ache down to the core
My broken soul
Can’t be alive and whole
Till I hear you sing once more
And music, your music
It teases at my ear
I turn and it fades away and you’re not here
Let hopes pass, let dreams pass
Let them die
Without you, what are they for?
I’ll always feel
No more than halfway real
Till I hear you sing once more
Now the exact dates can be revealed with the expected March and November openings for Love Never Dies in London and New York, and a year for Australia rather than Singapore.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long awaited new musical sequel to the Phantom of the Opera will have its global world premiere in London at the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday 9th March 2010, followed by New York USA on Thursday 11th November and in Australia in 2011.
Theatre Breaks to see Love Never Dies previews in London from February 20th 2010 are already on sale here from the Love Never Dies blog via Show and Stay
The Official launch press conference for Love Never Dies takes place today October 8th at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s Haymarket, the home of the Phantom of The Opera for the past 23 years. Love Never Dies has been regarded as a risky venture by some, since it will be the first ever West End musical sequel, while others say that it doesn’t matter whether it’s a sequel or not, as long as it’s a great musical.
Andrew LLoyd Weber makes the important launching speech and the big stars who have been workshopping the show, Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess perform excerpts from the new score.
Songs expected to be included in the Love Never Dies score are
The Heart Is Slow To Learn
Fortune Teller
Love Never Dies will begin previews at the Adelphi Theatre in February 2010.
