The performances took place at the Royal Albert Hall London on October 1st and 2nd 2011 with Ramin Karimloo playing the Phantom and Sierra Boggess as Christine. The pair, who performed together in the Adelphi Theatre’s Phantom sequel Love Never Dies, performed one show on October 1st and a further two shows on October 2nd.

Karimloo and Boggess were joined on stage by Barry James as Monsieur Firmin, Liz Robertson as Madame Giry, Gareth Snook as Monsieur André and Wynne Evans as Piangi as well as special guests and a 200-person-strong supporting cast and orchestra.

Producer Cameron Mackintosh said:

“It is amazing to think that the extraordinary success of The Phantom of the Opera is about to celebrate 25 years. The success of the show has become the stuff of theatrical legend so Andrew and I felt we needed to create a really special performance to celebrate the 25th anniversary. One of the great strengths of The Phantom of the Opera is that being set in an opera house, its production is totally theatrical. So we felt that there could be no better 19th Century theatrical auditorium in London for this occasion than the Royal Albert Hall.”

Royal Albert Hall

David Thaxton, who is nominated in this year’s Olivier Awards for his role in Passion, replaces Joseph Millson as Raoul, Celia Graham takes over from Sierra Boggess as Christine and Haley Flaherty will replace Summer Strallen as Meg.

Ramin Karimloo stays on as the Phantom.

The reason for these drastic measures is to bring about what really amounts to a restaging of the show, with Bill Kenwright as the new Director and Bill Deamer the Choreographer instead of Jack O’Brien and Jerry Mitchell.

Love Never Dies in London  has also just extended its booking period by another two months at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End to 28th May 2011.

Love Never Dies heads for Australia in May 2011 premiering in Melbourne’s Regent Theatre.

Michael Ball will be hosting an exclusive interview with Webber about Love Never Dies as well as his production of The Wizard of Oz.

Ramin Karimloo of course plays the role of The Phantom in the Adelphi Theatre production of Love Never Dies.

The episode can be seen live on ITV1 on Friday September 10th at 3pm in the afternoon, or later on the ITV Player at : http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=the%20michael%20ball%20show
Michael Ball and Andrew Lloyd Webber have worked together many time in the past, for example when Michael played Raoul in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London, and Alex in Aspects of Love at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London and on Broadway.

Michael Ball DVDs

The performance was also interpreted visually by none other than Ice dance superstars Torvill and Dean.

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

*** Book Love Never Dies Theatre Breaks ***

Love Never Dies is the title for the sequel to The Phantom of The Opera, the popular West End and Broadway musical which has been running continuously at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London since 1986. Phantom of the Opera theatre breaks have been the upmarket choice for hundreds of thousands of couples wanting a special night out with spectacular effects, operetta style music, a full orchestra and a holiday break in London never to forget.

Love Never Dies Theatre Breaks

Soon it will be possible to relive Phantom of The Opera theatre breaks without seeing the same musical all over again, because a new musical called Love Never Dies, and set in New York is due to open in London and other cities imminently.

The Phantom himself sent me an email :

“Ladies and Gentlemen, At 11 o’clock on the eighth day of October 2009, I will be making an announcement of global importance. Should my commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. Amor Numquam Moritur. Your Obedient Servant, The Phantom”

Love Never Dies – The Musical

Love Never Dies the musical is set in 1907, ten years after the conclusion of the original Phantom Of The Opera story. The Phantom himslef escaped to New York in the US with Madame and Meg Giry. There he worked as a magician and entertainer on Coney Island. He builds a new opera house and convinces Christine Daae, now a huge star in her own right, to sing for him once again.

Love Never Dies the musical has lyrics by Glenn Slater, is directed by Jack O’Brien and designed by Bob Crowley, with choreography by Jerry Mitchell and lighting by Paule Constable.

The launch day announcement on October 8th is expected to confirm rumours that the Love Never Dies will have a world premiere opening at London’s Adelphi Theatre in March 2010, following lengthy previews. Casting is expected to include Ramin Karimloo as the Phantom, American Sierra Boggess as Christine, and Summer Strallen as Meg Giry. Well those are the rumours, but with rehearsals well under way at a big location outside of London, it’s also just possible that the opening of Love Never Dies will be brought foreward in time for the December January peak theatre season.