Webber launches Phantom sequel set at Coney Island
The launch took place at Her Majesty’s Theatre where Phantom premiered 23 years ago today.
The new show will continue the story of the Phantom, who has moved from his lair in the Paris Opera House to haunt the fairgrounds of New York’s Coney Island.
The tale is set 10 years after the mysterious disappearance of the Phantom from Paris.
Ramin Karimloo will play the Phantom in Love Never Dies, having played the role in the Phantom of the Opera in London.
Sierra Boggess will play the role of Christine, having made her Broadway debut creating the lead role of Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
Lloyd Webber said the idea for the sequel had been around 17 years in the making.
He said that in the new tale the Phantom “arrived as one of the freaks but built himself up to being the A1 man”.
But he said the Phantom was “pining for the love of his life”.
Lloyd Webber said he had been told the original story had an unsatisfactory ending.
He said he went back to his ideas for the new show three years ago and took advice from Ben Elton.
He said: “He said you’ve got a big problem here because you have introduced new characters and it should be about all of the other characters.”
Lloyd Webber said Coney Island 100 years ago was like “the eighth wonder of the world”.
Love Never Dies will have its world premiere in London at the Adelphi Theatre on March 9, 2010 and in New York on November 11, 2010.
The Phantom of the Opera, based on the French novel by Gaston Leroux, has been seen by more than 100 million people.
It has won about 50 awards worldwide and spawned more than 40 million album sales.
Boggess, 27, said of herself and her co-star: “Neither of us are nervous, we’re really excited.”
Karimloo who performed without make-up and the Phantom’s mask today said prototypes for the mask were being looked at.
He said he thought of his character as someone with Asperger’s.
He said: “I saw a documentary on Asperger’s Syndrome and it made a lot of sense to me.”
Rehearsals begin in January.
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