Phantom Sequel Love Never Dies Heading to Melbourne with New Creative Team

Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s highly touted sequel to The Phantom of the Opera will reopen in Melbourne, Australia, in May 2011 with a new cast and creative team. Priscilla Queen of the Desert helmer Simon Phillips will direct the revised production at the Regent Theatre, with new production design by Gabriela Tylesova. The premiere production of Love Never Dies, which opened at London’s Adelphi Theatre on March 9, features direction by Jack O’Brien, choreography by Jerry Mitchell and production design by Bob Crowley.

Love Never Dies had announced plans for a Broadway opening in November 2011 at the Neil Simon Theatre, a date that was first pushed back to spring 2011 and then quietly scrapped. O’Brien and Mitchell have moved on to the forthcoming Broadway premiere of Catch Me If You Can.

In a satellite interview with Australian television, Lloyd Webber sounded an optimistic note about his new show. "Musical theater today is international and it's about working with the best people in the best situations," he was quoted as saying in the Herald. "I'm really excited about the possibility of working with very talented people." The composer, who collaborated with lyricist Glenn Slater and book writer Ben Elton on Love Never Dies, said he would spend a lot of time in Australia from January 2011 until the premiere.

Of the two leading roles, which are being played by Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess in London, Lloyd Webber said, “I know exactly what we need. [The Phantom has] got to be a really charismatic figure and he's got to have a voice to die for. Of course, Christine has got to be beautiful ... and she has to be the most marvellous singer."

The Herald reported that nationwide auditions will begin on October 25. Australian singer David Campbell and actors Bobby Fox and Mitchell Butel are considered frontrunners, along with opera singers Annette O'Halloran and Taryn Fiebig as Christine.