Dec 30, 2008

Entertainment - 'The Phantom' sequel to simultaneously premiere in three cities

London, Dec 29 (IANS) A sequel to acclaimed musical 'The Phantom Of The Opera' by Andrew Lloyd Webber is to make a theatrical history by opening in three cities at the same time next year.

The musical based on Gaston Leroux's novel opened 22 years ago with Michael Crawford in the title role and since then has been a record hit.

Lord Lloyd-Webber, 60, said the sequel, entitled 'Phantom: Love Never Dies', would be set a decade or so later, moving the action from the Paris Opera to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, reports dailymail.co.uk.

In it, the Phantom is reunited with Christine, the Swedish soprano first played by Lloyd-Webber's wife at the time, Sarah Brightman.

Lord Lloyd-Webber said he hoped to open the show in London, on Broadway and in an Asian city - 'possibly Shanghai' at the same time, something no other production has done.

'I don't think you could do this if it wasn't the sequel to Phantom. We have been into the feasibility of rehearsing three companies at once and opening in the three territories,' he said.

The opera so far has attracted more than 80 million theatergoers in 124 cities and raked in more than 3.5 billion pounds at the box office.

No comments: