Lloyd Webber Confirms 'Phantom 2' Times Report, Gives Even More Info

Andrew Lloyd Webber confirmed his future (and very active) plans for Phantom: Love Never Dies, the sequel to his worldwide mega hit musical The Phantom of the Opera.

His statement was posted on his official website, www.andrewlloydwebber.com. 

In an earlier interview with The London Times Lloyd Webber revealed the hope to open 'Phantom: Love Never Dies' simultaneously in three different locations across the globe.

He told the Times, "I don't think you could do this if it wasn't the sequel to Phantom ... We've been into the feasibility of rehearsing three companies at once and opening very fast in the three territories. The one which really interests me [in the Far East] would be China ... I think to open Love Never Dies in Shanghai would be an enormous thing."

He gave even more information regarding the above statement by confirming the news on his personal site, "I am delighted to confirm that following a successful sing-through of the complete score of "Love Never Dies" (the sequel to "The Phantom of the Opera") in the lead-up to Christmas, I have decided to greenlight the production. Of course you never can tell how things will turn out, but we are exploring the idea of opening the show in the UK, America and the Far East in the autumn of 2009. This is a very exciting idea but obviously we have to see that it is logistically possible".

As reported in today's edition of the "The Times" I can also confirm that "Love Never Dies" is set in America's Coney Island approximately ten years after the beginning of the original story. In those days Coney Island was one of the wonders of the world, far eclipsing the excesses of Las Vegas today. The story continues the tale of the Phantom, Raoul, Christine, Madame Giry and Meg."

Andrew Lloyd Webber was recently voted the most influential figure in theatre over the last decade by UK's The Stage newspaper.

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. and directed by theater legend Harold Prince, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is in its phenomenal 21st year in New York, playing at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street).

On Broadway, since its debut on January 26, 1988, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has grossed over $700 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history. The production has played over 8,600 performances and total New York attendance is over 12.5 million. PHANTOM became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006 (surpassing Cats) and has now played well over 1,000 performances and more than two and a half years since breaking that record - and all with no end in sight.

Its internationally success - equally staggering - is represented by a total worldwide box office gross of more than $5 billion, making PHANTOM the most successful entertainment venture of all time, surpassing not only any other stage production, but also far surpassing the world's highest-grossing film Titanic (at $1.2 billion) and such other blockbusters as The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars. Worldwide attendance is over 80 million people, having played over 65,000 performances in 25 countries and 124 cities. It's won over 50 Theater awards including 7 Tonys, and there are currently 8 productions around the world. The next international opening will be Perth, Australia in February 2009.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed byHarold Prince. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has production design by the late Maria Björnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge, sound design by Mick Potter and original sound design by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Photo of Original Phantom and Christine, Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman by Clive Barda.