LOVE NEVER DIES will tour the US in 2017

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 12:50pm

http://playbill.com/news/article/lloyd-webbers-reworked-phantom-sequel-love-never-dies-sets-2017-american-premiere-363588

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera sequel, Love Never Dies, will launch a North American tour in 2017, Playbill.com has learned. The tour will reflect the overhauled Australian production that was staged by Simon Phillips.

Now titled Love Never Dies – The Phantom Returns, the story continues ten years after the conclusion of The Phantom of the Opera. It follows soprano Christine Daaé to New York's Coney Island, where she is invited to perform for the mysterious Mr. Y. After Christine, her now-husband Raoul and their young son Gustav arrive in New York City, familiar characters begin to emerge, including one with whom Christine shares a dark secret.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 12:58pm

It's this show that never dies.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 1:12pm

I like how they're titling it "Love Never Dies: The Phantom Returns" as if people don't know what it's about. They know what it's about they just don't want to see it.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 1:30pm

As much flack as this show gets I actually enjoyed it when I watched the DVD. I think it's a good score with some great songs from Andrew Loyld Webber. I think they should change the ending. I was not happy that Christine died. I think it needs a better book perhaps but visually on the DVD I thought it was stunning. I also don't like it at the same time. It completely goes against what each character would do if we try to connect it to Phantom. I try to think of it as a separate piece of theatre not directly connected to Phantom. I really enjoyed song wise Beneath A Moonless Sky, Love Never Dies, Devil Takes the Hindmost, I thought bathing beauty's was cute. 

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 1:35pm

I'm actually really excited for this. I will have no problem telling someone around me to shut the hell up already.. if all is complaining. Dont buy a ticket if that's all your going to do. "Oh, I'm going just to complain and talk **** and to see how bad it will be".. SHUT UP. Does anyone understand how annoying complaining sounds? espicially if that's all you hear when a certain topic is spoken about. This show is like Justin Bieber.. to the theatre world.. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 1:48pm

HAHAHA. Oh man. But I do want to see this.

[Steve C.]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 2:11pm

I agree that LND really gets no love and it truly is one of ALW's most beautiful and melodic scores. If you've ever seen or heard Sierra Boggess or Anna O'Byrne as Christine you'll never forget it.

The freak show/Coney Island setting keeps with the darker theme but it works. When Christine sings Love Never Dies in front of a huge blue peacock that envelopes the whole proscenium it is stunningly gorgeous.

I saw Ben Davis as the Phantom and he was great. I say go see it just expect it not to be the same. 

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 2:16pm

HAHAHA. I have to see this. The plot may be crap, but it's still fun crap, and the music ain't bad, either.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 6:09pm

A tragically misguided project.  ALW would have been better off pumping some of the better tunes into a new story.  He insulted his own creation, suggesting he really never understood the first show at all- clearly Hal Prince made the original what it was. 

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 7:50pm

 

"A tragically misguided project.  ALW would have been better off pumping some of the better tunes into a new story.  He insulted his own creation, suggesting he really never understood the first show at all- clearly Hal Prince made the original what it was."

 

Couldn't agree more. The ghastly 2004 film was evidence of that but LND just confirmed it.

I guess ALW has now given up with his regular, repeated hot air about this going to Broadway. First it was going there simultaneously when the London debacle opened. Then after Australia. Then after Japan. Then after a UK tour that never happened. Then after Hamburg. Now...after this? I doubt it.

It's time for this to die. No-one likes the plot, and even the music that some people like is soiled from previous use and is made ridiculous with those abominable lyrics attached to it.

Updated On: 9/22/15 at 07:50 PM

[c0113g3b0y]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 8:59pm

I hope it sinks so bad financially. ALW deserves a big slice of humble pie

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 9:03pm

Why do you ALW so much? Get over yourself.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 9:50pm

c0113g3b0y said: "I hope it sinks so bad financially. ALW deserves a big slice of humble pie"

Well aren't you just a ray of sunshine?

People will see this. I remember the movie theater I went to to watch the screening of the Australian production was packed with older Phans of the original show who had no idea about LND's history. Most audience members around the U.S. who aren't familiar with the Broadway scene (and even less so with the West End) don't even know that LND was a disaster when it first premiered, so it's not like the show's horrible reputation reaches out much further than the hardcore theatre fans and the Phans. Many will say, "Oh, look, a sequel to Phantom of the Opera. Let's go see it!" If the team behind LND is lucky, it'll be included in many season packages and tickets will also be sold that way.

By the way, it's worth noting that the Australian production was fairly well-received by both critics and audience members when it opened, and since then it's played in other countries more or less to some acclaim. This production is arguably not the disaster that was universally panned over in London.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 9:53pm

c0113g3b0y said: "I hope it sinks so bad financially. ALW deserves a big slice of humble pie"

He's lost money on every production since Phantom, hasn't he? Let it go.

[Steve C.]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 10:10pm

Well I see that LND is still not getting any love. IMO, we don't all want to see a paint-by-numbers staging of The King And I, and I like Kelli O'Hara. I guess ALW will get some ears opening again with School Of Rock.

(But LND still deserves an open minded listen) 

[devonian.t]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 12:21am

I hope "School of Rock" is successful- I think it stands a good chance: it plays to his strengths and it's about ALW's level of maturity and understanding.  I don't mean that snobbishly, but it's a fact that we all have our own level and ALW can do "Joseph", ;"Cats" or "Starlight Express".  He was ably guided by Tim Rice on "JCS" and "Evita".  Elsewhere he's out of his depth, his material floundering in psychological implausibility.

As Charley Kringas almost says, though, "he does the money thing very well... and nobody does it better".

[Tag]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 1:44am

It will be worth the price of admission just to see Gabriela Tylesova's designs.

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 4:02am

By the way, it's worth noting that the Australian production was fairly well-received by both critics and audience members when it opened, and since then it's played in other countries more or less to some acclaim. This production is arguably not the disaster that was universally panned over in London.

 

That's not quite true. RUG have done a good job with their PR of making the Oz production look like a hit, but I have doubts it ever recouped. It was supposed to do a spell in Brisbane in addition to Sydney and Melbourne, and that got quietly dropped. There were some vitriolic reviews in Australia as well. Time Out gave it an extremely negative one, but RUG were so infuriated they threatened to pull all advertising from the publication unless it removed its review from its website, so it did. (It still made the print version, though).

Updated On: 9/23/15 at 04:02 AM

[c0113g3b0y]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 6:06am

devonian.t said: "I hope "School of Rock" is successful- I think it stands a good chance: it plays to his strengths and it's about ALW's level of maturity and understanding.  I don't mean that snobbishly, but it's a fact that we all have our own level and ALW can do "Joseph", ;"Cats" or "Starlight Express".  He was ably guided by Tim Rice on "JCS" and "Evita".  Elsewhere he's out of his depth, his material floundering in psychological implausibility.

 

As Charley Kringas almost says, though, "he does the money thing very well... and nobody does it better".

 

lmfao..too true

 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 10:36am

I like how they're titling it "Love Never Dies: The Phantom Returns" as if people don't know what it's about.

 

Most people don't, actually.

 

I saw the London production (somewhere in the middle of rewrites) and I enjoyed some moments and truly hated some moments.  The biggest glaring flaw was the ridiculous book, but The Beauty Underneath was the single WORST number ALW's written as well as the WORST number I've seen in any show.  And Devil Take the Hindmost might not sound so stupid and devoid of tension if the tempo was increased above a snail's pace.  The funny thing is, there are quite a few lovely melodies including one of his best, Coney Island Waltz, but the book and lyrics mostly undercut the melodies into unintentional comedic camp that no performer can save, try as they might.  And they act as HARD as they can.

 

The Australian production improved on the staging, but not the book or score.  And to me, moving Till I Hear You Sing to the beginning only lessened the (admittedly false) tension of the first act.  It serves no purpose other than to patronize the audience with an early appearance of the Phantom.  Otherwise, it's just a clumsy prelude to the story.

 

As for a US tour, I'll believe it when I see it.  Until then, I just consider it silly gossip.

Updated On: 9/23/15 at 10:36 AM

[Jallenc32]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 1:28pm

I actually much prefer Love Never Dies to Phantom.  It has higher stakes and the characters are more developed as opposed to simply being archetypes in Phantom.

[NewsiesForever]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 1:37pm

I for one will see it. I cannot wait to see it and look forward to see it on tour

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 2:04pm

Well, it's not happening, so good luck!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/North-America-Will-Have-to-Keep-Waiting-for-LOVE-NEVER-DIES-Rep-Reveals-No-Set-Tour-at-Present-20150922

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 2:18pm

While that is true and Playbill's article was misleading by stating that the tour was definitely happening, it sounds like the possibility for one still exists if enough interest is out there amongst promoters. The original article posted by the OP stated, "Booking inquiries for the production are currently being taken from national touring agency Broadway Booking Office." 

 

Not to mention, Playbill actually had that other quote about no tour being set in their article as well but still described it as being definite. Just sounds like a bit of presumptuousness on Playbill's part to me!

 

Updated On: 9/23/15 at 02:18 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 8:20pm

I've gone on about my dislike of the lyrics and book ad nauseum (but really it is bad fanfiction.  The first Phantom strips the original book to its basics and kinda works IMHO because of how Prince and Bjornson made it all about atmosphere--this goes the route of many of the worst sequels by making a completely WTF, overly complex story.  I mean even "side" elements--Giry has been essentially pimping out her daughter to help support the Phantom and poor abused Meg has been driven murderously insane by that?  WHAT?  We won't even get into the main Phantom Kid storyline.)  I do think much of the music is beautiful--yes it's even by ALW standards ridiculously grandiose but in that one respect he found the right tone.  And yeah, the Ozzie production looks purdy.

While I can't see this ever touring--how easy would it be to tour the Australian production affordably anyway?  This isn't like Australia or Japan where it made a couple of extended stops--to tour North America I think it would have to play many more cities for a shorter amount of time.  And in that respect it makes more sense than going to Broadway--play two weeks in Seattle or wherever and you'll get the hardcore Phantom fans and other curious theatre goers there to probably make it do well those two weeks and then quickly pack up and move on to another city before word of mouth and reviews spread a bit like Mr Dark's Pandemonium Carnival in Something Wicked This Way Comes :P

Updated On: 9/24/15 at 08:20 PM