Andrew Lloyd Webber to Pen 'Phantom' Sequel?

Tony Award-winning composer and producer Andrew Lloyd Webber writes in his latest blog that he is considering a return to the Paris Opera House with a sequel to The Phantom of the Opera.

Webber, who was recently a guest judge on the reality talent search "Grease: You're the One That I Want," writes that the possible sequel would be based "on an idea presented to me over a decade ago."  He is currently at work on a musical adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's classic novel The Master and Margarita.

Webber, whose many other hits as a composer include Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats and Sunset Boulevard, also writes that a plethora of performers tried out for his new reality search "Any Dream Will Do," which will lead to the casting of the stars of a West End revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  He writes, "Over 800 people have asked to audition for 'Any Dream Will Do' in Cardiff alone and nearly 2000 in London. That's three times as many as for 'How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria' so the next series looks set to be very exciting. I can also reveal that one of the programmes will be filmed at my house in Ireland."  The latter program resulted in the casting of Connie Fisher as Maria in The Sound of Music, the West End revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic that Webber produces.

The Phantom of the Opera features music by Webber and lyrics by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Charles Stilgoe.  One of the most successful musicals of all time, Phantom - which is based on the novel by Gaston Leroux - plays in numerous productions around the world and last year, became Broadway's longest-running musical.  It concerns the masked composer of the title, who haunts the Paris Opera House and longs for lovely young soprano Christine Daae.

Visit www.andrewlloydwebber.com for more information.

Photo of Andrew Lloyd Webber by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.