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Post by Dianne on Dec 29, 2008 19:45:47 GMT -5
weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/stage/blog/2008/12/phantom_sequel_to_open_in_3_pl.htmlAccording to Andrew Lloyd Webber, PHANTOM: LOVE NEVER DIES, the long-awaited sequel to THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, will open simultaneously in New York, London and Shanghai. Directed by Jack O'Brien, the sequel takes place in Brooklyn's Coney Island, where the Phantom has relocated following his eviction from the Paris Opera House. London newspapers speculate that the title role could be played by Gerard Butler, who played the Phantom of the 2004 film version, or Hugh Jackman.
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Post by melo on Dec 29, 2008 22:07:25 GMT -5
That would be interesting, to say the least... Either man would be fine by me, though Mr. B would have my preference ;D I luuuuve to hear him sing!
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Post by Dianne on Dec 29, 2008 22:39:26 GMT -5
And would Gerry be in New York?
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Post by Dianne on Dec 30, 2008 7:35:11 GMT -5
Here's a little more on the subject... www.playbill.com/news/article/124690.htmlLloyd Webber Hopes to Open Phantom Sequel Simultaneously in Three Cities By Mark Shenton 29 Dec 2008 Andrew Lloyd Webber photo by Aubrey Reuben Andrew Lloyd Webber has confirmed that "the button [has been] pushed" on Phantom: Love Never Dies for it to now proceed into production. As reported in The Times of London, Phantom: Love Never Dies make its premiere at the end of 2009. It is Lloyd Webber's current plan to open the new musical simultaneously in three territories. Lloyd Webber 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." As previously reported by Playbill.com, Lloyd Webber has been proceeding slowly on bringing the Phantom sequel to the stage. "I have learned very definitely over the last few years that you have to be very sure before you go forward," he told Playbill.com earlier in the year, noting that he has abandoned plans to bring the Bulgakov novel, "The Master and Margarita," to the stage for precisely that reason: "I couldn't really find anybody who saw in it what I saw in it." Admitting that there were problems with the plot – "the end of it is very confused" – he revealed, "I got myself into that problem with The Woman in White. We had a terrific first act, but actually today, and it was something I had underestimated, there's no secret you can even remotely put on a stage today that a modern audience can find shocking. It was a novel about a faked birth certificate – and people said, 'So what?' That was our mistake – if ever I revisited the piece, we would have to stop at the point where it is revealed that the sisters are swapped in the asylum. So I don't want to make that mistake again, and what I'm going to do is workshop [the new Phantom] to the nth degree." The first act was workshopped in summer 2008 at Lloyd Webber's private Sydmonton Festival at his Berkshire country home. "We've already done the first act," Lloyd Webber explained, "and rather like The Woman in White, where the first act worked wonderfully, what we cannot do is presume that the second act is going to as well." Working with director Jack O'Brien, who staged the Sydmonton workshop, and lyricist Glenn Slater, he is now writing the rest of the show, and when they have completed the work, "we are going to do a workshop of the second act, then take a month off and do it again with both halves this time and then we'll see." He said at the time, "I won't push the button on it till we've done both those workshops. I don't want to let this one out unless we're pretty sure that the basic material is as good as we can get it." Now that he has told The Times that the button has been pushed on the show – in which the Phantom has been relocated from the Paris Opera to Brooklyn's Coney Island, with an entirely new story created by himself, lyricist Slater, director O'Brien "and a twist of it was given to us by Ben Elton," the productions have to be cast. He has told The Times, "We are pretty clear who our Phantom is going to be – I can't say who." The Times speculates that Gerard Butler, who played the title role in the 2004 film version of Lloyd Webber's musical, and Hugh Jackman could be among the contenders. It also confirms that the designer will be Bob Crowley, currently represented on Broadway by his designs for Mary Poppins.
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Post by Dianne on Dec 30, 2008 14:04:17 GMT -5
www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_ezine&task=read&page=1&category=4&article=5996Hugh Jackman, Gerard Butler in a PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Sequel?! Written by Stephanie Sanchez Tuesday, 30 December 2008 Sequels have been the rage in Hollywood for years, why not Broadway too? That's what Andrew Lloyd Webber thinks, he's making a Phantom of the Opera sequel ready for the end of 2009. With a working title of PHANTOM: LOVE NEVER DIES is almost sounds like the typical Hollywood film part deux. Lloyd Webber told The Times of London that he hopes the new musical will open in New York, London and possibly Shanghai or another Asian city. "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.” The sequel will be set a decade or so after the first instalment, during which time the Phantom has relocated from the Paris Opéra of Gaston Leroux's original novel to Coney Island in Brooklyn, then still a hugely popular beach-side amusement resort for New Yorkers. “It was the place,” said Lloyd Webber. “Even Freud went because it was so extraordinary ... people who were freaks and oddities were drawn towards it because it was a place where they could be themselves.” The Phantom will be reunited with Christine, the “Swedish soprano.” And who does Webber have in mind to take the Phantom role? He says, "We are pretty clear who our Phantom is going to be - I can't say who," he said. The Times said possible candidates for the role include Hugh Jackman and Gerard Butler, who played the Phantom in the 2004 film version of the musical but I don't know. Jackman is an extremely busy guy and is very much in demand. He's already set to portray Harry Houdini next on the Broadway stage but there isn't a script yet although it is said that Kurt Anderson is writing it, so there may be time. And Butler, although I love him and he was great in 300, he didn't exactly have a very strong voice in the 2004 film adaptation certainly not strong enough to play the Phantom on stage, but I could be wrong. Jack O'Brien, who has had successes with The Full Monty and Hairspray, will direct the production. The sets will be designed by Bob Crowley, who has won five Tony awards and whose credits include Sir Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins.
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Post by Leppardlady on Dec 30, 2008 14:50:23 GMT -5
Well, I'm just bummed. Why can't they do these things in the Midwest so we can see them? I don't know if Gerry would do it anyway. Locking himself into a stage production for how long? This would tie him up (hmmm... tying Gerry up... ... sorry, got distracted, where was I?) and he wouldn't be available for any movie projects that come his way.
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Post by Joy on Dec 30, 2008 15:38:56 GMT -5
Well, I'm just bummed. Why can't they do these things in the Midwest so we can see them? I don't know if Gerry would do it anyway. Locking himself into a stage production for how long? This would tie him up (hmmm... tying Gerry up... ... sorry, got distracted, where was I?) and he wouldn't be available for any movie projects that come his way. Aye but we'd know where to find him!!
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Post by Dianne on Dec 30, 2008 16:38:12 GMT -5
Well, I'm just bummed. Why can't they do these things in the Midwest so we can see them? I don't know if Gerry would do it anyway. Locking himself into a stage production for how long? This would tie him up (hmmm... tying Gerry up... ... sorry, got distracted, where was I?) and he wouldn't be available for any movie projects that come his way. I agree, I couldn't see him tied up...huh?
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Post by Dianne on Dec 30, 2008 16:39:56 GMT -5
Well, I'm just bummed. Why can't they do these things in the Midwest so we can see them? I don't know if Gerry would do it anyway. Locking himself into a stage production for how long? This would tie him up (hmmm... tying Gerry up... ... sorry, got distracted, where was I?) and he wouldn't be available for any movie projects that come his way. Aye but we'd know where to find him!! Now that's a thought! Dianne is joking, she would never hit Gerry with a baseball bat.
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Post by irishseductress on Dec 31, 2008 5:25:28 GMT -5
If they're gonna do a sequel it has to be with Gerry. As much as I love Hugh, Gerry is my Erik all the way. No one could replace him for me. I am disappointed in Andrew for actually going ahead and going through with this crazy scheme. I mean the story ended where it ended. Period. Thats what fanfictions are for lol To continue the Phantoms legacy through our imaginations.
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Post by Dianne on Dec 31, 2008 6:46:24 GMT -5
You know I agree with you Irish, I kind of wish he'd leave it alone... May be Webber is a gambler and needs more money?
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Post by irishseductress on Dec 31, 2008 7:01:48 GMT -5
You know I agree with you Irish, I kind of wish he'd leave it alone... May be Webber is a gambler and needs more money? Ha! I wish lol Even his own cat was giving him a sign to not do the sequel. lol
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Post by Dianne on Dec 31, 2008 7:14:01 GMT -5
You know I agree with you Irish, I kind of wish he'd leave it alone... May be Webber is a gambler and needs more money? Ha! I wish lol Even his own cat was giving him a sign to not do the sequel. lol What did his cat do did he start spraying around the house?
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steph
Gerard Butler watcher
Posts: 230
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Post by steph on Dec 31, 2008 18:09:30 GMT -5
If they're gonna do a sequel it has to be with Gerry. As much as I love Hugh, Gerry is my Erik all the way. No one could replace him for me. I am disappointed in Andrew for actually going ahead and going through with this crazy scheme. I mean the story ended where it ended. Period. Thats what fanfictions are for lol To continue the Phantoms legacy through our imaginations. Amen, sister!
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Post by moonmistress on Dec 31, 2008 19:27:31 GMT -5
If they're gonna do a sequel it has to be with Gerry. As much as I love Hugh, Gerry is my Erik all the way. No one could replace him for me. I am disappointed in Andrew for actually going ahead and going through with this crazy scheme. I mean the story ended where it ended. Period. Thats what fanfictions are for lol To continue the Phantoms legacy through our imaginations. Amen, sister! Are they thinking about doing another Phantom movie?
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