Andrew Lloyd Webber

It opened to some very harsh reviews in London where it eventually closed prematurely. Then a planned Broadway debut was cancelled. But famed composer Andrew Lloyd Webber says he’s “sure” that Love Never Dies will eventually make its way to The Great White Way.

Love Never Dies is the sequel to Webber’s long-running Phantom Of The Opera. The production picks up 10 years after The Phantom left off. We are transported to New York’s playground Coney Island where the masked phantom has been hiding amongst the freaks and side shows for 10 long years, yearning for his one true love and musical protégée, Christine Daaé. Lured by the bright lights and financial rewards of Coney, Christine and her family flee Manhattan to perform on stage for one last time. But Christine soon discovers the true identity of her mysterious impresario and that all is not what it seems.

Since the disappointing reception in London, Love Never Dies has been reworked for its performance in Melbourne, Australia. That version has been positively received, which has no doubt bolstered the famed composer’s confidence about an eventual Broadway production. Needless to say, if and when that day comes, you’ll hear about it here.

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The production is currently playing at London’s Adelphi Theatre where it made its world premiere in March of this year. Reviews at that time were mixed at best, with some quite harsh. However, producers there announced last month that it would continue at least through March 2011.

Taking Love Never Dies’ place at the Neil Simon Theatre next Spring will be Catch Me If You Can, which is set to open on April 10th.

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You may recall that we reported Lloyd Webber’s diagnosis with prostate cancer late last year. But in January of this year, he declared himself to be “cancer-free.” Now comes word that while the cancer is in check, there have been post-operative complications which prevent him from flying. As a result, he is unable to travel to New York to conduct auditions or participate in pre-production planning.

Love Never Dies is set in 1907,  a decade  after the end of Phantom. Christine Daaé is invited to perform at Phantasma, a new attraction in Coney Island, by an anonymous impresario  and, with her husband Raoul and son Gustave in tow, she journeys to Brooklyn, unaware that it is the Phantom who has arranged her appearance in the popular beach resort.

When the 2011 debut date is set, you can be sure we’ll have it for you here.

And that’s today’s ShowBus Buzz. We’ll be back early next week with our next blog update. Please join us then.

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Playwright Neil Simon

Call it a sign of the times – the tough economic times, that is. After opening on Broadway barely a week ago, the new revival of Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs is already history. According to the New York Times, the show, which opened on October 25th, played its final performance last night.

Brighton Beach Memoirs was supposed to run in rep at the Nederlander Theatre with a revival of Simon’s Broadway Bound, which was scheduled to open later this year. Now the former is dark and the latter has been canceled.

Both plays were huge hits on The Great White Way back in the 1980s, yielding Tony awards for Matthew Broderick in Brighton Beach Memoirs, and for Linda Lavin (of TV’s Alice fame) in Broadway Bound.

Scarlett Johansson Planning Broadway Debut
Golden Globe winning actress Scarlett Johansson is set to make her Broadway debut in Arthur Miller’s A View From the Bridge. Johansson will co-star with Tony award winner Liev Schreiber who will play Eddie Carbone, a New York longshoreman obsessed with his 17 year old niece Catherine, played by Johansson. When Catherine falls in love with a newly arrived immigrant, Eddie’s jealousy erupts in a rage that consumes him, his family, and his world.

The production will play a 14-week limited engagement at Broadway’s Cort Theatre, with previews scheduled for December 28th and opening night set for January 24th.

Andrew Lloyd Webber Diagnosed With Cancer
Just a couple of weeks after announcing plans for a sequel to Phantom of the Opera, 61 year old legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has made a more grim announcement. He has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The good news, according to Webber’s publicist, is that the cancer was discovered in its early stages and a full recovery is expected. “Andrew is now undergoing treatment and expects to be fully back at work before the end of the year,” the statement said.

You may recall that we told you about the upcoming opening of Webber’s Phantom sequel, Love Never Dies, which is set to debut in London in March, with a Broadway opening planned for next November. At this time, Webber does not expect that this unfortunate news will affect that schedule.

And that’s today’s ShowBus Buzz. Check back here often because we’ll be back with more news from Broadway very soon.

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Fela! begins previews at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on October 19th, with opening night set for November 23rd.
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Love Never Dies
Last week at his global launch party in London, famed composer Andrew Lloyd Webber made it official. The sequel to Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies will debut on Broadway next November 11th after performances at London’s Adelphi Theatre. Love Never Dies continues the story of the Phantom, who has moved across the Atlantic from his lair in the Paris Opera House to haunt the fairgrounds of Coney Island, where Christine is now living. Set 10 years after his mysterious disappearance from Paris, producers describe this as a roller-coaster ride of obsession and intrigue, in which music and memory can play cruel tricks. No theatre has yet been set for the November 2010 debut of Love Never Dies.

Here’s a look at the song, “Till I Hear You Sing” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies:
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Is Harry Potter Broadway Bound?
While it’s a bit prelimary, word is that Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe may be heading to Broadway in a possible upcoming revival of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. We say preliminary because at this point, he is simply scheduled to star in an upcoming reading of the show this December. That reading could eventually lead to the revival and Radcliffe could be the star.

The original Broadway production of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying opened in 1961 and went on to win seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. In 1995, a Broadway revival won a Best Actor Tony Award for star Matthew Broderick.

You can be sure that we’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available about whether Harry Potter will be coming to The Great White Way.

And that’s today’s ShowBus Buzz. Check back here often because we’ll be back with more news from Broadway very soon.

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Zeta-Jones Broadway Bound?
You won’t hear it from her lips (yet), but according to her husband, Michael Douglas, during an appearance on Live! With Regis & Kelly, Catherine Zeta-Jones is eying her Broadway debut in the upcoming revival of Steven Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. Zeta-Jones will reportedly play the role of Desiree, starring opposite Angela Lansbury who holds down the role of Madame Armfeldt.

The original production of A Little Night Music hit The Great White Way back in 1973 at the Shubert Theatre, later moving to the Majestic. During it’s run, the show won 5 Tony awards. Watch for this revival – reportedly with Catherine Zeta-Jones in the spotlight – at the Walter Kerr Theatre on a date yet to be announced.

Phantom Sequel?
Word is that Andrew Lloyd Webber is busy at work on the sequel to Phantom of the Opera, entitled Love Never Dies. Webber has been releasing information about the new show in drips and drabs. But a new website features a letter from The Phantom promising a big announcement on October 8th. What do we know about the show thus far? Only the information that appears on Webber’s new site: “Graced with stunning designs, passionate lyrics and a magnificent score, this brand-new musical is a roller coaster ride of obsession and intrigue… in which music and memory can play cruel tricks… and The Phantom sets out to prove that, indeed, Love Never Dies.” Rest assured that we’ll keep you posted as new details about this Phantom sequel are released.

And that’s today’s ShowBus Buzz. Check back here often because we’ll be back with more news from Broadway very soon.

The ShowBus Team
http://ShowBusTours.com
info@showbustours.com
(800) 882-6400