Today's letter from the Phantom
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Phantom Confirms 8 Oct Love Never Dies Launch

Set your stopwatches, Phantom phans. The masked man himself has confirmed that Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long-awaited sequel to The Phantom of the Opera will be announced in less than four weeks’ time, at 11am on Thursday 8 October 2009.

An in-character “message from the Phantom” emailed out today reads: “Ladies and Gentlemen, At 11 o’clock on the eighth day of October 2009, I will be making an announcement of global importance. Should my commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. Amor Numquam Moritur. Your Obedient Servant, The Phantom”

A link takes recipients back to a page on the official show website - www.loveneverdies.com/october8th - where a teaser trailer shows highlights from The Phantom of the Opera followed by black and white film archive footage of immigrants arriving in turn-of-the-20th century New York City, with shots of the Statue of Liberty and Coney Island, followed by the promise that “the story continues”.

Love Never Dies is set in 1907, ten years after the conclusion of the original story. The Phantom has escaped to New York with Madame and Meg Giry and found success in Coney Island as a magician and entertainer. When he builds a new opera house, he persuades his old ingenue Christine Daae, now a huge star and married to her old flame Raoul, to sing for him once more...

The musical, which has lyrics by Glenn Slater, is directed by Jack O'Brien and designed by Bob Crowley, with choreography by Jerry Mitchell and lighting by Paule Constable.

The launch day announcement is expected to confirm rumours that the musical will receive its world premiere at the West End’s Adelphi Theatre next March, following previews, as well as casting including Ramin Karimloo as the Phantom, American Sierra Boggess as Christine, and Summer Strallen as Meg Giry.

- by Terri Paddock

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