LND Postpones Broadway Run to Spring 2011

The Broadway transfer of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, originally scheduled for November this year, has been postponed until spring 2011.

A statement from the show’s US producers to the New York Times cites complications following the composer’s recent treatment for prostate cancer as the cause of the delay.

It reads: “Lloyd Webber’s doctors have requested that he does not take any further long-haul flights for the time being and until the problem has been investigated. This prevents him attending auditions and being part of the pre-production process in New York on the original schedule.”

Lloyd Webber described himself in the statement as being “extremely frustrated” by the situation, which has been exacerbated by his commitments to current BBC casting show Over the Rainbow. He added: “I will be focusing my time on producing The Wizard of Oz in London now and plan to be available for the creative process of bringing Love Never Dies to Broadway as soon as possible.”

Love Never Dies has also been hit by an illness to leading man Ramin Karimloo, who plays the Phantom in the show, which is a continuation of the Phantom of the Opera story.

The actor, who is currently absent from the show, told fans on his Facebook page: “It’s not flu as first was suspected. Blood tests showed a problem and I was rushed for key hole surgery last night. Did not see that coming at all. All is and will be fine and I’m determined to be back asap … Much love and many blessings.”

Love Never Dies opened in the West End last month amid a storm of media interest and online discussion. The planned roll-out of the production to Australia and Asia later in 2011 is unaffected by the Broadway delay.