Show Pics: Phantom Returns in Love Never Dies

Ahead of its gala opening on Tuesday (9 March 2010), we’ve put together a gallery of production images from Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s new musical Love Never Dies, which has already become one of the most talked-about theatrical premieres in recent times.

The subject of 70 pages (and counting) of discussion on the Whatsonstage.com forum, as well as countless column inches in newspapers and the blogosphere, the show – a continuation of the Phantom of the Opera story – has proved one of Lloyd Webber’s most hotly debated musicals yet. And that’s before the critics have even had a look (it began previews last week – 22 February).

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 the fairgrounds of
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…

Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess star as the Phantom and
Christine, with Summer Strallen as Meg Giry, Liz Robertson as
Madame Giry and Joseph Millson as Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny (See
News, 9 Nov 2009). The cast also features Niamh
Perry, Adam Pearce and Jami Reid-Quarrell.

Love Never Dies, which has a score by Lloyd
Webber and 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.