Theater News

Love Never Dies Announces Cast for National Tour

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to ”The Phantom of the Opera” will make its North American debut.

Meghan Picerno will star as Christine Daaé in the national tour of Love Never Dies.
Meghan Picerno will star as Christine Daaé in the national tour of Love Never Dies.
(© Fay Fox)

Casting has been announced for the national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies, the musical sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. The show makes its North American premiere on Wednesday, October 25 in Detroit, following technical rehearsals and performances in Utica, N.Y. (September 22-24 at the Stanley Theatre), and a special preview engagement in Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre (October 3-8).

Direct from the production of Love Never Dies in Hamburg, Germany, Gardar Thor Cortes will portray the Phantom, with Meghan Picerno as Christine Daaé, Karen Mason as Madame Giry, Sean Thompson as Raoul, Mary Michael Patterson as Meg Giry, and Casey Lyons and Jake Miller sharing the role of Gustave. Phantom’s henchmen include Katrina Kemp as Fleck, Richard Koons as Squelch, and Stephen Petrovich as Gangle.

Rounding out the ensemble will be Chelsey Arce, Erin Chupinsky, Diana DiMarzio, Tyler Donahue, Yesy Garcia, Alyssa Giannetti, Michael Gillis, Tamar Greene, Natalia Lepore Hagan, Lauren Lucacek, Alyssa McAnany, Rachel Ann Moore, Bronson Norris Murphy, Dave Schoonover, Adam Soniak, Kelly Swint, Lucas John Thompson, Correy West, Arthur Wise, and Borris York.

Love Never Dies features music by Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, a book by Webber and Ben Elton, additional lyrics by Charles Hart, and orchestrations by Webber and David Cullen.

The new touring production will reflect an extensive reworking of the material by an Australian creative team for the original Australian premiere in 2011. Directed by Simon Phillips, the show features new set and costume designs by Gabriela Tylesova, choreography by Graeme Murphy, lighting design by Nick Schlieper, and sound design by Mick Potter. Love Never Dies premiered in London's West End in 2010 and has received productions Australia, Denmark, Japan, and Germany, as well as multiple recordings including a concept album and a London cast recording.

The story is described as follows: "The year is 1907. It is 10 years after his disappearance from the Paris Opera House and the Phantom has escaped to a new life in New York where he lives amongst the screaming joy rides and freak shows of Coney Island. In this new, electrically charged world, he has finally found a place for his music to soar, but he has never stopped yearning for his one true love and musical protégée, Christine Daaé. Now one of the world’s finest sopranos, Christine accepts an invitation to travel from Paris to New York to perform at a renowned opera house. Christine's marriage to Raoul is suffering at the hands of his drinking and gambling and they desperately need the financial rewards that America can give them. In a final bid to win back Christine’s love, the Phantom lures her, Raoul, and their young son Gustave, from Manhattan to the glittering and glorious world of Coney Island — not knowing what is in store for them."

For the complete touring schedule, click here.