Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies Delays Broadway Bow to Spring 2011

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, the sequel to his Phantom of the Opera, will now open at the Neil Simon Theatre during the spring of 2011. Originally, the production, directed by Jack O’Brien, was to have opened on November 11. The postponement, according to a statement from the show’s producers, is due to the “post-operative problems” which Lloyd Webber is experiencing following his treatment for prostate cancer.

The statement explains another reason for the delay in the show’s Broadway debut; Lloyd Webber is also at work on a West End revival of The Wizard of Oz and the reality series which will cast the role of Dorothy in the classic.

The new schedule for the show takes into account not only director O’Brien’s schedule, but also that of choreographer Jerry Mitchell and the balance of show’s creative team. In the statement, Lloyd Webber says “I am extremely frustrated that I cannot travel to New York for the time being. 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. I’m grateful that Jack and Jerry’s schedules can allow me to do this juggling act.”

Love Never Dies is currently playing at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End. The show features a book by Ben Elton and lyrics by Glenn Salter.

The company features Ramin Karimloo (The Phantom of the Opera), Sierra Boggess (Christine), Joseph Millson (Raoul), Liz Robertson (Madam Giry), Summer Strallen (Meg Giry), Niamh Perry (Fleck), Adam Pearce (Squelch), and Jami Reid-Quarrell (Gangle).

For further information, visit: www.loveneverdies.com.