Love Never Dies to Take West End Hiatus in November; Simon Phillips to Direct Australian Premiere in 2011

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, the sequel to his Phantom of the Opera, has canceled performances for November 22-25, according to published reports. The brief hiatus in the show’s playing schedule will allow for changes to be integrated into the production, currently running at the West End’s Adelphi Theatre and booking through March 2011.

The announcement of the hiatus comes alongside the news that the musical will have its Australian premiere in a new production at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in May 2011. Simon Phillips will stage the piece, which will have designs by Gabriela Tylesova.

Love Never Dies features a book by Ben Elton and lyrics by Glenn Slater. In London, the musical has been directed by Jack O’Brien and features choreography by Jerry Mitchell. Bob Crowley designed the London production, which 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).

The musical had been scheduled to reach Broadway in the spring of 2011, but as previously reported, the show’s New York engagement has been postponed.