While sequels are often sure bets for motion pictures, they are less likely to work well for Broadway musicals. Do you remember The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public? Bring Back Birdie? Annie 2: Miss Hannigan’s Revenge? For quite some time it was thought that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of the Opera would find itself in the same dustbin of theatre history. But an enterprising Australian director, Simon Phillips, has brought new life to Love Never Dies. The show just opened at the Pantages Theatre where it will continue to play through April 22nd. Then the touring production heads to Costa Mesa where it will play at the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts from April 24 – May 5.

It is now ten years after Phantom when Love Never Dies begins. Christine (Meghan Picerno) is now a bonafide star. She is married to Raoul (Sean Thompson) and they have a son, Gustave (Casey Lyons and Jake Heston Miller rotate in the role.) As for the Phantom (Gardar Thor Cortes), he fled Paris for New York and has taken his place amongst the denizens of Coney Island. When Christine accepts an invitation to perform a concert in New York, the Phantom, who has never gotten over her, tries one more time to seduce her and get her to leave her family for the man who wrote the music of the night. Her relationship with Raoul has hit some rough spots due to his drinking and gambling problems. Torn between two lovers, which one will Christine choose? And what of her son who seems preternaturally intrigued with Coney Island?

Photo Credit:  Joan Marcus

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