First Look at Love Never Dies National Tour
(© Joan Marcus)
Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to the Olivier and Tony-winning The Phantom of the Opera, is set for the opening of its first-ever American tour when performances begin October 17 at Detroit's Fisher Theatre. Check out photos from the production in the gallery below.
Gardar Thor Cortes portrays 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, and Arthur Wise.
Love Never Dies features music by Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, a book by Webber and Ben Elton with additional material by Slater and Frederick Forsyth, additional lyrics by Charles Hart, and orchestrations by Webber and David Cullen.
The touring production is directed by Simon Phillips and features 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 in 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."
