By the time this opens, ticket prices will be what? $125, at least? Okay, so the money I won't spend on this should get me two more cashmere sweaters at a Bloomingdale's weekend sale.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
JasonM12480, you are absolutely right. No need to bash all this at an early stage. Let's just see what happens.
Granted, ALW's latest efforts haven't been much (as much as I am a fan, I did not enjoy THE WOMAN IN WHITE for the most part), but I am ready to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Well I'm pretty sure that he'll have to close The Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic if he makes way for this sequel. I don't know what to think... Anyhow we will see how it goes.
Honestly, I'd rather have Webber working on this than his planned adaptation of Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita. I don't want him anywhere near that book.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
best12bars - liked your ideas - really made me laugh there - especially Sunset 2 -
I've been calling Phantom 2: the revenge of Raol...
I don't think it's a wise idea - but I do understand ALW's motivation. Business wise that is - Phantom's run what over 20 years in London = 19 here... tours still going on - vegas- australia - etc. It's grossed over a billion dollars -
If he writes a few beautiful songs, which he's entirely capable of doing, and a percentage of phantom fans go out of curiosity - it can make its money back and then some. I don't know if lightning can hit twice - it's possible, doubtful, but possible.
As for me - I was more interested in his attempt on Master and the Margarita - and hope he hasn't abandoned that for sure.
I would love a musical adaptation of M&M, just not written by ALW.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
There are just so many reasons why this would not work. I really hope someone talks him out of it, or that he's just playing a really cruel early April Fool's joke.
The thing that really perplexes me is Phantom's strengths (and while I'm no huge fan I'll admit it has many really appealing qualities) are the atmosphere it creates--the lush sets and direction, romantic music and basic plot outline. NO ONE IMHO cares what happens to ANY of the characters once the sotry is done--partly because they're barely even characters--the Phantom is the most interesting one and really I think the only story about him that would appeal would be a more detailed prequel/genesis story btu even there I'd hate to see a musical all about it...
A friend of mien who was a Phantom nut in high school read the sequel I believe Andy is working from--in Manhattan and said it was absolutely awful--and he has a high threshold for chease
"Y'know, I think Bertolt Brecht was rolling in his grave."
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum
Not the same BUT by 1993 Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman had the highest charting debut album ever "Bat Out Of Hell" which was basically a phenomenon. Then what do they do? Announce a sequel.
"Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell" is listed as one of the greatest comebacks in rock 'n roll with "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" topping the charts in 38 countries worldwide. THEY made lightning strike twice and sequels have probably never ever BEEN attempted for the top 10 / 20 greatest albums ever made.
If you want to look at it theatrically, Jim Steinman basically writes stuff that never got to Broadway and ran for 20 years. Plus it's all for a rock musical called "Neverland"
Not exactly the same, no, but if you can create a hugely successful sequel to one of the most iconic albums ever, then it can be done in theatre. Lloyd Webber just needs a good strong idea and a lot of hard work and good direction to pull it off. BAT II had that, Annie 2 didn't. It was a mess in Washington D.C. They re-wrote it as Annie Warbucks and what was that, Off-Broadway? Plus it just sounds like the first show all over again, IMO
These are my thoughts, BWW'ers.
Who can explain it, who can tell you why?
Fools give you reasons, wise men never try
-South Pacific
It's not gonna happen. He's just distracting us from the fact that his other new project isn't happening. Hasn't he been brewing a Phantom sequel for a long time?
I remember always thinking about how symbolic it was for Meg to pick up the mask at the end. It always made me wonder if the Phantom would move on to her.
I like being able to wonder and create my own theories.
The movie destroyed the image, but a sequel would crush that, and any other ideas that I'm left with at the end. It would take something away from the original story, imho.