The Phantom of the Opera Strikes Back - sequel in development?

https://www.broadwayworld.com/l.cfm?id=150832

Interesting. The only musical sequel on stage I can think of is BRING BACK BIRDIE.

---

Oh, geez...he's making another attempt at this abandoned sequel.

Oy!

Gosh, we could have, in order --

SON OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
SON OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA MEETS HERCULES
SON OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA VERSUS GODZILLA
SON OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AND THE THREE STOOGES
GRANDSON OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: THE NEW GENERATION

---

Actually, as an opera, which many people say it is, including Webber, since the score describes it as such, it's not that far-fetched an idea.

Ever heard of the Barber of Seville, Marriage of Figaro? Sequels there...
Milhaud even wrote an opera based on the third play of the trilogy of Beaumarchais.

Shakespeare brought a character back "by popular demand"

Just because bring Back Birdie, Annie 2, Annie Warbucks, etc were disasters doesnt mean it can't work

And what if it does work? Man would I like to see Edwin Drood part 2...:)

---

They've been announcing this and planning this for quite a while. He even wrote a song for it "The Heart Is Slow To Learn".

There was a novelization of this concept written by who was supposed to have been the book writer of the show and published a long time ago called The Phantom of Manhattan. It was an interesting take on the story but not interesting enough to warrant a new musical. I thought this had died all that time ago along with the novel's less than stellar sales. Far more itneresting was the book Phantom by Susan Kay that told Erik's life story from birth through after his death.

PS Let's not forget The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public when discussing bad musical sequels!

---

A while ago he was developing this and it was to be based on a book called The Phantom of Manhattan. I purchased it, having enjoyed Leroux's original novel and a prequel written to it called Phantom (Susan Kay I believe?) but when I opened this new volume to find a forward stating that Leroux got his own original fictional story wrong and Andrew Lloyd Webber got the "real" story right I promptly took it back tot he book store and got my money back.

Andrew just wishes he could still pass as a composer. Several flops will do that to you I guess. I'm sure this project will die shortly like it did last time.

Whether you want to believe it or not, Andrew Lloyd Webber is the world's wealthiest living composer, with Rutter a close second I believe. They are close friends.


And if John Rutter considers him a colleague, then who are you or me to deny him that title.

In fact, I know few classical composers living that would call Sondheim a composer rather than a songwriter (which is not to say that songwriters do something inferior to composition, but they are different, as I see it)

---

Very much in agreement with Fenchurch's first post. Now keep in mind, I personally think this particular sequel idea would suck. Not because I think Andrew Lloyd Webber is a hack, and certainly not because I spit upon the original as so many show queens get off doing, but because of the ideas we've already seen thrown around for this Phantom sequel...they've just been bad. However, if you're going to outright damn this sequel just because it's a sequel, remember that there are indeed plenty of examples of successful sequels in the history of theatre and opera like the ones Fenchurch mentioned. If someone considers a sequel for a modern musical like Phantom, they are not necessarily heralding in the death of musical theatre (and spare me the comments about the original Phantom having already done the job).

In any case, I really doubt Lloyd Webber will actually go through with this. I'm not sure he's of perfectly sound mind, but I still think he'll have to realize eventually that this project wouldn't contribute much to the legacy of Phantom.

---

Updated On: 2/16/07 at 05:44 PM

Well, the Ahmanson won't be open for a 4 year run again, so let's just call the sequel "Wicked" and let it run at the Pantages.

"There have been TONS of musical versions of Phantom as well as straight play versions."

Yes. This is relevent why?

I wasn't saying ALW is bad regardless of how I feel on that subject because I think that is inconsequential to this topic. He has, however, had several flops lately and it's not completely surprising he is now wishing to repeat his greatest success by literally returning to it.

I don't even understand what about the story could be extended though. I feel we leave the young lovers fairly confident they'll live "happily ever after" and as for the Phantom... I just don't know what other story would be interesting. The end.

Wasn't one enough? *Eye roll*

---

wickedrentq, what epilogue?

Also, how can it get any longer?

Edit: And also, how would they have both play on Broadway?

Updated On: 2/16/07 at 06:13 PM