The Phantom of the Opera Strikes Back - sequel in development?- Page 3

[bjh2114]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 2:18am

I say let 'em do it!! That way, Phantom will finally close, and shortly thereafter the sequel will close because it will bomb and not find nearly the audience that Phantom had 19 years ago. Which means...no more Lloyd Webber long runs on Broadway! Please, pretty please.

[WickedForever2]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 4:01am

I enjoy this thread title, very creative indeed. If ALW actually names the musical this, I might consider seeing just to be able to say I saw it. Perhaps he can collaborate with John Williams... I've always liked his music.

[Julian2]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 4:09am

I really don't think you can put this sequel on the same level as the great opera sequels, wether Webber is a "rich composer" or not. IDK, it probably won't go through, but its hard to shake the feeling that it would be a bad idea. I think a lot depends on where the plot would be going.

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 5:59am

I'll be the first to say that I've secretly wished for this project to happen... for some time. *avoids the flying objects, too late* *emergency CPR required*

I remember getting the DVD for Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th Birthday bash at the Royal Albert Hall. I was quite surprised when he got up onstage and introduced Kiri Te Kunawa, a sensational opera singer in my eyes IMO, premiering a new song from "what I'd like to be, a sequel to the story of The Phantom Of The Opera." What, what, what???

The song I proceeded to hear is one of the most beautiful I've ever heard in my life. I purchased the book that Frederick Forsyth wrote, "The Phantom Of Manhattan", and remember myself enjoying it. Years later, when the project was long dead, I read it again and was sick that night. It was so horrible.

Of course, "The Heart Is Slow To Learn" became the sub-par "Our Kind Of Love" in "The Beautiful Game", IMO it *is* sub-par. That was pretty much the death-knell of THAT project.

Another great song I have heard, which I have really loved, is "Not Allowed To Love" from the Batman musical. I run the Batman "memorial" site, so to speak, which is where all the Batfans are getting their demos, but neither me or the Steinman community are allowed to make available the 3 different demo mixes of that song. Which is an ENORMOUS shame! I hope that one day, the powers in charge let us put this out... Some of you may have heard it at Joe's Pub with "The Dream Engine"?

I know it's a long shot, but if you want to talk sequels to famous pieces of work... let's go to the record business. Jim Steinman called up Meat Loaf in the 80s and said "let's do a sequel to BAT OUT OF HELL." A practically laughable idea since the first album had reached iconic status, listed in the Guinness World Records as most successful debut album up to that point, not to mention in the top 10 of greatest selling rock albums ever. How on EARTH would a sequel work?? Had albums even DONE sequels??

Needless to say, "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" topped the charts in 38 countries, becoming one of the greatest rock singles to have ever scored. "Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell" was an enormous comeback for Meat, currently on 15 million copies sold worldwide.

I think of it THAT way. I know it may be a long shot from this Phantom sequel but Steinman's work, no matter HOW it's done, is like seeing a musical anyway. One reporter puts it this way: "Andrew Lloyd Webber on steroids".

Plus I love controversial things like this. If it becomes one of the greatest flops ever, or a stunning breakthrough, I'll be there.

Look at "Superstar", who would ever produce a rock opera about Jesus Christ? "Evita", who would produce a show about Eva Peron? "Cats", it took 200 investors to get this together and was Lloyd Webber's follie. Now look at it. If I recall, researching the history of "Phantom", everyone on Broadway thought Lloyd Webber was dooming himself when he announced THAT one. Then what did he do? Pulled a complete 180 with "Aspects Of Love". "Sunset Boulevard", again, only Sondheim had attempted THAT. "Whistle Down The Wind", another 180 from Sunset, this time exploring rock music. When ALW was going to do the Phantom sequel the first time, what did he do instead? A musical about SOCCER!

You can't say he isn't diverse. Maybe he'll have the first phenomenal sequel success? I have no idea. I just love the controversy of it all. I say, bring on the Phantom sequel and WB, get back to work on "Batman" because the WORLD NEEDS TO HEAR NOT ALLOWED TO LOVE !!!!

Updated On: 2/17/07 at 05:59 AM

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 10:06am

I adore POTO. It is a part of my heart & soul. I think Lord ALW is amazingly talented and he has been in my life so to speak for as long as I can remember.

That said: PLEASE, NO!!!!! It's not that I don't think it COULD be good because it has potentential- and we are talking about ALW here. It's not that I wouldn't LOVE to see it. It's that it doesn't need to happen.

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 12:04am

I wholeheartedly agree with them reviving the Batman musical. The songs are amazing, and the show itself has potential for awesome sets and props, very much like Wicked. Imagine the legendary Batcave recreated in rotating sets installed on an elevator! And an exact replica of the Batmobile complete with special effects. It would be like our greatest and most sentimental childhood dreams coming true (come on ... admit it ... you also wanted to live in the Batcave) :). I have always loved Batman and always will; a JS musical would be incredible.

BOOH is one of the greatest rock records of all-time; "IWDAFL" one of the greatest ballads "ever," period. The music video for it is so incredible ... very POTO-ish, as long as we are on the subject.

And BTW, the song I mentioned before is called "Unsettled Scores," not "There's a Prayer." Just needed to clear that up. Hate having stuff hanging on my chest like that.

Updated On: 2/18/07 at 12:04 AM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 12:07am

I saw a posting on playbill.com that Vanessa is coming back to bway as the chandelier.

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 10:42am

"a JS musical would be incredible."

I'm always surprised at the different extremes of reactions people have shown towards the Batman stuff, and Jim's writing.

A JS musical *would* be incredible. You will have a chance to see one as well

Skip on over to London, 2008, roughly, and you'll be seeing "BAT OUT OF HELL: The Musical", a rock 'n roll futuristic sci-fi version of Peter Pan.

Have you seen "The Lieutenant of Innishmore"? Wilson Milam, the director, will be directing BOOH. Mark Dendy, who's currently working on "The Pirate Queen", will be choreographer. Costumes are from the amazing Eiko Ishioka who did "Bram Stoker's Dracula", "The Cell" and Cirque Du Soleil's "Varekai" (sp?). Set & Theatre Design comes from Mark Fisher who has mounted some of the biggest concert spectaculars in history. Animation from Gerald Scarfe who did the animation concept for Disney's "Hercules" and the legendary design for Pink Floyd "The Wall".

It is said to be a huge spectacular with all sorts of things going on, mind-blowing stuff, which I've done a feature on at a Steinman site (linked from the Batman page).

A futuristic Peter Pan, "Neverland", has been Steinman's career-long opus, spawning the album "Bat Out Of Hell" with Meat Loaf.

I have no idea what will become of "Batman" since Warner Bros. had a huge FLOPEROO with "Lestat" and the entire "Batman" franchise was changed with the Nolan movie.

But back on topic, I think "Phantom 2" may score the biggest advance in Broadway history to date LOL. It may have *that* going for it if everything else fails

Updated On: 2/18/07 at 10:42 AM

[Weez]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 10:50am

Too many acronyms! Not only did it take a long time for my brain to work out what JS is, it also spent far too long wondering what FLOPEROO could possibly stand for. ;_;

Updated On: 2/18/07 at 10:50 AM

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 10:53am

Woops

"JS." Jim Steinman, lyricist for "Whistle Down The Wind", Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer of "Tanz Der Vampire", the German musical phenomenon and the, er, less phenomenal Broadway production. There was talk that he and well known playwright David Ives would be doing a "Batman" musical for WB.

FLOPEROO. Don't ask me, I got it from a book I read :P

[Dibbledl01]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 11:39am

I think we need to remind Sir Webber of a little phrase in the industry: "always leave them wanting more....but never give it to them!"

[jmh323]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 1:10pm

Just think, they could start doing prequels also! I mean, come on, how cool would it be to have Phantom of the Opera: The Beginning or Phantom of the Opera: Rising. Pretty snazzy titles there, if I do say so myself.

[Sally]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 2:21pm

Not bad titles, but I don't want to see any or all on a West End or Broadway marquee.

They might be OK for a series of movies starring very attractive Phantoms like the one in the 2004 film. THE BEGINNING, would, of course, have to star a terminally cute youngster with a little skin problem, but they could move on to a handsome 20 something actor for RISING, and they could, perhaps, work in a third prequel called ALMOST THERE with a real heart throb, if the series didn't bankrupt everybody first.

I don't want any Phantom sequels. In my opinion, the show ends pret'near perfectly, with the Phantom disappearing and the five big chords dying away, the audience left to imagine whatever they wish about what happens after that.

If ALW happens to be thinking about a movie sequel, however, I'm not as against that. The 2004 film already played around with the perfect ending by adding an anti-climactic scene in which Raoul visits Christine's grave and finds a rose left by the Phantom, one assumes. A sequel or sequels would play a few weeks in movie theaters, dissappear and then reappear as DVDs (with extra footage showing how they did the cute youngster's skin problem).

I don't think even a lousy film sequel would have much effect on the stage production except to bring in more brand spankin' Phantom fans, some of whom would go on to see the stage production and possibly become theater fans as has happened before.

---And there might actually be some pretty music. I know, some of you would say "more recycled music," but I like what he writes. The man can make a tune.

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 5:38pm

Yes, he does know how to compose amazing melodies. He has always had a problem of not coming up with enough (the entire second act of POTO is recycled music from the first, except for "Masqerade." But much of his stuff is amazing ... not one of my favorite composers (come on; when Boublil & Schonberg and Rodgers & Hammerstein are among my faves, it is tough to compare), but pretty close ... just look at the impact he has had on the musical theatre; how many hit songs he has. He is also extremely passionate about historic Broadway houses, which I love so much.

The Bat Out of Hell musical sounds so awesome and almost groundbreaking; I have never heard of it before. So much awesome talent involved. I must now find a way to London next year!

Like it or not, y'all, I do feel that JS is the most cutting-edge person behind musicals today.

What is the URL for your Batman site? I am very interested.

Updated On: 2/18/07 at 05:38 PM

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 8:21pm

It's in my signature

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 8:46pm

Oh ok, got it lol I'm kinda slow.

That is an awesome site, and it would be totally awesome if you could build it up, get permission from the Warner Brothers Studios to create a URL (ie gothamonbroadway.com or batmanthemusical.com), find out if you can collaborate with Jim on some stuff, and make it into an amazing extensive website for this lavish musical that never was (but hopefully soon will be again)!

Updated On: 2/18/07 at 08:46 PM

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:21pm

Thanks. If you enjoyed that, I recomend the Little Mermaid Broadway blogspot. The address: http://littlemermaidbroadway.blogspot.com

Whoever created that is an angel, IMO. Do they post here?

Jim congratulated me on the site when it hit 5000 hits. I think everyone I know, and talk to, were blown away that it got a load of attention so quickly. I have no idea & I SWEAR I've had nothing to do with it

In regards to the site, I've been given the contact for the writer David Ives, plus a rep for the Theater Ventures. I haven't bothered any of them, nor do I think I want to...

Re: the Phantom sequel, I was just listening to "The Heart Is Slow To Learn" this morning, again. I know the tune was used in "The Beautiful Game" but I think people will forget that, or acknowledge it for what it is because it's not identical. The chorus is the only re-use and it sounds a LOT different in feel and tone. Besides, ALW has gotten away with recycling before *winks*

I can imagine it being a show-stopper if it's ever done. I think it also works as a song for the Phantom as well as Christine, who it is written for.

Another interesting thing... who will be cast in this? It's not like they can bring back Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman

Updated On: 2/18/07 at 09:21 PM

[desiree armfeldt]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 11:29pm

ew. i cant even handle this

[Gelfling]

Posted: 2/19/07 at 4:44am

wow... I'm floored! I thought that ALW was already doing all he could to get attention these days (except a new musical) by bringing the reality crap to Broadway but wow wow, is he trying to outdo himself! No seriously, he's staring to scare me a little... does he realize how pathetic that makes him look? He's going to end up detroying the only thing that will be remembered of him waaaay after the hype is dead (maybe that's what he's aiming at, I don't know... it certainly did look that way with that ludicrous movie)

I love Phantom, don't get me wrong but the guy has gone over the line. What's next? A JCS sequel? Jesus comes back today with all his pals? oh please, someone gives him a shot of something.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 2/19/07 at 6:36am

"he does the music thing very well- but, you know what: other people do it better. And he does the money thing very well- but, you know what: nobody does it better"

I think that's what Charley Kringas would say.

The man knows no shame.