Jerry Mitchell to Lend Talents to Phantom Sequel 'LOVE NEVER DIES'

Tony winning Broadway director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, fresh off the recent news of his joining the creative team of the upcoming Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman musical Catch Me If You Can, will also be bringing his inspired choreography to Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to his mega hit The Phantom of the Opera, PHANTOM: Love Never Dies.

Mitchell will once again work alongside his frequent collaborator Jack O'Brien who is set to helm the much speculated about sequel to the worldwide hit. Mitchell has been hard at work on his Vegas spectacular PEEP SHOW, the new, sophisticated, ultra-hot show starring pop superstar Mel B (of the world famous Spice Girls) and "General Hospital's" Kelly Monaco ("Dancing with the Stars" champion), at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

The very busy Mitchell revealed several months ago that he would be a part of the creative team of 'Love Never Dies', but a recently released casting notice officially documents his involvement.

The casting notice also details the complicated nature of putting together the creative shcedule for the next chapter in the story of Erik and Christine, the tragic leading characters of the original production, explaining that, "due to the ambitious nature of this production, which will premiere in London and New York in the same season, exact opening dates and cities cannot be confirmed at this time. However, it's confirmed that rehearsals will take place in London prior to an out-of-town tryout, probably in Toronto, before opening on Broadway. We anticipate that these plans will be confirmed before final auditions or contract offers."

This bold move will mean casting the show three times. As reported a number of weeks ago in The Daily Mail, Ramin Karimloo, born in Iran and raised in Toronto, and actress Sierra Boggess are the front runners for leading roles. But, as of yet, no one's certain whether they will open in New York or London first.

The role of The Phantom of the Opera was created by musical theatre superstar Michael Crawford and Christine Daae was shaped and written for her original portrayer, Sarah Brightman.

Karimloo is currently playing the Phantom in the London production, while Boggess, who created the part of Ariel in The Little Mermaid on Broadway, performed as Christine Daae a couple of years ago in the Las Vegas abridged version of Phantom explains Bamigboye.

The pair have also essayed the Phantom and Christine during the workshop rehearsals in London, Aaron Lazar played the role of Raoul in the last reading, so in effect have created the creative guideline for how the roles of the leads will be played on three continents.

Sources have thrown another name in the Christine casting mix, Elena Shaddow (Light in the Piazza, London's Showboat). Ms. Shaddow played Christine in the last workshop with Karimloo and Lazar. She's reportedly on the short list for Christine as well (Word is she could perform it in London).

Director Jack O'Brien and designer Bob Crowley, are shaping a production schedule that would have a long period of previews for Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre in the fall and at the chosen theatre the producers settle on in New York (a deal is imminent, Bamigboye informs).

There have also been strong rumors that a few of the musical's songs may be debuted on American Idol later this season.

Lloyd Webber only recently confirmed his very active plans for Phantom: Love Never Dies, the sequel to his worldwide mega hit musical The Phantom of the Opera.

In an earlier interview with The London Times Lloyd Webber revealed the hope to open 'Phantom: Love Never Dies' simultaneously in three different locations across the globe.

He told the Times, "I don't think you could do this if it wasn't the sequel to Phantom ... We've been into the feasibility of rehearsing three companies at once and opening very fast in the three territories. The one which really interests me [in the Far East] would be China ... I think to open Love Never Dies in Shanghai would be an enormous thing."

He also confirmed that "Love Never Dies" is set in America's Coney Island approximately ten years after the beginning of the original story. In those days Coney Island was one of the wonders of the world, far eclipsing the excesses of Las Vegas today. The story continues the tale of the Phantom, Raoul, Christine, Madame Giry and Meg." 

The current casting notice gives more detail on the story of the musical, it describes the plot as such, "In 1907 New York, the mysterious 'Maestro' who runs the theatre at Coney Island announces a one-off concert by legendary Parisian soprano Christine Daaé. Her arrival in New York with husband Raoul, Victome de Chagny and son Gustave, and their subsequent meeting with the 'Maestro,' bring the cataclysmic events of 10 years earlier at the Paris Opera crashing back into all their lives."

In July 2008, the first act of Love Never Dies was performed at Lloyd Webber's annual Sydmonton Festival. From the plot summary provided by audience members of the preview, it would seem to follow the storyline of "The Phantom of Manhattan" novel, with the largest apparent difference being that, rather than an amusement park designer, Erik becomes a freakshow proprietor after he reached New York. In the preview, the Phantom was played by Ramin Karimloo in that reading, while Raoul was played by Alistair Robbins.

Andrew Lloyd Webber was recently voted the most influential figure in theatre over the last decade by UK's The Stage newspaper.

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. and directed by theater legend Harold Prince, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is in its phenomenal 21st year in New York, playing at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street).

On Broadway, since its debut on January 26, 1988, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has grossed over $700 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history. The production has played over 8,600 performances and total New York attendance is over 12.5 million. PHANTOM became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006 (surpassing Cats) and has now played well over 1,000 performances and more than two and a half years since breaking that record - and all with no end in sight.

Its internationally success - equally staggering - is represented by a total worldwide box office gross of more than $5 billion, making PHANTOM the most successful entertainment venture of all time, surpassing not only any other stage production, but also far surpassing the world's highest-grossing film Titanic (at $1.2 billion) and such other blockbusters as The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars. Worldwide attendance is over 80 million people, having played over 65,000 performances in 25 countries and 124 cities. It's won over 50 Theater awards including 7 Tonys, and there are currently 8 productions around the world. The next international opening will be Perth, Australia in February 2009.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed byHarold Prince. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has production design by the late Maria Björnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge, sound design by Mick Potter and original sound design by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Jerry Mitchell made his Broadway debut as Director with the hit musical, Legally Blonde, for which he also served as Choreographer, receiving 2007 Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations. Jerry received the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics' Circle Awards for his dazzling choreography created for the 2005 Tony Award-winning Best Revival of La Cage Aux Folles, having also been nominated for the Tony Award in the same category for the current smash hit musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Previously, Jerry had received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Astaire Award nominations for choreographing Broadway's Tony Award-winning Hairspray and Tony, Drama Desk and Astaire Award nominations for choreographing The Full Monty, both shows having been directed by his cherished collaborator, Jack O'Brien. He began his choreographic career as associate choreographer to Michael Bennett on Scandal and Jerome Robbins on Jerome Robbins' Broadway. Emmy-nominated for choreographing The Drew Carey Show, his memorable film work includes In and Out, Camp, Drop Dead Gorgeous and Scent of a Woman. For Broadway, Jerry also choreographed the hit revival of Gypsy, starring Bernadette Peters, which combined his own work with his recreation of Jerome Robbins' original, as well as Never Gonna Dance, the first and only Broadway musical based on an Astaire/Rogers film, making him one of the only choreographers to ever have three Broadway musicals running simultaneously (a distinction which occurred yet again in 2005 with the simultaneous runs of Hairspray, La Cage Aux Folles, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). Prior to those productions, Jerry choreographed the Broadway revivals of The Rocky Horror Show (Drama Desk nomination) You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Hedwig and the Angry Inch (on stage and film), the national tour of Jekyll & Hyde, and Paper Mill Playhouse's critically acclaimed Follies, featuring Ann Miller.

Jerry proudly conceived Broadway Bares, a comedy burlesque performed annually for the charity Broadway Cares.