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Andrew Lloyd Webber's LOVE NEVER DIES Will Play Kansas City's Starlight Theatre

By: Aug. 03, 2018
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Starlight Theatre is pleased to announce that Love Never Dies, the spellbinding sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, will make its Kansas City premiere Aug. 14-19 as part of the 2018 Shawnee Mission Health Broadway Series.

The new touring production reflects an extensive re-working of the material by an Australian creative team for the original Australian premiere in 2011. Described by Chris Boyd in The Australian as "The best thing Lloyd Webber has written in the quarter century since The Phantom of the Opera," Love Never Dies is sure to thrill Kansas City audiences.

"With its soaring vocals, incredible costumes and one of the largest sets we've ever loaded into the Starlight stage house, Love Never Dies is a beautiful production that Kansas City audiences won't want to miss!" Rich Baker, Starlight President and CEO, said. "We are delighted to present Andrew Lloyd Webber's spellbinding sequel to The Phantom of the Opera and invite Phantom fans and newcomers alike to experience an evening of mystery, magic and romance under the stars."

Directed by Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert-The Musical) with new set and costume designs by Gabriela Tylesova, choreography by 2011 Astaire Awards winner Graeme Murphy, lighting design by Nick Schlieper and sound design by Mick Potter, the show is one of the few instances of a major West End musical being given a complete makeover for subsequent productions.

Lloyd Webber said he knew about five minutes into seeing its first run-through that he and the new production team had achieved something special. "I have the great joy of being able to say that I think this production is probably the finest one I could ever, ever hope for."

The year is 1907. It has been 10 years since 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.

Since its premiere in 2010, Love Never Dies has enjoyed productions worldwide in London, Australia, Denmark, Japan and Germany, as well as multiple recordings including a concept album and a London cast recording. A DVD release of the Australian production has delighted fans globally, and now the North American tour brings the musical to the US for the first time.

Tickets for Love Never Dies at Starlight Theatre are on sale now and start at $14. Tickets are available online at kcstarlight.com, by calling 816-363-STAR (7827) or at the Starlight box office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, Mo. 64132. All performances begin at 8 p.m.

Discount prices for groups of 10 or more are available by contacting Starlight's group sales department at 816-997-1137 or groups@kcstarlight.com. Please note that kcstarlight.com is the only official ticket source for all shows in the 2018 Shawnee Mission Health Broadway Series. If you purchase tickets from another website or ticket broker, we cannot guarantee those tickets are legitimate.

Starlight Theatre is the largest and oldest performing arts organization in Kansas City and the second-largest outdoor producing theatre in the country. Opened as a theater in 1950 and as a not-for-profit organization in 1951, Starlight presents and produces Broadway musicals and concerts. It also offers extensive community outreach and educational programming, including classes, scholarships and Starlight's Blue Star Awards, one of the largest high school musical theatre award programs in the nation.

Located on 16 acres in Swope Park, Starlight's venue includes rehearsal halls, gift store, club area for dining, concessions, gardens, fountains and a 10-story, climate-controlled stage. For more information, visit www.kcstarlight.com.



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