Mitchell Will Choreograph Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies; May Play Toronto Before Broadway

By Andrew Gans
March 16, 2009

Love Never Dies — the sequel to the international hit musical The Phantom of the Opera — will feature choreography by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, who will also choreograph the upcoming Scott Wittman-Marc Shaiman-Terrence McNally musical Catch Me If You Can.

According to a Love Never Dies casting notice, the new Lloyd Webber (music)-Glenn Slater (lyrics) musical will feature direction by the previously announced Jack O'Brien as well as choreography by Mitchell and music supervision by Gareth Valentine.

Rehearsals will begin "approximately [in] August 2009." Opening night will be "approximately [in] October 2009."

As previously reported, Lloyd Webber hopes to open his newest musical in several cities simultaneously.

In the casting notice, the casting director's note reads, "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."

The casting notice also offers a brief description of Love Never Dies: "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."

Actors are currently being sought for the roles of Phantom, Christine, Raoul, Meg, Madame Giry and Gustave.

Jerry Mitchell won a Best Choreography Tony Award for the revival of La Cage aux Folles and was also Tony-nominated for his choreography for The Full Monty, Hairspray, Never Gonna Dance, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Legally Blonde The Musical. He also directed the latter.