Lloyd Webber was on the Majestic stage to celebrate the 9,000th Broadway performance of Phantom. That milestone will, technically, be Sept. 17, but the celebration was a day early — with cake and cheers of approval from the audience.

Phantom director Harold Prince, current title star John Cudia, choreographer Gillian Lynne were among those on stage after the matinee performance, making remarks as they stood near a four-piece cake that showed "9000."

Lloyd Webber told that crowd what had been previously reported elsewhere: the "sequel" (reportedly called Love Never Dies) will start in London in March 2010. He also confirmed what hadn't been before — a start on Broadway in November. No specific Broadway dates were mentioned. He confirmed that the plot takes place ten years after the events of The Phantom of the Opera.

A major announcement about the sequel's future is expected in October.

The Phantom sequel is by composer Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater. The creative team includes director Jack O'Brien, designer Bob Crowley and choreographer Jerry  Mitchell.

A recent casting notice offered this 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."