Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "Love Never Dies" will perform in Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall from Oct. 9 - 14, as part of the MSU Federal Credit Union Broadway at Wharton Center Series.
The new touring production will reflect 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.”
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 is 10 years after 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 U.S. for the first time.
Tickets for "Love Never Dies" are on sale now and available at Wharton Center’s official ticketing outlets: online at whartoncenter.com, at the Auto-Owners Insurance Ticket Office at Wharton Center or by calling 1-800-WHARTON.