I received tickets to review the show. All opinions are my own.
It has been 10 years since the Phantom disappears and Christine, due to hardships and because she needs the money, accepts an invitation to perform at a renowned opera house in New York. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Love Never Dies” is the sequel to “The Phantom of the Opera”, and it is now performing at Segerstrom Center for the Arts April 24 through May 5, 2018!
“The Phantom of the Opera” is one of my most favorite Broadway musicals so when I learned about “Love Never Dies,” I had to go see it. Jake Heston Miller as Gustave is so talented. He plays the lovable and curious 10 year old son. Bronson Norris Murphy is The Phantom and he has played Raoul on Broadway so you know he is going to be good. Meghan Picerno does an astonishing job as Christine and her performance of “Love Never Dies” will have you on the edge of your seats. It is breathtaking! The ending is so powerful, and many of us were in tears. Well done!! They also received a standing ovation at the end so it was well received. I only wish they performed some of the original songs, but it was still an excellent performance overall and very memorable. I added a clip at the end if you want to hear the song I am referring to.
Story Line
“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.”
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. Since its premiere in 2010, “Love Never Dies” has been in production 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. For more information, please visit www.loveneverdies.com.
LOVE NEVER DIES
April 24 – May 5, 2018
Segerstrom Center for the Arts – Segerstrom Hall
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 556-2787
www.scfta.org
Running time:
Act I: 70 minutes
Intermission: 20 minutes
Act II: 59 minutes
Tickets start at $29.
PERFORMANCES
- Tuesday – Friday at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. (No performances on Sunday, May 6)
- Additional performances: Monday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, May 3 at 1 p.m.
The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, May 5, 2018 will include audio description, open captioning and sign-language interpretation.