The Phantom of the Opera - the Sequel

So I was watching the Celebrity Apprentice's finale last night and Andrew Lloyd Weber was on to offer an item to be auctioned of....drum roll please.... tickets to the first performance of The Phantom of the Opera 2!!! . I couldn't believe it! That was all I could think about for the rest of the night. So this morning I get on and look it up! Here's a tidbit from Playbill.com:
The Daily Mail previously described the sequel plot this way: "The Phantom has slipped away to New York and has set up a fairground world on Coney Island, along with Madame Giry and her daughter, Meg. He organizes a concert in Manhattan for Christine, the object of his desire. Christine travels to the U.S. with her husband Raoul and their teenage son, who happens to be a musical genius...just like the Phantom."

I am so excited!!! I'm just sad that I live no where near NY to be able to see it. It's supposed to come out sometime next year. When he was being talked to last night, Andrew was in London recording the music at Abbey Road.

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Yes!! I love the Phantom! I can't believe there's going to be a number 2! I'm so excited!

Do you know if it's going to be a movie as well?

I love the book. I love the musical/movie... and the thought of a sequel frightens me. I think I prefer to leave the ALW and co. version with the ending it has; coninuing with another story would ruin it for me. Now, if ALW and co. had based it more closely on the books, a sequel might have been more believable... except a very important character would be missing from the action. Not saying any more; don't want to give anything away to people who haven't read the book :)

Sequel? Oh, no! Another good story that will get ruined by an unnecesary second part. You know: the Phantom renounces his love and his wonderful, machiavellian plans for his beloved one's sake, to see her happy, just to change his mind after fifteen years?? Because if the Phantom doesn't try to recover Christine, there's no story. And if he does, then, that poetic, powerful line of his at the end of the play (is over the music of the night) gets completely devalued. It would be an unforgivable lack of coherence for his part, don't you think?

Yes, and no. I see your point and until we know the whole story of the sequel, it could seem that way. But who hasn't changed their mind? He could have just meant to end his time at the opera. But I don't see him as a person who would give up too easily. He's patient. He'll scheme until the moment is right.

Sequel? Oh, no! Another good story that will get ruined by an unnecesary second part. You know: the Phantom renounces his love and his wonderful, machiavellian plans for his beloved one's sake, to see her happy, just to change his mind after fifteen years?? Because if the Phantom doesn't try to recover Christine, there's no story. And if he does, then, that poetic, powerful line of his at the end of the play (is over the music of the night) gets completely devalued. It would be an unforgivable lack of coherence for his part, don't you think?
I'm in complete agreement with you. I think this kind of sequel will ruin the beauty of the Phantom's sacrifice--the way he was able to love Christine enough to let her go. This just seems like another plot to milk more out of an already successful work, which may end up ruining the loveliness of the original.

I heard rumors about this a while back but that Webber was delayed in finishing it because his cat jumped on his computer, and he lost all of the data. Much as I love Webber and his musicals, I would pay that cat money to destroy this work again.

I heard rumors about this a while back but that Webber was delayed in finishing it because his cat jumped on his computer, and he lost all of the data. Much as I love Webber and his musicals, I would pay that cat money to destroy this work again.


:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

I always said cats were so clever animals...

No, the Phantom shouldn't come back. The force of the story is in his tragedy: that he falls in love with the only woman who could have loved him, but he is late. If, as Lerroux wrote, he sacrifices himself, renounces to Christine and dies of love, he's a hero. If he survives, repents and tries to get her again, he's just a psychopath.

So I was thinking about the Phantom music this morning and wondered what the new music will be like and stopped. I had this horrible idea that maybe it wouldn't be as good and then turn out like Star Wars 1, 2 & 3, where Lucas really should have just let it go. I will be really sad if it doesn't turn out well. But then if it's not as good, we can always just block it out and cling to the original!

Exactly. If you're doing things, do them well. Unfortunately, showbusiness usually cares too much for the money that can be earned, and too little for the actual need of what they're doing. I'm afraid that, unless he's absolutely improved himself (and besides he's got a very good writer working for him), Mr Webber is earning very few new fans and disappointing many of the old ones.

So I was watching the Celebrity Apprentice's finale last night and Andrew Lloyd Weber was on to offer an item to be auctioned of....drum roll please.... tickets to the first performance of The Phantom of the Opera 2!!! .

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

There is a particularly hot and nasty place in Hades for people who come up with unnecessary sequels that pretty much never stay true to the original and almost universally suck. Someone's gonna burn for this one....

What's next? Les Miz 2: Valjean's Reincarnation? Oklahoma 2:Curly and Laurey's Tornado Adventure? Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Enchanted Christmas? (oh yeah, that was already done on video--thanks a bunch for that, Disney!)

Personally, I really don't like the idea of a sequel. Phantom is such a classic broadway musical, it doesnt need a sequel. =\

A Phantom Sequel!!!!!

Honestly, I will say, I'm pining for tickets and the book and I've only seen the movie. But the last line of the movie, "Its over now the music of the night" is possibly the most powerful line I've ever heard. Right after "Abandon thought and let the dream descend" and "You alone can make my song take flight..." ...I'm a fan of the movie and need the book/musical.

I think a sequel would completely RUIN those lyrics for me. And I'm sensitive about my favorite lyrics ;).

I hope they DON'T go through with it (even though I'd probably still end up seeing it out of loyalty.)!

EDIT: I got the book. LOVE it! Now all I need are tickets...

The book is great, isn't it? :)

I had hear about this sequel thing a while ago, but I hadn't heard it what it was going to be about... I'm kind of more wary than I was before...

I think a Broadway sequel is so far unprecedented. And I also think it's not a good idea. Come on, ALW, don't you have any new material??

Besides that, Erik DIED! I haven't seen the show, but in the book, he died a few weeks after the showdown beneath the Opera House ;)

He's just crazy if they go through with this (Erik AND ALW).

Hope they don't kill Phantom!

...But the last line of the movie, "Its over now the music of the night" is possibly the most powerful line I've ever heard.

Yes, it's fairly powerful, except for the fact that it's grammatically nightmarish. But it definitely has an outright feeling of finality to it.

Yes, it's fairly powerful, except for the fact that it's grammatically nightmarish. But it definitely has an outright feeling of finality to it.

Well, isn't most music grammatically a nightmare? But yea, its pretty bad. But its an amazing lyric. :lol:

I don't think Phantom should come back at all. he earned the entirety of my sympathy because he lost everything. being persistent after he had let her go destroys something in it for me.

Nonetheless, for curiosity's sake, I would go. If I only had the money..

I actually really love the "It's over now the Music of the Night" line, and I don't think its a grammatical nightmare at all. I see where it comes from. I mean, I know what he means by it, and that's what makes it so powerful.

I'm getting weepy again thinking about how stunning it is!

Of course I know what it means, but it's still not a very good sentence. Sometimes that happens for the sake of fitting it in the line musically.

I'm getting weepy again thinking about how stunning it is!

And THAT is exactly what's gonna be bad about this sequel. We'll lose all compassion and sympathy for the Phantom, because he didn't do anything! Its like putting down a toy and letting someone else play with it, but stealing it back later. OK, weird example. But still!

Bleh. Is it wrong to hope this flops?

And THAT is exactly what's gonna be bad about this sequel. We'll lose all compassion and sympathy for the Phantom, because he didn't do anything! Its like putting down a toy and letting someone else play with it, but stealing it back later. OK, weird example. But still!

Bleh. Is it wrong to hope this flops?

Is it wrong? No. It might be a bit mean though! Poor Phantom! :lol:

It would be a shame, I agree with you, to have every fan lose that devotion, sympathy, respect, awe and choose any other word you feel (love included :lol:) they have to him and to the show, simply because there's a second part.

I think the way they finished it in the film was actually quite nice, and that's the only finish I would like to otherwise see. I would hate to get dragged back into everything again, especially since she and he both made their choices and decided to live with it. it seems counter productive to make them do it all again.

Would I watch it if she were to go off with the Phantom? No. That just would destroy the tragedy.

What is Andrew Lloyd Webber thinking!?!? For one thing, the musical is wonderful, even after 20 years it's still going strong, and it's one of the most beloved musicals of all time. A sequel would ruin everything that's good about the original. Two, the plot sounds really dumb. Coney Island? Even in 1900, Coney Island? I havn't read the book, but I've seen the movie and I just saw it on stage last night, and I don't know what happened to the Phantom but he didn't go to America.:no: Three, it's been twenty years. The time to do sequels is not twenty years later. We know this, unfortunately, because of Disney sequels such as Cinderellas 2 and 3 and Bambi 2 (I love Disney otherwise!:love:) Lovely originals, but about 40 years between Cinderellas and 60 years between Bambis and I have no desire to see the sequels because I know that they can't stand up to the originals. Some things are better left alone, and Broadway musicals are one of them.

It would be a shame, I agree with you, to have every fan lose that devotion, sympathy, respect, awe and choose any other word you feel (love included :lol:) they have to him and to the show, simply because there's a second part.

I think the way they finished it in the film was actually quite nice, and that's the only finish I would like to otherwise see. I would hate to get dragged back into everything again, especially since she and he both made their choices and decided to live with it. it seems counter productive to make them do it all again.

Would I watch it if she were to go off with the Phantom? No. That just would destroy the tragedy.

I love him :love: but would I if he went super psyco stalker? Nooooooo (at least not until I hear Music of the Night)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You pretty much summed up what I was trying to say...XD

Erm... he kind of went super psycho stalker in the original too... :) I mean, creeping into divas' dressing rooms through the mirror? Eep!

Erm... he kind of went super psycho stalker in the original too... :) I mean, creeping into divas' dressing rooms through the mirror? Eep!

See, now we're thinking of it, we're picking faults with the original. Imagine how picky we would be going into the sequel! No! Never! I won't go there!:p

And anyway, would I mind the Phantom walking into my dressing room through the mirror?.. Not in the slightest! :D

I do still think though, that Lloyd Webber is a genius of stage, and I wonder what's the purpose behind this? It can't be money. I just don't see that at all. Maybe it's just to chance his luck and see if we still love Phantom enough. I dunno. But, in general, :td:

You pretty much summed up what I was trying to say...XD

great minds think alike, eh? :tu:

Sweet another movie. :D Who's paying the Phantom though, Gerard or Michael?

Sequel? Oh, no! Another good story that will get ruined by an unnecesary second part. You know: the Phantom renounces his love and his wonderful, machiavellian plans for his beloved one's sake, to see her happy, just to change his mind after fifteen years?? Because if the Phantom doesn't try to recover Christine, there's no story. And if he does, then, that poetic, powerful line of his at the end of the play (is over the music of the night) gets completely devalued. It would be an unforgivable lack of coherence for his part, don't you think?

I agree with you on this one, most sequels tend to end a great movie/story, hopefully though this one wont.

Sweet another movie. :D Who's paying the Phantom though, Gerard or Michael?

Would they actually make a film out of it so soon though? I kind of wish they wouldn't... A film is easier for me to see, and I think I'd still rather not see this at all. If it were made into a film, I'd have to really battle not to go see what it's all about... :D

And anyway, would I mind the Phantom walking into my dressing room through the mirror?.. Not in the slightest! :D

No, of course not! That is, until he started behaving in disturbing, possessive ways and stringing up your friends and loved ones.

No, of course not! That is, until he started behaving in disturbing, possessive ways and stringing up your friends and loved ones.

Hey...the only loved one he tortured was Raoul! (and I can't say I minded) ;) But Christine did make the right choice, technically :grumble:. Even IF we all say we would have chosen the Phantom (I actually might have ;) ).

Off-Topic...I know two people who claim that they would NEVER choose the Phantom :no: I think they may be lying :love:

Peace, Love, Phantom <3

No, of course not! That is, until he started behaving in disturbing, possessive ways and stringing up your friends and loved ones.

Dude, even then, I so would!

Yike! Some people have a masochistic streak?...

Yike! Some people have a masochistic streak?...

Nope. He's just the quintessential bad boy. Sort of like Heathcliff. You know, something darkly attractive about the depth of character and the pain behind the mask.

Would they actually make a film out of it so soon though? I kind of wish they wouldn't... A film is easier for me to see, and I think I'd still rather not see this at all. If it were made into a film, I'd have to really battle not to go see what it's all about... :D

I have no idea if there going to or not, but i hope its Gerard, not only because i like the emotion he had put into his singing/acting (but i do think Michael has a better voice?) i just dislike when they switch out actors/actresses in sequels of films. :lol:

I have no idea if there going to or not, but i hope its Gerard, not only because i like the emotion he had put into his singing/acting (but i do think Michael has a better voice?) i just dislike when they switch out actors/actresses in sequels of films. :lol:

I agree with everything you said. Crawford's voice was better, but Butler made a real gritty performer. There's no doubt as to voice quality, but the sadism is brilliant from Butler (and from Karimloo, currently playing Phantom on West End, oddly enough)- and it's that sadism Crawford lacked. I still prefer the film soundtrack, which is unusual for me in this instance.

I agree that in the sequel, if it were to be made, the same actors would need to be used or all sense of continuity (and we've already been hanging around 21 years happily ignorant of this mad plan to make a sequel) would be lost entirely.

Anyone hear any new news about the sequel?
(PS: As far as I've heard, its starting out West End, then moving to Broadway. We're gonna wait about 17 years for a movie I think ;))

Yes, it's fairly powerful, except for the fact that it's grammatically nightmarish. But it definitely has an outright feeling of finality to it.

But really, would "The music of the night is over now!" have sounded quite as dramatic? :rockon:

I have not seen Phantom on the stage, although I really want to. I have the movie version of Phantom of the Opera and love it....but I cannot see this being a good sequel. There's no sequel for Phantom that could ever be better than the original in my opinion.

I think a sequel would ruin the power of the first one. I think this sequel is a very bad idea and probably won't see it.

The press launch video and CD pre-order is up at the official website.

Love Never Dies (http://www.loveneverdies.com/)

I'm still not convinced, but I feel a little better about it now. If they end up together though, I think I probably will be annoyed. We shall see.

Thanks for that link!

ALW was so nervous! I've never seen him so unglued! Which is interesting. He's nervous about it too.
The song was beautiful though. I'm really interested now. It could go either way as a huge flop or a big success. If anything though, at least the music will be good!

I'm very cagey on this, part of me is very excited by this but the other part of me thinks that a line should have been drawn under it and let that be that. Having said that I'm sure the music will be exquisite and some of the musical themes will be back again.

Has anyone actually seen it?

It doesn't come out until some time next year. I've been listening to the waltz that was given and a song by the Phantom that was in the press release all week! I love it and can't wait to hear the rest of the soundtrack. That said, I think I'll enjoy it separate from the original Phantom.

It doesn't come out until some time next year. I've been listening to the waltz that was given and a song by the Phantom that was in the press release all week! I love it and can't wait to hear the rest of the soundtrack. That said, I think I'll enjoy it separate from the original Phantom.

I'm hoping to be won over by the story because the music so far is good. :)

The last ALW thing I saw was Woman in White and it was horrible, IMHO, so I would really like to have a new ALW musical that I can enjoy. :)

I never heard of Woman in White. But then maybe because it was so bad, that that's the reason!

So ALW has prostate cancer! It's in very early stages, so they're hoping that all will go well, but that's just scary!

I hope they are able to take care of it, since they caught it early. I wish him a speedy recovery.

So I'm listening to the soundtrack right now! It's so different than the Phantom. Still beautiful, but there's a lot of his other types of works in there. It really is different than anything else he's done, but similar as well. But then that's his style.
So I downloaded it from Walmart.com (that has it for $20) and Windows media player interlaced the first disk with the second and I didn't realize it until I was most of the way through and while trying to figure out the story hears a character who just died in the previous number singing again. So then I went back and fixed it and now it's SO much better!

Spoiler-ish below!!




The story goes that it's 10 years later and the Phantom has set up a gigantic Coney Island side show with Giry and Meg, who saved him from the mobs and brought him to Coney Island in NY where at first he worked as a freak himself. He's the mysterious master Mr Y who wears a mask and no one has ever met him. Meg has now formed a one sided attachment to him and is the main event at his show. She's just wanting for him to notice her, but of course he's still hung up on Christine who is still in France with Raoul and her son Gustave.
Christine then arrives at Coney Island with Raoul and Gustave to perform for one night. Raoul isn't what he was and they're deep in debt. Giry and Meg aren't very happy to see her, but of course the Phantom is.

And, and.....I don't want to spoil too much more, unless anyone wants to hear the whole story! You can PM me, if you want too!


But really, there's some really beautiful music. I'd be lying if I said that I absolutely loved the entire thing. There were some songs that I didn't get and a couple that I could have done without. But overall, it was classic Andrew Lloyd Weber and it's still fabulous! I can't say that it lives up to the original Phantom, but I don't think that anything can. They guy that sing for Phantom is wonderful though. beautiful voice.

Last time I went to the Phantom they kicked me out becuz I sang to loud :upset:

They should be honored to have you sing along!!!

I've listened to it a few times now. It has a few good tunes and a decent (if misplaced) cast, but overall it's kind of a slap in the face to the original. The characters have been mutilated beyond recognition (except for Christine, who's even more bland than in the first one). I think ALW bit off a bit more than he could chew here. This play makes "All I Ask of You" mean absolutely nothing in hindsight, which is rather a shame.

If they had made this same story with new characters it would be much better. The backstory is pretty much irrelevant, and the fact that the Phantom is mishapen and wears a mask is a moot point.

I'm a huge Phan of the original and was skeptical of the idea of a sequel ever since I first heard about it. Having read the plot synopsis and listened to the cast recording, I found it a really shoddy play both in terms of story and score. Some of the music is quite nice, but much of it seems to have just been copied and pasted from Andrew Lloyd Webber's other shows (especially Sunset Boulevard and Woman in White). If a video recording of the show were to pop up on YouTube or somewhere, I might give it a viewing, but as to seeing it live... well, there are many, many other musicals I'd rather spend my time and money on.

As a huge fan of the original who has seen it on Broadway 3 times, I have to echo the voices here and say I'm not too thrilled with this decision. If they wanted to continue it and do another movie, I could accept that, but a whole other Broadway show....blah...

I have only seen the filmed production of it and I found it to be just flat out insulting. It had a story that was just awful, the characters are flat and have no real development, the themes from the previous musical got old really quick and got just flat out annoying, and I thought the sets and costumes came out from a terrible Tim Burton film.