Sequels are impossibly hard, particularly when the original is exceptional. Expectations are high, comparisons are inevitable. Pair that precedent with the task of following up the longest-running show in Broadway history and one of the most beloved musicals of the last 30 years, and it can seem insurmountable. Yet if anyone is poised to attempt it, Andrew Lloyd Webber is one such maestro.
“Love Never Dies,” the sequel to the iconic “The Phantom of the Opera,” brings back those familiar characters, melodies, and passionate tensions in a splashy fashion. Sure, Webber has a flair for the dramatic. But as the mastermind behind “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Cats,” “Evita,” and recent Wharton Center season opener “School of Rock,” it’s tough to fault him for wanting to tell more of this seminal story.
Appearing at the Wharton Center through October 14, 2018, “Love Never Dies” gives another long-awaited taste to Phantom fans who can’t get enough of the theatrics. And for those who haven’t seen “The Phantom of the Opera,” the impeccable vocals, dazzling set design, and vibrant costumes are certain to lure them in.
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