900 U.S. Movie Screenings for Love Never Dies

Australia’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, filmed for Blu-rayTM and DVD, will have 900 screenings in the U.S. next week before it is released globally. ‘This is a terrific ‘thumbs up’ for us,’ Tim McFarlane, Producer of the Australian production of Love Never Dies and Managing Director of The Really Useful Company, responsible for The Really Useful Group’s activities in Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, said in Sydney today.

‘The filming of our show was a landmark in Australian film and theatre: the first Australian production of a musical to be filmed for world wide release,’ he said. ‘I was thrilled with the result. When I saw what the camera has captured close up, the drama of this now classic love story, the continuing story of the Phantom and Christine, I was sure it would be embraced world wide.

‘The DVD was released in Australia just weeks ago and now it’s making a splash in the U.S. I think the DVD is going to be a huge success internationally.’

stars Ben Lewis as The Phantom, Anna O’Byrne as Christine. Maria Mercedes as Madame Giry; Sharon Millerchip as Meg, her daughter, and Simon Gleeson Christine’s husband, Raoul.

Love Never Dies had its premiere in London in March 2010 and in 2011 was extensively re-worked in by an Australian creative team put together by Tim McFarlane.

The musical was given an entirely new look by an Australian creative team: directed by Simon Phillips with new set and costume designs by Gabriela Tylesova, choreography by Graeme Murphy, lighting design by Nick Schlieper, sound design by Mick Potter and musical supervision and direction by Guy Simpson.

The musical had its Australian premiere in Melbourne’s Regent Theatre on Saturday May 28 and played there until December before going to Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in January, where it will close on April 1. The DVD was filmed at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in September 2011. Director Brett Sullivan and partner Clayton Jacobsen have directed and produced music videos/TV specials for Katherine Jenkins, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton and Michael Buble and international commercials and campaigns for Madonna, REM, Robert Plant and Rihanna. Sullivan has also directed and filmed theatrical productions in the West End and on Broadway.

In Melbourne for the shoot Lloyd Webber described the production as ’extraordinary’, ‘fabulous’, ‘seamless’ and ’bliss’, He said he knew about five minutes into seeing its first run-through that the Australian production team had achieved something special.

Eddie Cunningham, President of Universal Pictures International Entertainment said, ‘We were really excited to be working with Andrew Lloyd Webber and The Really Useful Group on Love Never Dies. This is a fantastic addition to our portfolio of hugely successful musical theatre titles on Blu-rayTM and DVD and is certain to delight Andrew Lloyd Webber fans around the world.’

Our earlier coverage

Behind the Phantom mask: Our Interview with Ben Lewis

Simon Gleeson: The Dark Side of Raul

Brand New Australian Production for Love Never Dies

Love Never Dies – Inside Rehearsals

Love Never Dies – Melbourne Review

Designing Love Never Dies

Sharon Millerchip (Meg Giry) interviewed

Our review

The DVD can now be purchased at www.stagewhispers.com.au/books