Andrew Lloyd Webber confirms cast change for 7 March: Ramin Karimloo to stay as Phantom, David Thaxton joins as Raoul
Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre in London has confirmed that its cast will change on 7 March, with Sierra Boggess, who plays Christine, and Summer Strallen as Meg, both leaving the show.
They will be replaced by Celia Graham as Christine, who is currently in the ensemble of the show and understudies Sierra in the role, and Haley Flaherty, who recently played Janet in the UK tour of The Rocky Horror Show, as Meg,.
Ramin Karimloo, who originated the role of the Phantom in the new show, will stay on in the musical, to be joined by David Thaxton, who will replace Joseph Millson in the part of Raoul.
Other new cast members include Tracey Penn as Fleck and Charles Brunton as Gangle. Liz Roberton and Adam Pearce will continue in the show.
Love Never Dies was recently nominated for seven Olivier Awards, including best new musical, Ramin for best actor in a musical and Sierra Boggess for best actress in a musical. Love Never Dies also did well at Sunday’s Whatsonstage Awards, with Ramin Karimloo wining best actor in a musical and Joseph Millson winning best supporting actor in a musical.
David Thaxton joins the cast after his critical success last year in Passion at the Donmar Warehouse, alongside Elena Roger. He has also been nominated for a best actor in a musical Olivier Award for his part in Passion.
Andrew Lloyd Webber said that, “I’m absolutely thrilled that Love Never Dies has finally been recognised in this way.”
The initial criticism for Love Never Dies faced by Lloyd Webber from a group of loyal Phantom of the Opera fans was also referenced by the compsoer, who thanked “our loyal ‘Phans’, who have been so supportive of the show since it opened.”
He also paid tribute to the cast and company who, “have worked so hard throughout and have embraced the changes to the show, which have proved so successful.” Since opening Love Never Dies, Lloyd-Webber has brought in Bill Kenwright to make a number of changes to director Jack O’Brien’s original staging, and has tweaked some of the book and songs.
Sierra Boggess will leave Love Never Dies and go to Broadway, to star alongside Tyne Daly in a new production of Terence McNally’s play Master Class about the great opera diva Maria Callas. Summer Strallen will star in a new production of classic movie musical Top Hat with Tom Chambers. Joseph Millson will star in the National’s new production of Clifford Odets’s Rocket to the Moon, directed by Angus Jackson, alongside Keeley Hawes.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of The Wizard of Oz is currently previewing at the London Palladium starring Danielle Hope, Michael Crawford and Hannah Waddingham. The show opens on 1 March.
LINKS
Books tickets to Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre
