⭐ RUMOUR – THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA ORIGINAL PRODUCTION TO BE REPLACED ⭐
The original West End production of The Phantom of the Opera is to be replaced with an “all-new production”, it has been rumoured.
According to an inside source, everyone in the production has been let go which includes the cast, the front of house staff, the stagehands, the orchestra etc.
This would no doubt be because of the current situation with COVID-19. Though the cast apparently have not been given first right of refusal for when the production returns.
Apparently the plan is to renovate the theatre and bring in an “all new production”, like what recently happened with the West End production of Les Misérables.
This “all-new” production would reportedly reduce the size of the orchestra to the size of the of the touring version, that is 14 musicians instead of 27, the rest will be pre-recorded.
The Gillian Lynne’s choreography and Hal Prince’s staging would be updated, which would mean the production would not have to pay royalties to the estates of the original creatives.
Similar situation to what happened when Les Misérables was updated, the current production also no longer has to pay the RSC royalties as it counts as a new production.
This is all currently unconfirmed but it would be gutting if this turns out to be true. The original production still sells out to this day, it would be a shame to change it due to a cost cutting exercise.
Thoughts? X x x
⭐ UPDATE – ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER RESPONDS ⭐
Interesting comment from Andrew Lloyd Webber… Thoughts? X x x
