Though we’re saddened that Ramin Karimloo (Phantom) and Sierra Boggess (Christine) did not have an opportunity to appear in these spur-of-the-moment interviews with the cast – the interviewer caught them as everyone was breaking for lunch – it’s still exciting to get a feel of the rest of the talented cast’s personalities beyond the stage. Evidently Joseph Millson (Raoul) is a light-hearted fellow who joked around with the brilliant director Jack O’Brien and shared that he grew a moustache for rehearsals even though costume will be providing him with a fake one for the live performances. (From us to Joe, keep the moustache – the look suits you so well.)

Talking with Summer Strallen (Meg) reveals that Jack the director has been impressing the entire cast with his passion for this musical and its characters. Apparently Jack is able to act out every single one of the character’s emotions and dialogue, making them wonder if this couldn’t all just be a “one-man show.” The narrative and details of the performance are still shrouded in mystery – every time it feels like someone is going to reveal a spectacular detail it all ends up very vague. However, if we make it through this period of sworn secrecy then we expect that we’ll be blown away come February 20th. (For assurance from a cast member that this is “Andrew’s best musical to date” and for a more detailed account of how a rehearsal day goes, read this blog by Richard Linnell who is one of 6 boys to play the role of Gustave in Love Never Dies. He shares the most interesting insights from a 12 year old’s perspective – like how all the cast members are so fond of tuna fish and cucumber sandwiches!)

Watch the video for updates from the Love Never Dies rehearsal:

We were so excited by this video update that after we went and watched Ramin Karimloo’s “Till I Hear You Sing” rendition twice more. With Valentine’s Day coming up, it’s so fitting to immerse oneself in a love story that neither time nor space can crumble. Whether it’s true love or the ill-fated kind remains to be seen. What we can say is that it’s difficult not to root for the lonely Phantom who continues to long for his muse and reason for being a decade later…

The bare bones of the story is that the ever-elusive Phantom has traveled to Coney Island in America to start a new life after the events that transpired in the original musical. Madame Giry and her daughter Meg have accompanied him to America for reasons that are still a mystery to us. Starting again as a freak show attraction, the Phantom ultimately works his way up to mogul of the island and architect of many of the attractions. It’s now 10 years later and our somber Phantom still finds his soul unfulfilled and his work meaningless since Christine is not in his life. What follows is a mysterious invitation to Christine to journey across the Atlantic and sing at one of the island’s attractions, with her husband Raoul and son Gustave accompanying her. We wonder how many years of longing and loneliness can change a relationship…

If The Phantom of the Opera album is still not part of your collection, you should highly consider adding it in time for the release of the Love Never Dies album (which will coincide with show’s opening in the West End in March). The original London cast album for Phantom was the 8th best-selling album EVER – incredible for a musical. That’s how good it is. Buy the The Phantom of the Opera album on Amazon.

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Come Fly Away … with the new Broadway musical inspired by Frank Sinatra tunes – it’s anticipated for a New York opening in early spring. Rumors have been confirmed that Twyla Tharp, the respected dance choreographer and director, will be heading this project which combines her powerful dance moves with Frank’s lovely vocals. The musical had its world premiere at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta under a different title, “Come Fly With Me.“ (No official reason is mentioned for the name change, but we suspect it has something to do with decreasing confusion with Ol’ Blue Eyes’ classic song number.)

Take a peek under the curtain...

Produced in special arrangement with Frank Sinatra Enterprises and the Sinatra Family, Come Fly Away tells the story of four couples as they fall in and out of love with each other throughout the course of one evening in a crowded nightclub. Tharp aspires to take audiences on a journey to feel the essence of Sinatra’s music beyond his smooth-as-silk vocals. She incorporates the story of many couples she’s known into the show’s narrative, as well as some of Sinatra’s best work.

Songs included in the musical are classics like “Witchcraft,” “Let’s Fall in Love,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” and “My Way.” A 19-piece live big band will be present on stage to bring life to the nightclub as well as provide the music to Sinatra’s vocals. The show will incorporate original recordings of Sinatra’s voice; some of the material comes newly discovered from the archives of the Sinatra family.

Though Sinatra’s songs are sung primarily from a man’s point of view, Tharp shares what is going through a woman’s mind by giving equal voice to both sexes in the narrative. There is a female vocalist who will sing several numbers with the band to assert female independence and offer the female perspective.

Tharp is hoping to create a scrapbook for audiences and remind them of memories from their love lives. From those that worked, failed, evolved into friendship and everything in between.

She’s had plenty of experience bringing Sinatra’s music to the stage with her past experiences with shows “Once More Frank,” “Nine Sinatra Songs” and “Sinatra Suite.”

No official word on casting yet, but previews will begin on Broadway starting March 1st.

The show will open at the Marquis Theatre in New York on March 25th, so we’ll keep you updated with news as it develops.

In the meantime, enjoy one of our favorite numbers from Ol’ Blue Eyes himself:

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The story revolves around the birth of rock n’ roll and racism in the South. It’s an original story – one not based on a movie, play. The idea for the musical developed from the imagination of George W. George who based the concept on stories of white DJs in the 1950s South who used to cause controversy by playing black music on their radio stations. (George W. George is the veteran Broadway producer of 1960s fame from shows like “Any Wednesday” and “My Dinner With Andre.”)

A love story unfolds in the smoky underground clubs of Memphis in the segregated 1950s. A young white DJ named Huey Calhoun can’t help loving rhythm and blues which he plays for mainstream white audiences and stirs up controversy. His passion for soul music is embodied in a vibrant African-American singer named Felicia Farrell with whom he falls deeply in love. Though the path for this interracial couple is riddled with obstacles, eventually the combination of his drive and her talent lead to the explosion of rock ‘n roll during this era. It’s an imaginative story about how love can change music forever and speaks to the significant cultural revolution that rock n’ roll was.

Memphis has closed every show to audiences standing on their feet. The music in the performance is inspiring to everyone and strikes a chord with Americans since rock n’ roll is such a big part of our musical history and culture. It’s something profound that unites us as a society.

Additionally, the musical carries extra heart since the two leads Chad Kimball (playing DJ Huey) and Montego Glover (as singer Felicia) are part of the musical’s original cast in pre-Broadway productions. They’ve never played leading roles on Broadway before but they’re wow-ing the crowds.

Watch the clip below of one of the musical numbers called “Music of My Soul.” It’s written by David Bryan (the keyboardist from Bon Jovi). Interestingly, it started as a humble  sample from Bryan in the early days of drafting the musical that made it into the final production. Chad Kimball sings it with Bryan accompanying on piano:

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