The Lord is in Town: Lloyd Webber in Melbourne for Love Never Dies filming

A few hours ago, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber addressed the audience at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre, welcoming them to the live filming of Love Never Dies.

Director of the Melbourne production, Simon Phillips and composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber spoke to the enthusiastic crowd about the historical nature of this event.

“I don’t think, ever before, a musical has been filmed like this – and certainly not this early [in the life of the show]”, said Lloyd Webber.

Lloyd Webber explained how “Hollywood” (film studio NBC Universal) had heard of Simon Phillips’ “spectacular” production and “extraordinary cast”, and had expressed an interest in filming the show.

“They came to my house, and I showed them what we had of the show”, Lloyd Webber said.

Clearly they loved what they saw, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Over the past four days, the cast and crew of the Melbourne production have been working around the clock to film the show (close ups and all) on the stage of the Regent Theatre. Lloyd Webber, six cameras and 30 film crew stormed the building on Monday morning to join the the cast, crew and creatives on this groundbreaking venture. Some of the show was re-blocked for camera, and the lighting states were slightly altered to create the right visual picture on screen.

Simon Phillips explained tonight that the final piece in puzzle was the live audience reactions, which will be taken from this evening’s performance. To thank them for their efforts, each audience member was offered a glass of sparkling wine at interval.

Due for international release in February 2012, this recording of Love Never Dies is set to make international stars of Ben Lewis (Phantom, pictured), Anna O’Byrne (Christine, pictured left) and Jack Lyall (the lucky young man chosen to play Gustave for the recording) as well as Simon Gleeson (Raoul), Sharon Millerchip (Meg) and Maria Mercedes (Madame Giry).

Despite rumours that the show may not make it to Broadway, especially following the announcement to film the show in Melbourne, it has been suggested that once the show is immortalised, and the world is exposed to the magnificence of this production, the chances of Love Never Dies making it to the Great White Way will strongly increase.