Opened: September 22, 2017

Book by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ben Elton, Frederick Forsyth & Glenn Slater

Music by: Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics by: Glenn Slater

Original North American Tour Cast: Gardar Thor Cortes, Meghan Picerno, Karen Mason, Sean Thompson, Mary Michael Patterson, Katrina Kemp, Richard Koons, Stephen Petrovich, Casey Lyons, Jake Heston Miller, Chelsey Arce, Erin Chupinsky, Diana DiMarzio, Tyler Donahue, Yesy Garcia, Alyssa Giannetti, Michael Gillis, Tamar Greene, Natalia Hagan, Lauren Lukacek, Alyssa McAnany, Rachel Anne Moore, Bronson Norris Murphy, Dave Schoonover, Adam Soniak, John Swapshire, Kelly Swint, Lucas John Thompson, Correy West & Arthur Wise

Ever heard of a Broadway musical having a sequel? Doesn’t sound like a good idea, right? Well, Andrew Lloyd Webber didn’t seem to think so.

In this Phantom of the Opera sequel, Christine Daae (Meghan Picerno) is invited to perform at Coney Island, where her old friend Meg Giry (Mary Michael Patterson) is supposed to be the star of the show. Christine realizes her invitation was the Phantom’s (Gardar Thor Cortes) doing.

If this were a standalone show and Phantom hadn’t existed, it would stand very well on its own. Unfortunately, it follows one of the greatest musicals of all time. When drawing the comparisons, it just doesn’t match up.

Lloyd Webber doesn’t disappoint musically. There are a few songs that really shine, including Phantom’s show-opening “Til I Hear You Sing.”

Final say: Try to forget the original. ★★★☆☆