Phantom Sequel Gets Director

When it was announced some time ago that Andrew Lloyd Webber planned to do a sequel to his massive worldwide phenomenon The Phantom of the Opera (which was based on the Gaston Leroux novel of the same name), there was some skepticism. After all, musical sequels are rare, and this sequel was to be based on a Frederick Forsyth novel "The Phantom of Manhattan," which is not nearly as well liked as the Leroux original. However, recent reports indicate that Lloyd Webber is still moving ahead with the project, to be titled Phantom in Manhattan, and that Jack O'Brien is slated to be the director. Bob Crowley will serve as set designer, and apparently Forsyth himself is working on the show's book.