Lloyd Webber's representatives said in a statement that it was expected that the musical theatre giant would return to work by the end of the year. In terms of Love Never Dies, that means there will be no change in the schedule of the upcoming sequel to The Phantom of the Opera.

The new production, long in the works, is expect to open March 9 at the Adelphi Theater in London before moving on to a Broadway debut on Nov. 11, 2010.

Oct. 8 marks the on-sale ticket date for the world premiere London bow at the Adelphi Theatre, which begins performances Feb. 20, 2010. The musical will also premiere in Australia in 2011; and Lloyd Webber did not rule out other territories and cities receiving productions around the same time.

Lloyd Webber's production company, The Really Useful Group, also announced that the album for Love Never Dies was completed in September and will be released on March 10, 2010, following the London premiere.

At a press event held Oct. 8 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, where the original production of The Phantom of the Opera celebrates its 23rd birthday Oct. 9, Andrew Lloyd Webber introduced the two leads of Love Never Dies, Ramin Karimloo (who is currently playing the title role of The Phantom in London, through Nov. 7, and will play the same role again) and Sierra Boggess (who will play Christine, a role she previously played in the premiere of Phantom – the Las Vegas Spectacular in 2007). Karimloo introduced a song from the show, "Till I Hear You Sing Once More."

Lloyd Webber characterized the show in an interview as not being a sequel, but "a stand-alone piece." He stated, "There are practically no quotes from the original score, apart from one or two things for color." The score has already been recorded with the entire cast of the West End premiere production, but it will not be officially released until March 10 – the day after the show's world premiere in London. And although the show has therefore already been cast, no further casting was officially announced, though Lloyd Webber did reveal that the role of Meg Giry will be played by Summer Strallen, who took over the role of Maria in the final cast of Lloyd Webber's London Palladium revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music. Lloyd Webber stated that there are six principals in the show, including a new character of a ten-year-old boy called Gustave.

The production will begin rehearsals in London Jan. 4, 2010, though principals Karimloo and Boggess have already participated in several earlier workshops. Karimloo starred in the original presentation at Lloyd Webber's private Sydmonton Festival two years ago; and both have subsequently participated in workshops in October 2008, in January 2009, and a recent three-week technical rehearsal period, as well as participating in the recording of the album.

The show is directed by Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, currently represented together in the West End fulfilling the same duties on Hairspray. Sets and costumes are designed by Bob Crowley.