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The show, which was originally set to open later this year, will now debut in the Spring 2011. The Neil Simon Theatre, where the show will open, has been exclusively reserved until next year by the show. The US producers of the show said the decision to delay Love Never Dies had been taken due to Webber’s health, following prostrate cancer earlier this year.

“These have been aggravated by recent air travel and Lloyd Webber’s doctors have requested that he does not take any further long-haul flights for the time being and until the problem has been investigated. This prevents him attending auditions and being part of the pre-production process in New York on the original schedule.”

Webber’s new reality TV show ‘Over The Rainbow’, which aims to find a Dorothy for the new production of The Wizard Of Oz, is in full motion, making it hard for Webber to be in two places at once. Therefore the decision has also been made to bring forward the opening of The Wizard Of Oz, to give Webber more freedom to travel to New York to oversee Love Never Dies.

In a statement Webber added: “I am extremely frustrated that I cannot travel to New York, for the time being I will be focusing my time on producing The Wizard of Oz in London now, and plan to be available for the creative process of bringing Love Never Dies to Broadway as soon as possible. I’m grateful that Jack [O’Brien, director] and Jerry’s [Mitchell, choreographer] schedules can allow me to do this juggling act.”