‘Phantom of the Opera’ sequel cheered in London

‘Phantom’ sequel cheered in London

A star-studded audience -- including actors Michael Caine, Rowan Atkinson and musical singer Elaine Paige -- rose to their feet and cheered at the conclusion of the premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to “Phantom of the Opera” in London on Tuesday night. The composer bowed and blew a kiss to the audience.

“Phantom” is a tale of gothic romance set in the Paris Opera that has been seen by 100 million people around the world since it opened in 1986. It is still playing in London and New York, where it is the longest-running show in Broadway history.

“Love Never Dies” picks up the story 10 years on, with disfigured genius the Phantom relocated to the bright lights of New York’s Coney Island and still besotted with beautiful soprano Christine Daae. Lloyd Webber has been developing the show since 1997.

-- associated press ‘Spartacus’ star in treatment

Andy Whitfield, who plays the title role in the Starz series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Production on the second season has been delayed so the British-born actor can begin treatment immediately, the network said Tuesday.

The network said the cancer was discovered during a routine checkup as the 38-year-old Whitfield prepared to begin shooting of the action-adventure series, which is filmed in New Zealand.

According to the network, doctors say the cancer was detected in its early stages and is “very treatable.”

-- associated press De Niro will play Lombardi

Robert De Niro is set to play Vince Lombardi in an upcoming movie.

ESPN announced Tuesday that the Academy Award-winning actor has agreed to play the Hall of Fame coach in the film it is developing with Andell Entertainment and the NFL.

“Lombardi” will chronicle the years in which he transformed the Green Bay Packers from the NFL’s worst team to league champions. It is tentatively scheduled to be released the weekend before the Super Bowl in 2012.

-- associated press Why Fawcett wasn’t shown

The executive director of the film academy said Tuesday that Farrah Fawcett wasn’t included in the Academy Awards’ In Memoriam segment because the actress was better known as a TV star.

It was a difficult decision for the committee that assembles the segment to omit Fawcett, said Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences executive director Bruce Davis, who added that he’s not surprised some fans and family members are upset.

After much discussion by the committee, Fawcett and Gene Barry were both omitted from the sequence. Davis and his colleagues thought that though the actors appeared in movies, they were better known for their “remarkable television work” and would be more appropriately honored by the television academy at the Emmy Awards.

When asked why Michael Jackson was included when actors were left out, Davis explained that Jackson had appeared in a popular theatrical film recently.

-- associated press Leibovitz has loan repaid

Annie Leibovitz, the photographer who mismanaged her fortune so badly that she faced losing legal rights to some of pop culture’s most enduring images, has reached a long-term agreement with a private investment firm to help manage her debt and market her vast portfolio, both sides said Tuesday.

Leibovitz, 60, will retain total control of her multimillion-dollar portfolio under the deal she signed with Colony Capital of Santa Monica on Monday, said Richard Nanula, a principal with the firm.

Under the agreement, Colony will become the photographer’s sole creditor and help market her archive.

Leibovitz obtained an extension last year to repay a $24-million loan to a Manhattan firm, Art Capital Group, in a financial dispute that had threatened her rights to her work.

The specific terms of the new deal were not disclosed, but Nanula said the Art Capital loan was repaid Monday. Art Capital confirmed the repayment.

Leibovitz put up her three Manhattan townhouses as collateral.

-- associated press