The Original Phantom - History of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Musicals

Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Theatre Fix Blog  

This post will look into the genius which is Andrew Lloyd Webber and the musicals he has contributed to ultimately defines musical theatre.
  I won't be able to list all of his works but if your interested, I found this site very informative and interesting about the man himself, Andrew Lloyd Webber.
  If your a fan of Webber's work, you may also subconsciously be a bigger fan if his main lyrical collaborator Tim Rice , who I hope to draw on another time.

'So let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start' (Unfortunately The Sound Of Music isn't one of Webber's but I couldn't resist.)






   1965 - 
              The Likes Of Us was Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's first collaboration. However, it was not first backed so wasn't performed until 2005.

1968 -
          The partner ship carried on and Joseph and the amazing technicolour dreamcoat was born. The title role of Joseph has been played by David Cassidy (1983), Jason Donovan (1991), Phillip Schofield, Donny Osmond and Steven Gately.  A film version was made in 1999 starring Donny Osmond. To revamp the show in 2007 the BBC aired Any Dream Will Do,  a reality television show which Andrew Lloyd Webber searched for an unknown talent to play Joseph. Lee Mead was the winner and played Joseph in the West-end for 18 months.

1970-

          Jesus Christ Superstar caused controversy with churches especially, some branding the show 'blasphemous'. In 1973 a film was made which was shot in various locations, in 2004 an update rock version was made based around the actually theatre production. 

1976-

   Evita based around Argentinian president Juan Peron and his loving wife Eva Peron. In 1996 a film version was produced starring Madonna as Eva and Antonio Banderas as Che.  

Film Poster from Wikipedia

1981-

         Cats for many years was the longest running show on the West-end. It has forever been thought of as one of the most memorable musicals.

1986-

     The Phantom of the Opera is one of the most challenging of the stage plays with only certain theatres being able to stage the show due to the tricky boat scene. In 2004 a film was produced starring Gerald Butler and Emmy Rossum unlike the other film adaptations The Phantom was released on to the cinema screens. 

2010-

         Leading on nicely is the sequel to The Phantom of The Opera, Love Never Dies only just released the show is already proving a hit. A DVD version of the musical as just been released for general sale.

  Here's Andrew Lloyd Webber speaking about the show on the BBC.

        http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b01cwrtj/

2011-

          The Wizard Of OZ is an adaptation of the original 1939 film starring Judy Garland. Dorothy will be played by Danielle Hope, the winner of the reality show Over the Rainbow. The show only opened on the 1st of March 2011. 

           I hope this has given you some insight to the history of Andrew Lloyd Webber's greatness. Please feel free to comment if I have got anything wrong or if you feel I have left a vital musical off my list.

    Cheers.