When the British Musical Ruled the World

British stage musicals struggled to compete against Broadway productions, but Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita in 1978 turned the tide. Robert Sellers' book reveals how these mega productions, including Cats, Starlight Express, Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Chess, and Miss Saigon, changed the business of musical theater in the 1980s. They were larger than life, colorful, and spectacular, with insightful stories from cast members, set designers, musical supervisors, dancers, lighting designers, production managers, singers, and choreographers. Despite obstacles, these productions swept the world and transformed the face of musical theater.

Format: Hardback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2023
Publisher: Globe Pequot Press

British stage musicals had long struggled to compete with the dazzling Broadway productions that dominated the global stage. However, in 1978, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of Evita marked a turning point, bringing the West End back into contention with Broadway. This was just the beginning of a series of blockbuster productions that would help Britain dominate musical theater worldwide. Journalist and author Robert Sellers provides a definitive account of how Evita, Cats, Starlight Express, Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Chess, and Miss Saigon revolutionized the business of musical theater in the 1980s. These mega productions were larger than life, colorful, and spectacular, featuring insightful, personal stories from cast members, set designers, musical supervisors, dancers, lighting designers, production managers, singers, and choreographers. Sellers also describes the backstage drama, production nightmares, and financial woes that threatened to derail the shows at multiple points. Despite these obstacles, these productions swept the world and transformed the face of musical theater in ways that still resonate today.

Weight: 576g
Dimension: 162 x 237 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781493071333