Patti LuPone's Norma is amazing - it's such a shame that feud twixt her and ALW occurred, I think she did the character so much justice.

Speaking of unappreciated songs and Sunset Boulevard - I love Surrender.

Snippet of info about that song....it was actually pivotal in the casting process.

When casting the role of Evita, ALW used 'High Flying Adored' as the test for whoever got the part. It had to be sung just right otherwise the singer wouldn't be considered.
Elaine Paige was the only auditionee who sang it just how he wanted it.
So that song was the key to casting the lead.

My advice to anyone seeing Blood Brothers and West Side Story would be.......don't wear any make up. Your tears will wash channels through it and make you look like Alice Cooper.


SAD? MOVING? HEARTBREAKING???

There just are no words to describe!
Except...........superb.

I think ALW is kind of like the George Lucas of MT composers----very commercial, highly popular with the masses, looked down artistically by the elitist crowd in the industry.

He provides populist entertainment for the masses, which brings criticism of writing juvenile material and "pandering to the masses". However, judging by his current net worth, I think he's laughing all the way to the bank with those comments.

Blood brothers I loved that too but I think my top 4 would be

Les Mis
Starlight express
WWRY
Tonights the night

but not seen phantom or west side story

Other non ALW gems are......

Return to the Forbidden Planet, Five Guys Named Moe.
They haven't been in the West End for a while, but they occasionally get revived or do a tour. I can highly recommend both. They are great fun.

My top five musicals

1. My Fair Lady (Audrey Hepburn film version)
2. Grease (Craig MacLachlan/Debbie Gibson stage version)
3. We Will Rock You (Tony Vincent/Hannah Jane Fox/Sharon D Clarke/Kerry Ellis stage version)
4. Little Shop of Horrors (Rick Moranis/Ellen Greene film version)
5. Buddy (Paul Hipp stage version)

None of them by ALW!

wow!

i've just spent a pleasant few minutes singing bits of every ALW mentioned!!! didn't know i knew so many!

i loved cats, and i too, was intimidated by a cat! i also love phantom, and tell me on a sunday, and evita, and jesus christ superstar and enjoyed whistle down the wind and sunset baulivard. joseph, i love, can't wait to see it in a few weeks.
never saw song and dance or starlight express, but like the songs.

his requiem is pretty good too!

however, my most favourite show is 'hunting of the snark' by the inimitable mike batt!

Well I think "Heaven on their Minds" from Jesus Christ Superstar was inspired, music and lyrics. Its one of my fave songs from any musical, though nothing beats West Side Story overall, in my opinion.

I'm out tomorrow night, and have just realised I've set the wrong times for recording IDA! Better go and reset it.

Tell me about it - I've seen both shows a fair few times and I am always a wreck by the end, even though I almost know them off by heart

This thread has given me such a trip down memory lane, but I can't believe I forgot to mention 'Hairspray' - one of the most recent shows I've seen but also easily one of the best and most memorable. The energy of that show is amazing and you leave on such a high. If ever you need cheering up, see that show

Zankoku87 - I love Patti LuPone - amazing voice. She was brilliant in Sunset Blvd, I was so excited to see her in that. What happened between her and ALW? I didn't know about that... She's getting rave reviews at the mo for 'Gypsy' on Broadway and it's rumoured that she could be coming over here to open the show on the West End. I really hope that's true, I would so be there!

BuddyBontheNet - I also saw 'Grease' with Craig McL and Debbie Gibson and loved it. It was Debbie's last day in the show when we went (I was desperate to see her in it ) and the cast were all playing jokes on her etc so it was great fun.

By the time I saw grease it was Sam Janus and Shane Ritchie still really good though. Also forgot the King and I. The one I'm most gutted bout though was never getting to see one of my fav's `RENT' I've loved the music and storyline since a friend sent me the musice when it first came out in the states in 96 and it's now been to London twice and I've missed it twice.

I've seen Grease a ridiculous number of times, in London and touring versions. I practically know it word for word

I saw the most recent version in the West End earlier this year and thought it was looking a bit tired though and in need of a bit of a re-vamp. It seems to have stayed exactly the same since the first time I saw it, just with different people. I think maybe the choreography and staging could be given a freshen up.

I saw a touring version of 'Rent' quite a few years ago (with Adam Rickett - enough to put anybody off!) It was really quite a bad version, not helped by the sheer inability of the cast to maintain a believeable American accent between them

It put me off the show to be honest, which is why I wouldn't have considered seeing the 'Remixed' version on the West End - which I'm obviously kicking myself for now as I would love to have seen Fran in it.

Saw grease on tour in Ipswich Christmas before last and was pretty much how I remembered it from west end years ago.

Haven't been to Lodon to she a show in what 2 years now and thats really slack for me really must do something about that.

LOL! How could you forget one of the greatest musicals!

I'm showing my age a bit here but I remember being taken to London to see the stage revival of "The King and I" with Yul Brynner and Virginia McKenna in the late 70's. By that time Yul had fully grown into the role (he was great but quite young in the movie) and it was fabulous.

"The King and I" is a brilliant musical. Fantastic songs and I cry at the end every time I see it - movie or theatre.

I def cried when I saw it s until then I'd only seen the remake Anna and the King and there are quite a few diff if I remember correctly

I saw a touring version of The King and I (with Marti Webb, I think ) and I have to say it left me a bit cold. It certainly didn't leave an impression on me...

I saw it not long after it had opened in London and was impressed but enjoyed others more like Les Mis That def moved me only complaint I had was the theater was soooooo hot you had to struggle to stay awake as much as it was gripping at the end of a long week in that heat

Gypsy is fabulous!!!!

I hope they bring it here, I havent seen it for years and Patti Lupone is fabulous, too. I can just see her in my mind playing the pushy mother!
Bring it on!!!!

Maybe it was Marti Webb who left you cold?
I saw her in Evita and she spoiled that for me.

Could be that she is the common denominator here?

Basically, ALW contracted LuPone to reprise Norma on Broadway, and then hired Glenn Close, so she (LuPone) sued him.


Something Wonderful is such an overlooked song! And Nina Simone does a pretty good cover of it too!

That has always been my favourite from the show/film - ever since I was taken to see it at the tender age of 5.
Even now I rewind the video over and over at that bit and of course 'Shall We Dance'.
(Note to self....buy the dvd )

I LOVE Hairspray! I remember leaving the theatre with such a huge simle on my face. The London production has such a great cast at the moment too. I really hope they make a London cast recording.

Yes me too! I've been playing the film soundtrack to death, which is brilliant, but I would love the London cast version (especially with the fabulous Ben ) I'm going back to see it later in the year and cannot wait

Chitarivera - You may well be right about Marti Webb, I've read someone say something similar about her on another thread. Maybe I should watch the actual film and see if it's any better...

Zankoku87 - Oh yes I'd forgotten about the business with Glenn Close. Did Patti Lupone succeed in sueing?

Out of court settlement, I believe - it was pretty obvious Lloyd Webber was in breach of contract so he paid up.

Going back to ALW and his 'strops'. As a musician Andrew is an artist, and to be honest being temperamental sort of goes with the territory! Ask most dancers, singers, actors......... I'd be surprised if he didn't have strops from time to time! I love his music and think he has amazing talent; musical theatre would be a whole lot weaker without him.