With the movie musical of Cats poised to open in movie theatres across the country this December, BroadwayHD has curated a magical playlist that honors the musical’s composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. The premiere online streaming platform for all things theater has assembled these titles that they are sure to jog your “memory” and transport you back to some of the Webber’s critically acclaimed and audience beloved titles. Here’s what you can hope to find on BroadwayHD during the countdown to Cats‘ release in cinemas on December 20.
Cats
To start out, Cats itself makes BroadwayHD’s list, with the 1998 version filmed at London’s Adelphi Theatre. The stage production, directed by David Mallet for television, stars Elaine Paige as Grizabella, the Faded Glamour Cat, and a cast that also includes Ken Page, John Mills, John Partridge, Jacob Brent, and Michael Gruber. One of the longest-running hits in the history of Broadway and the West End, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats has been specially restaged for this video presentation, which captures all the music and movement of the original stage production with an uncommon intimacy and depth.
The Phantom of the Opera
With grand pageantry, spectacular performances and production values, Cameron Mackintosh produced this opulent 25th Anniversary production of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011. Inspired by the Harold Prince direction and featuring Gillian Lynne’s choreography, this production stars Ramin Karimloo as the “Opera Ghost” himself, with Sierra Boggess as the young ingenue Christine Daae. The Phantom of the Opera is Broadway’s longest-running musical of all-time.
Love Never Dies
Andrew Lloyd Webber followed up The Phantom of the Opera with the dark and romantic sequel Love Never Dies, set 10-years after the original story concluded. Moving the action from Paris to New York, the Phantom now lives amongst the freak shows and amusements of Coney Island, but he hasn’t forgotten his obsession with Christine Daae. The Australian production of Love Never Dies was preserved on film, and that version comes to BroadwayHD with Ben Lewis as the Phantom and Anna O’Byrne as Christine.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
A family favorite based on the biblical tale of Joseph, the boy with the coat of many colors, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat rounds out BroadwayHD’s list of Webber tributes. Filmed especially for video in 1999, pop music and Broadway star Donny Osmond plays the titular hero, with Maria Friedman, Richard Attenborough, and Joan Collins co-starring. With such show-stoppers as “Any Dream Will Do” and “Close Every Door,” this is a energetic and joyous choice for the whole family to enjoy.
In addition to the performances highlighted here, BroadwayHD is a theater lover’s dream for $99.99 annually. The SVOD gives viewers access to award-winning theater from across the globe with both classic and modern productions. Fans can expect to see the full works of Shakespeare, awe-inspiring performances from Cirque du Soleil and a selection of the world’s greatest musicals including Phantom of the Opera, Oklahoma, Billy Elliot, Les Miserables, and Sweeney Todd. All performances are adapted specifically for streaming audiences to maximize the entertainment experience. To learn more, visit www.broadwayhd.com.
Mark Robinson is the author of the two-volume encyclopedia The World of Musicals, The Disney Song Encyclopedia, and The Encyclopedia of Television Theme Songs. His latest book, Sitcommentary: The Television Comedies That Changed America, released on October 15. He maintains a theater and entertainment blog at markrobinsonwrites.com.