When the British Musical Ruled the World

by Robert Sellers

For decades, British stage musicals struggled to compete against the dazzling Broadway productions that came roaring in from across the pond. But that tide was turned at last in 1978, when Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of Evita brought the West End back into contention with Broadway. It was just the first of several blockbuster productions that helped Britain dominate musical theater all over the world. In this revealing behind-the-scenes narrative, journalist and author Robert Sellers gives a definitive account of how Evita, Cats, Starlight Express, Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Chess, and Miss Saigon changed the business of musical theater in the 1980s. These mega productions of the were larger than life, colorful, and spectacular. Sellers collects insightful, personal stories from cast members, set designers, musical supervisors, dancers, lighting designers, production managers, singers, and choreographers from the shows that finally put Broadway on its back foot. He also describes the backstage drama, production nightmares, and financial woes that threatened to derail the shows at multiple points. Whatever obstacles they faced, though, these productions swept the world and transformed the face of musical theater in ways that still resound today.

268 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2023

Reviews

[John Kenrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough discussion of a massive topic

This is one of the few books to attempt to cover all the megamusicals of the 1970s & 80s, and it's both thorough and a great read. The author clearly did another of research and distills it into a clear and engrossing narrative. Some big names get their of share of praise, along with some frank observations about their unpleasant sides. A must read for musical theater lovers, especially those who are fans of Evita, Les Miz, Phantom and the other British hits of that era.

[Andreas Diro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A genuinely enjoyable recounting of various moments and episodes from the production of some of the most impactful British musicals of the late 20th century.