Superstar

​Andrew Lloyd Webber is having quite a moment. To celebrate his 70th birthday on March 22, the prolific composer published a new memoir Unmasked, and released a “personally curated” 4-disc album, Unmasked: The Platinum Collectionfeaturing hit songs from across his 50-year career in musical theatre. On March 28, NBC aired the documentary Andrew Lloyd Webber Tribute to a Superstar, and on April 1 broadcast Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert live on national television. 

The Lord Lloyd Webber has composed 20 musicals, 18 of which have played on the West End, and 13 on Broadway. In 2017, Lloyd Webber became the first composer since Rodgers and Hammerstein to have 4 shows running concurrently on Broadway — Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, and School of Rock. 

At the time of writing, The Phantom of the Opera and School of Rock are playing on Broadway and the West End, while Love Never Dies and Jesus Christ Superstar are on national tours of the United States. The Woman in White continues to run on the West End, and Sunset Boulevard, Evita, and Starlight Express are being performed throughout the UK and Europe. 

In honor of NBC’s triumphant Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert, let’s take a look at all the Lloyd Webber musicals that have been filmed live and released to the public. 

Filmed Live Musicals 
Jesus Christ Superstar

• The 2012 Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Tour was filmed live in Birmingham. The production starred Tim Minchin as Judas, Melanie as Mary Magdalene, and Ben Forster as Jesus.
• NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert was a departure from previous live television musicals as it was filmed in one location, and with a live audience.
• The 1992 Australian production starring John Farnham as Jesus, and Kate Cebrano as Mary was filmed live, but has not been officially released. A highlights album was released in 1992.

Tell Me On a Sunday

• The initial production was a made-for-tv special taped live at the Royalty Theatre, London on Jan 28, 1980. It aired on the BBC on Feb 12 and March 9 1980, and again a year later. The show starred Marti Webb performing with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Song and Dance

• A special performance of Song and Dance starring Sarah Brightman was held at the Palace Theatre, London on April 28, 1984. It was taped by the BBC and aired on August 27, 1984.

Love Never Dies

• The 2011 Australian production was filmed live in Melbourne. It was released in cinemas and on DVD.

The Phantom of the Opera

• The 25th anniversary gala at Royal Albert Hall was broadcast live to cinemas around the world. Footage from three performances was combined and released on DVD, and on American television.
• On the 30th anniversary of both the Broadway and West End productions, special curtain calls were livestreamed on Facebook. ​

​Other Films/Live Recordings 
Aspects of Love

• The Australian production directed by Gale Edwards was filmed in November 1992. The film is held at the University of New England Stage and Screen Collection.

Evita

• John Snelson’s biography on Andrew Lloyd Webber lists an “audio visual presentation of original recording” of Evita that was presented at the Sydmonton Festival in 1976.

School of Rock

• In October 2015, School of Rock became the first Broadway musical to release a 3D promotional clip. Filmed in a classroom, the clip featured cast members performing “You’re in the Band.” Within 3 days, the clip had been viewed over 1 million times on YouTube.
• In December 2017, NBC Nightly News visited School of Rock on Broadway and filmed another 3D video of “You’re in the Band.”

Starlight Express

• Selections from the long-running Bochum production were presented on German television in 1989. The Bochum production, which in 2018 will be celebrating it’s 30th anniversary, has released two live albums, one in 1989, and the second in 2013.

Film Versions
In addition to filmed live musicals, several of Lloyd Webber’s shows have been adapted into film versions. 

By Jeeves

• Made for television version produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Company, Really Useful Films, and Tapestry Pictures in 2001

Cats

• Directed by David Mallett, the film version of Cats was released in 1998. The film featured actors from both the London and New York original casts.

Jesus Christ Superstar

• Directed by Norman Jewison, the first film adaptation was released in 1973.
• A second film adaptation based on the Broadway revival directed by Gale Edwards was released in 2000.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

• Also directed by David Mallett, the 1999 film starred Donny Osmond, Maria Friedman, Richard Attenborogh, and Joan Collins.

The Phantom of the Opera

• Directed by Joel Schumaker, the 2004 film version starred Gerard Butler as the Phantom, and Emmy Rossum as Christine Daae.

To Andrew Lloyd Webber, thank you for your immense contributions to musical theatre, and for making so much of your work available to audiences around the world through the screen. 

Am I missing any productions? Remember bootlegs are not included in the database! 

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