UK Edition
Andrew Lloyd Webber becomes first composer to have four Broadway shows at once since Rodgers and Hammerstein
The West End is now lagging behind America when it comes to making new musicals because it lacks the venues and tradition of "trying out work and getting it wrong", Lord Lloyd Webber has suggested, as he celebrates a new Broadway record.
Lord Lloyd Webber, who this week became the first composer to have four shows on Broadway since Rodgers and Hammerstein 60 years ago, said the UK could learn from the success of the US, where new works are quietly developed and perfected in small but public theatres.
Saying the success of his School of Rock was down to an extended public rehearsal period off-Broadway before it was officially unleashed on audiences, the theatre impresario argued that process of development is “in the DNA” of American theatre but not the UK.
Lord Lloyd Webber is currently celebrating four shows on Broadway at one time: the first time any composer has achieved such success since Rodgers and Hammerstein in 1953.
He joked hit shows appeared to be “like buses”, with four coming along at once.
The composer also spoke of his hopes that La La Land will inspire Hollywood to fall in love with musicals again, having never previously been film’s “number one priority”.
When asked whether the West End could learn anything from Broadway, Lord Lloyd Webber said: "The thing we have to think about right now in Britain is that America has basically taken the lead again.
"There are 13 new musicals coming onto Broadway this year and there are only two new musicals in London.
"What's happened is that in America there are masses and masses of theatres where you can try things out and perfect material before they ever get near to Broadway.
“We don't have those spaces or places where people can try out work and get it wrong. We don’t have a culture where that happens.”
This month, Lord Lloyd Webber’s theatre group will open the doors of The Other Palace, a London venue aimed at allowing writers to develop work without the “paraphernalia of sets”.
Asked whether he felt there was any reason audiences were embracing his musicals so enthusiastically now, he added: "It doesn't mean to say there's a sudden new appetite for musicals. I don't think anything has fundamentally changed.
“As far as musicals are concerned, the bigger change is probably La La Land.
"Musicals have never been the number one thing of Hollywood. As well as some musicals have done, they're not huge by Hollywood standards.
"La La Land I think is a big change. It woke Hollywood up to the musical again.”
Speaking from New York, Lord Lloyd Webber said news of his four concurrent Broadway shows came as something of a last-minute decision over Christmas, with Sunset Boulevard opening on Thursday night with Glenn Close as its star.
The actress signed up for the Broadway version after a well-received run at the London Coliseum last year.
“I think back to when I first came to NY when I was 22,” said Lord Lloyd Webber. “I met Richard Rodgers of Rodgers and Hammerstein and he was my idol.
"It's his record I've equalled. I can't really put it into words, it's most peculiar.
"I never would have ever dreamt that this would happen."
One whether he now hoped to set a new record with five shows, he joked: “Maybe I'll hire a theatre and read poetry?
"The thing is you never know with this business. I'm thinking now really what I want to write next and right now I'm looking for a story.
“I've come to the conclusion looking back over the years that a great story can carry not necessarily a top-drawer score. But a great score struggles to sustain a not-very-good story.
"Right now I'm not going to rush into anything unless I think the story is strong.”
Later this year, Lord Lloyd Webber will oversee a second American cast for School of Rock, whilst a production of Love Never Dies goes on tour in the US.
He was this week the guest of honour at a special American Theatre Wing party to celebrate his US success.