Andrew Lloyd Webber Reveals Being Stopped From Shaping Musicals About Foreign Countries: “This Is A Factor That Is Staggering”
-
- June 15, 2023
Renowned composer Andrew Lloyd Webber recently disclosed that he faced obstacles when attempting to create musicals centered around foreign countries. The 75-year-old impresario, famous for hits such as “Phantom of the Opera” set in France and “Evita” depicting the life of Argentina’s former First Lady Eva Perón (which was adapted into a film starring Madonna in 1996), revealed that he now encounters discouragement when developing shows that revolve around characters from outside his native Britain.
The Challenge of Creating Musicals Abroad
Speaking on the ‘I Never Thought it Would Happen’ podcast, Lloyd Webber expressed his frustration, stating, “There’s another factor that has come in now which is all this business about. I’ll put it to you this way, if I were to be doing ‘Evita’ today – Tim and I were doing ‘Evita’ – I think there would be a lot of people to say, ‘Well, they’re not qualified to do this because they’re not Argentine.’ This is a factor that is staggering. There was a subject that I really wanted to consider doing, but everybody was saying to me, ‘You can’t do this because you’re not from that country.'”
Alternative Suggestions and Future Plans
Despite these setbacks, Lloyd Webber revealed that he was advised to create a musical based on the classic English novel ‘Pride and Prejudice.’ However, he did not seem enthused by the idea and emphasized that if he were to embark on a new show, he would collaborate with young producer Michael Harrison. Nevertheless, he clarified that no concrete plans were in motion yet.
Expressing his reservations about adapting ‘Pride and Prejudice’ into a musical, Lloyd Webber remarked, “Why would I want to make a musical out of ‘Pride and Prejudice’? I don’t know whether one has to just sort of plough on regardless. I’m sure I will find something. I have masses of music bursting out at the moment, but they’re like homeless waifs and strays. I’m working with Michael Harrison now, and the next show I do, if I do one, will be in partnership with him because he’s a very experienced but younger producer.”
The Search for the Right Story
Lloyd Webber stressed the importance of finding the right story before proceeding with a new musical. He mentioned that he had been actively searching for a suitable narrative for the past 18 months but had yet to discover one that resonated with him. As a musical dramatist, he acknowledged that the story is paramount to his creative process.
In conclusion, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s desire to shape musicals about foreign countries has been met with resistance due to concerns of cultural authenticity. Despite the challenges, he remains determined to find the perfect story for his next theatrical venture.
Connect With Debonair Magazine On Social Media [ Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn ] To Get Real-Time Updates On The Market.
