Not Another Grease/Andrew Lloyd Webber Debate Thread!

[Stitch_Stalker]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:13pm

I know these are completely repetitive, but I did a search to ensure that this particular topic wasn't discussed (but, eh, my compy's wonky so who knows)...

I was watching Heroes and a commercial for "YTOTIW" came on, claiming that this week the contestants would be judged by the "undisputed king of Broadway-Andrew Lloyd Webber"...

Um... Anyone want to dispute this? Who really is the king of Broadway? David Merrick? Stephen Sondheim? Max Bialystock?

I think it's a bit...over the top to claim "undisputed"...

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:16pm

Well, if you were to go by current composer with the most income generated by Broadway theatre - it would definitely be ALW.

Stephen Sondheim's solo musicals have collectively made about 15 dollars on Broadway.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:17pm

Not another teen movie!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:22pm

I'm actually excited about Andrew Lloyd Webber being a judge - he could be downright nasty on the MARIA series in the UK. He's not like Olivia Newton John or the nice panel creative team. If anyone sucks, he's going to tell them...

[Stitch_Stalker]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:25pm

That is something I've been looking forward to... It's a sad day for reality television when even the token nasty British host can barely critisize a performance.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:27pm

is it just me, or with each day does ALW look more and more like the Phantom from the original silent film?











Updated On: 2/5/07 at 10:27 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 11:11pm

What does Andrew have to do with any production of GREASE?
Except to keep his name in the press.

[Julian2]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 2:31am

If I were to name anyone The King Of Broadway, I would pick George M. Cohan.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 4:12am

yeah, cause your average theatre goer that's watching YTOTIW knows who he is. To the people watching the show, ALW is the King of Broadway. in fact, i bet most of them would be hard pressed to name another Bway composer (not including elton john/bill joel/bob dylan and peeople who've had juke box musicals made of their music)

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 9:22am

When will Sondheim be on?

[jv92]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 9:48am

Michael Bennett-
I would hardly call him The King of Broadway on terms on income. Sunset Boulevard, The Woman in White and that corny thing about the butler (Jeeves I think?) have probably lost more money than the original production of Follies.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 9:53am

Webber is a perfect judge. As someone previosuly said, if somebody sucks, they'll know.

I think that's the problem with the show as it stands now - it's being done in the American Idol form, but the difference is that on Idol, they give criticism, positive and/or negative. You don't see that on Grease.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 10:04am

I recall that right around the year 2000, some publication or organization tallied the totals for various forms of entertainment. The Phantom of the Opera was the most lucrative entertainment in any format. Productions around the world had brought in more money than even the highest grossing film of the century (Titanic).

The man may have had a few money losers, but Phantom and Cats alone must surely put him at the top of the list in terms of income.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 10:07am

I'm glad to hear that he'll tell them the truth, because these judges are way too damn nice. But besides that, I am no bid ALW fan. And you have a point there, Liverpool.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 10:46am

Well, yes, SUNSEST, WIW and JEEVES all lost money, but PHANTOM alone has grossed over 1 billion dollars world wide. Add to that CATS, EVITA, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, JOSEPH - we are looking at cumulative grosses well into the billions of dollars. No other living composer has come any where close to that...

[gumbo2]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 10:50am

Also, I believe Whistle Down The Wind and at least one of his other shows are still going on the West End and doing well...correct me if I'm wrong.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 4:11pm

OK, so he has more $ than God, but what does that have to do with casting GREASE?

[FosseForever3]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 6:18pm

For real...if Mr. Sondheim was a judge...

uuhhmm...

I'm not quite sure how I'd react.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 10:31am

On another subject, why the Dannys weren't asked to do either "Song of the King" from Joseph or "Pumping Iron" from StEX is entirely beyond me. That's so '50s leading man right there, and they didn't do it!

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 10:41am

I've got to say, the level of talent on Any Dream Will Do is ASTOUNDING.