Long story, short answer: Ironically this wasn't on one of his shows. I worked for the President at Capitol Records when ALW was writing his classical LP, Requiem. My boss hated talking to him so whenever "Really Useful Company calling" I got to have the conversations. Before REQUIEM was released, ALW had a listening party with his close friends at the Capitol studios. I was there as were: Sarah Brightman, Cameron McIntosh, Gillian, Trevor Nunn...get the picture? A who's who of the theatre world! At this time the big show was CATS so I was in awe of the director, producer and choreographer being there. Anway, REQUIEM won the Grammy and ALW was on the phone before dawn wanting to know what the hell we were going to do to promote his album. Ruthless! It hadn't even been 8 hours since the award had been announced on national TV! but I have to give him props for surrounding himself with talented people. Personally I think all his best work was with Tim Rice. PHANTOM was just a figment of his imagination at this time.
ETA: I had actually met McIntosh 2 years earlier when I was in a show he produced. Small world.
Updated On: 3/10/13 at 06:01 PM