All tagged Matilda

Andrew Lloyd Webber Aside: The Best British Musicals to Hit Broadway

Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals represent some of the biggest hits to come to Broadway via Great Britain, where they were created and mounted. Indeed, many London West End transfers with music by Sir ALW have had long runs; The Phantom of the Opera and Cats come to mind. There was a period in the 80’s and early 90’s where Webber was responsible for leading what was termed “The British Invasion”. But the knighted songsmith is not the only Brit to usher in some terrific musicals that found success on Broadway. Today’s column celebrates the best of the non-Webber British musicals to come to Broadway.

Old-Fashioned Broadway

I admit that I am an old fashioned Broadway showtune lover. I almost always opt to put on my cast recordings of Finian's RainbowCarousel, Hello, Dolly! or Camelot long before I am tempted by the scores of RentSpring AwakeningGrey Gardens, or Matilda. It's not that I don't find things to appreciate in the latter group. I do. They are all wonderful in their own ways. I think it has to do with nostalgia or a sound I associate with "days gone by." For me, there is still nothing better than playing a scratchy record album of a Broadway show and experiencing that tinny sound of the old recording styles.