The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at OCPAC
By Stan Jenson
There are few Broadway box office records that aren’t held by Andrew Lloyd Webber. When his “Phantom of the Opera” closed last year, it had chalked up 9,027 performances, edging out his previous record of 7,485 performances for “Cats.” “Evita,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Joseph and his … Dreamcoat” are perennials at schools, community theatres, and professional companies around the world, and it’s a safe bet that on any given night, his music is being sung in more theatres than any other composer’s.
This month, local theatergoers will receive a special treat when “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber” kicks off its national tour at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. A hand-picked company of Broadway stars, backed by an onstage orchestra, present the musical highlights of the above-listed shows, plus “Whistle Down the Wind,” “Starlight Express,” “Sunset Boulevard,” and “The Woman in White.”
The Blade spoke with Howard McGillan, who appeared as The Phantom in over 2,500 performances on Broadway – another world record. He had no single answer as to how he was able to keep the character of The Phantom alive for so many performances. “Some people are just cut out for that sort of thing,” he said. “It takes quite a bit of physical stamina to deliver a show across the footlights eight times per week. There is certainly technique involved, not blowing your voice out every night, year after year.” Those 2,500 performances were also amassed over a period of ten years, and not all consecutively. He took breaks were he was able to star in other Broadway shows, including Stephen Sondheim’s most recent show, “Bounce.”
McGillan noted that The Phantom is actually onstage less than most of the other principals in that show. However, whenever he’s not onstage, he’s climbing ladders, doing quick changes, or repairing prosthetic makeup. There’s only one five-minute break in the first act when he can actually sit down on the couch in his dressing room.
Joining McGillan center stage will be five other Broadway superstars: David Josefsberg (Les Miserables, Grease), Kevin Kern (Wicked, Les Miserables), Laurie Gayle Stephenson (The Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line), Kathy Voytko (Nine, Oklahoma!), and Deone Zanotto (A Chorus Line, Zorba). McGillan will naturally sing “Music of the Night,” a song that he describes as the greatest blessing and curse of his career. He plans to leave the rock music of “Starlight” and “Superstar” for some of the younger singers.
This concert production has been presented around the world since the early 90’s, and is recognized as a show unto itself. However, Lloyd Webber personally updated it last year to include new material he has written since its initial run.
“The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber” plays at Segerstrom Hall of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, from February 16-21. Tickets start at $20, and are available from the theatre box office, at (714) 556-2787, or online at www.ocpac.org.