Recent weeks have seen the temporary closure of theatres and their shows, meaning audiences around the world are spending more time at home than usual. In response, Andrew Lloyd Webber has announced a new YouTube Channel, The Shows Must Go On, providing musical theatre lovers with a West End and Broadway experience in their own homes, online for free.
From Friday, 3 April at 7pm BST, for the first time ever, a selection of Lloyd Webber’s much-loved musicals will be made available free online, launching with one of the most enduring shows of all time, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
The 2000 screen adaptation, inspired by an earlier West End production, stars Donny Osmond, Maria Friedman, Richard Attenborough and Joan Collins. The fan-favourite includes Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice song classics including Close Every Door to Me, Go Go Go Joseph and Any Dream Will Do.
Each show will be available weekly (from 7pm BST) for a limited 48-hour period online – no charge or sign up required.
The second production screened will be another Lloyd Webber and Rice collaboration, the Biblical rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar, which is released on Good Friday, 10 April 2020. This is a film of the arena production, seen at London’s The O2 in 2012, starring Ben Forster as Jesus alongside Tim Minchin, Melanie C and Chris Moyles.
Alongside the full-length shows, clips of famous performances and behind-the-scenes footage will be uploaded regularly to the channel. Further productions are to be announced.
Next up on #TheShowsMustGoOn on 10 Apr #GoodFriday is the #JesusChristSuperstar arena staging, seen at @TheO2 in 2012, starring @thebenforster @timminchin @MelanieCmusic & @ChrisMoyles.#GetSocial with all your musical superstars @StageFaves:https://t.co/C40OuyUjKK #ST #SF pic.twitter.com/pNDjCREajz
— Terri Paddock (@TerriPaddock) April 2, 2020
