Hit musical creator Andrew Lloyd-Webber has announced his plans to stream his works for free. Fans can go to his Youtube channel The Show Must Go On, where each musical will be open to the public for 48 hours after being posted.
Other videos including behind-the-scene footages are also going to be posted, according to the channel’s descriptions. Both full-length shows and shorter clips of famous numbers can be expected.
His decision follows orders from governments around the world to shut down theaters. From Broadway to small performance centers in street corners, live performances of all sorts have been put to a stop with the recent coronavirus outbreak.
Lloyd-Webber addressed his fans in a video he posted on his channel. Using the hashtag #Withme, he asked musical fans from around the globe to stay home while he brings his shows to our homes.
The first show scheduled to be streamed is the 2000 rendition of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. First performed in 1968, the musical has gone on to win various awards through its different performances.
With minimal spoken lines, the story is told almost exclusively through songs and dances. The plot revolves around Joseph, the biblical son of Jacob, and his 11 brothers.
The 2000 rendition starred the late Richard Attenborough who passed away in 2014. Fans point to this performance as one of the finest in an already stellar career.
The 2012 version of Jesus Christ Superstar is set to play on Good Friday during the Easter weekend. Widely considered the most famous and influential of his repertoire, the show was also notorious for the controversies surrounding it.
According to the channel, viewers are encouraged to follow the links that will be provided on the full-length videos to support this effort. Some of the listed charity organizations include Acting for Others and Actors Benevolent Funds.
Lloyd-Webber’s decision provides an interesting talking point as the global community continues its fight against the infectious virus.
Recently, there were calls by fans of movies whose release have been postponed by the virus to replace the premier with online streaming. The most vocal were fans of Black Widow that was scheduled to be released on April 29th.
This sentiment was echoed by the film’s costar David Harbour. Whether Lloyd-Webber’s actions could set an industry precedent that others will follow remains to be seen.
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