Andrew Lloyd Webber Brings Broadway to Life From His Home

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: I want to start by asking how you’re doing with your sort of online performances now, particularly what we just talked about. You have started The Shows Must Go On. And it’s not just for entertainment, although it is. What’s the bigger purpose, as you decided to put “Phantom” and the others streaming?

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, COMPOSER: Well, one of the most important things is, we were able to — if people wish to donate to the Actors Fund, that is really terrific.

AMANPOUR: Yes.

LLOYD WEBBER: I have been doing my bit as a producer through Broadway Cares. But it’s a wonderful way of being able to help. But also, at this point, I mean, I have been very lucky in my career, and I think it’s a way of giving back to the audiences who have been so good to me. And maybe it also introduces people to the theater who may not have even thought of going to a theater. You never know.

AMANPOUR: And “Phantom,” of course, is the first one. It is on now. And it obviously — he knows, the Phantom knows a little bit about being in lockdown, because he’s locked under the opera. Tell us a little bit about it relates, how “Phantom” relates to this moment we are going through.

LLOYD WEBBER: Well, I don’t know that he specifically — other than the fact he wears a mask, I don’t think there is a — no, I think that the “Phantom” really is an extraordinary love story. And I think one has to think of it as that. But the production that you can see today is the 25th anniversary concert of it that was — it was shot in London about five years ago now, six years ago. And it was done in the Albert Hall. It’s not the theater, but it is a very, very fine production. And I think we are all very pleased with it.

AMANPOUR: And, look, just to give it some more resonance, some of the song lyrics are appropriate. There’s this one, wishing you were somehow here again, wishing you were somehow near, a little bit of what people are going through in isolation. You just heard Esther Perel, the relationship guru, talking about how difficult it is. But you have also, yourself, I think you have got a musical that I think has been either stopped before it started or closed very quickly, “Cinderella.”

LLOYD WEBBER: Oh, yes. Well, it hasn’t closed, no. It has been stopped in its tracks. We were supposed to be doing a workshop for the last three weeks, not been able to do it, although, thanks to Zoom, of course, and things, we have able to continue with all the writing. And we have been able to make sure that we finished it. Of course, quite when we’re going to be able to put it on now is an open question, because the big question all of us are asking is, when is it going to be possible to go back to the theater again? When are the theaters going to be open? And then, of course, when the theaters are open, are audiences going to feel safe to go? I think we have got a moment now, I think particularly on Broadway, where I think it’s very, very important that everybody pulls together.