| The area of London known as the West End is | | | | medium of the musical: The Phantom of the |
| actually about as central as it is possible | | | | Opera, Evita, Jesus Christ, Superstar, |
| to be in the capital. It is wedged between | | | | Joseph, Aspects of Love, Cats and Starlight |
| three major parks, the Thames and the City of | | | | Express is a small sample of household name |
| London, and is the commercial heartbeat of | | | | shows. Even seemingly unlikely candidates |
| the city, with Bond Street, Regent Street and | | | | such as Ben Elton have proved to be talented |
| Oxford Street being its most famous shopping | | | | writers of musicals for the West End, and |
| areas. Embassies, government, media and top | | | | luminaries such as Stephen Sondheim and |
| hotels are based here. But when people refer | | | | Rogers & Hammerstein regularly have had their |
| in common parlance the the West End, they are | | | | work performed here. |
| usually talking about the theaters and | | | | |
| playhouses and the shows that make them | | | | Notable adaptations |
| famous in much the same way as Broadway is | | | | |
| used as a general term for the New York | | | | In skilful hands, a book, film, play or |
| equivalent. The districts theatres are | | | | biography can be adapted to be a musical and |
| numerous, and are well known for hosting the | | | | vice versa. The Sound of Music was a |
| grandest, most lavish and best loved shows as | | | | successful stage musical long before it |
| well as putting on plays that feature A-list | | | | became the Christmas perennial we all know |
| names from not just the UK but also Hollywood | | | | and love, and its songs have become iconic. |
| and beyond. | | | | Indeed, My Favourite Things has become a jazz |
| | | | standard, and a recent BBC talent show was |
| World famous names | | | | based around finding the perfect Maria for a |
| | | | stage production. |
| You do not have to be a Londoner to have | | | | |
| heard of the names that typify the West End | | | | The music of Abba was made into the 1999 hit |
| experience: Oxford Street, Strand, | | | | musical Mamma Mia! And is one of the worlds |
| Shaftesbury Avenue, Drury Lane, Kingsway and | | | | top grossing musicals, no doubt partly due to |
| the South Bank are synonymous with | | | | the enduringly popular songs, and a film |
| performance. Names like Dominion, Palladium, | | | | version is set to continue this success. |
| Coliseum, Adelphi, Lyceum and the Royal Opera | | | | |
| House have obvious connotations, and because | | | | A musical made from a book that is a prequel |
| such venues represent the ultimate goal of | | | | of an adaptation of another book can also |
| every ambitious and talented performer, the | | | | succeed! This is demonstrated by Wicked, a |
| shows and productions are among the most | | | | musical based on the early life of the Wicked |
| critically acclaimed in the world. Some West | | | | Witch of the West, a character in The Wizard |
| End shows have made themselves the most | | | | of Oz, the 1939 movie of a 1900 book |
| thrilling, memorable and commercially | | | | |
| successful works of art in history, and | | | | If a musical is creative, imaginative and |
| countless examples have toured, wowing fans | | | | features evocative songs, success at the West |
| the world over. The shows of Andrew Lloyd | | | | End could well leave its cultural mark on |
| Webber alone represent a sparkling | | | | generations to come. |
| endorsement of both the West End and the | | | | |