| The area of London known as the West End is | | | | and the medium of the musical: The Phantom of |
| actually about as central as it is possible | | | | the 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. Notable adaptations In |
| usually talking about the theaters and | | | | skilful hands, a book, film, play or |
| playhouses - and the shows that make them | | | | biography can be adapted to be a musical - |
| famous - in much the same way as Broadway is | | | | and vice versa. The Sound of Music was a |
| used as a general term for the New York | | | | successful stage musical long before it |
| equivalent. The district's theatres are | | | | became the Christmas perennial we all know |
| numerous, and are well known for hosting the | | | | and love, and its songs have become iconic. |
| grandest, most lavish and best loved shows as | | | | Indeed, My Favourite Things has become a jazz |
| well as putting on plays that feature A-list | | | | standard, and a recent BBC talent show was |
| names from not just the UK but also Hollywood | | | | based around finding the perfect Maria for a |
| and beyond. World famous names You do not | | | | stage production. The music of Abba was made |
| have to be a Londoner to have heard of the | | | | into the 1999 hit musical Mamma Mia! And is |
| names that typify the West End experience: | | | | one of the world's top grossing musicals, no |
| Oxford Street, Strand, Shaftesbury Avenue, | | | | doubt partly due to the enduringly popular |
| Drury Lane, Kingsway and the South Bank are | | | | songs, and a film version is set to continue |
| synonymous with performance. Names like | | | | this success. A musical made from a book that |
| Dominion, Palladium, Coliseum, Adelphi, | | | | is a prequel of an adaptation of another book |
| Lyceum and the Royal Opera House have obvious | | | | can also succeed! This is demonstrated by |
| connotations, and because such venues | | | | Wicked, a musical based on the early life of |
| represent the ultimate goal of every | | | | the Wicked Witch of the West, a character in |
| ambitious and talented performer, the shows | | | | The Wizard of Oz, the 1939 movie of a 1900 |
| and productions are among the most critically | | | | book ... If a musical is creative, |
| acclaimed in the world. Some West End shows | | | | imaginative and features evocative songs, |
| have made themselves the most thrilling, | | | | success at the West End could well leave its |
| memorable and commercially successful works | | | | cultural mark on generations to come. |
| of art in history, and countless examples | | | | |
| have toured, wowing fans the world over. The | | | | Charlie Buquette wrote this article about |
| shows of Andrew Lloyd Webber alone represent | | | | Musical Sheet Music. |
| a sparkling endorsement of both the West End | | | | |