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Michael Grade's Stars of the Musical Theatre

Michael Grade sets out to answer a question that has fascinated him since he first saw them as a boy - does the musical create the star or is it the star who makes the musical?

Michael Grade saw Annie Get Your Gun as a small boy in the 1950s and ever since he has been hooked on musicals - and their stars. He and his family have represented some of the world's greatest musical performers and he knows and understands talent. But one question has always fascinated him - is it the musical which creates the star or the star who makes the musical?

In search of answers, Michael interviews stars and directors on both sides of the Atlantic, including Michael Ball, Elaine Paige, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton, Joel Grey, Chita Rivera, Hal Prince and Trevor Nunn.

In what way are the qualities of a musical star unique? Michael explores the alchemy of the musical by looking at performances from the 1940s onwards in key shows like Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Evita and Les Miserables - examining the union of musicals that brilliantly reflect their time with performers who can interpret their magic.

Michael uses all the knowledge, taste and judgement he has built up over decades as he sets out to define what it is that makes the great musical stars great.

1 hour

Last on

Sat 23 Dec 2017 00:00

Clip

Music Played

  • Irving Berlin

    Call Me Madam (overture)

  • Irving Berlin

    You Can鈥檛 Get a Man With a Gun

  • Irving Berlin

    There鈥檚 No Business Like Show Business

  • Richard Rodgers

    Oh What a Beautiful Mornin鈥

    Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II.
  • Richard Rodgers

    Dream Ballet

    Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II.
  • Richard Rodgers

    The Farmer and the Cowman

    Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II.
  • Richard Rodgers

    Oklahoma

    Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II.
  • Alan Jay Lerner

    Wouldn鈥檛 It Be Loverly

    Composer: Frederick Loewe.
  • Alan Jay Lerner

    A Hymn to Him

    Composer: Frederick Loewe.
  • Alan Jay Lerner

    The Rain in Spain

    Composer: Frederick Loewe.
  • Alan Jay Lerner

    I鈥檝e Grown Accustomed to Her Face

    Composer: Frederick Loewe.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Dance At The Gym

  • Stephen Sondheim

    The Rumble

    Composer: Leonard Bernstein.
  • Stephen Sondheim

    America

    Composer: Leonard Bernstein.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    A Boy Like That / I Have a Love

  • Jerry Herman

    Hello Dolly

  • John Kander

    Wilkommen

    Composer: Fred Ebb.
  • John Kander

    Don't Tell Mama

    Composer: Fred Ebb.
  • Lionel Bart

    Overture

  • Lionel Bart

    Pick a Pocket or Two

  • Lionel Bart

    It's a Fine Life

  • Andrew Lloyd Webber

    Don鈥檛 Cry For Me Argentina

    Composer: Andrew Lloyd Webber. Composer: Tim Rice.
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber

    You Must Love Me

    Composer: Tim Rice.
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber

    Buenos Aires

    Composer: Tim Rice.
  • Stephen Sondheim

    A Little Priest

  • Stephen Sondheim

    Prelude/The Ballad of Sweeney Todd

  • Stephen Sondheim

    Pretty Woman

  • Stephen Sondheim

    Final Scene

  • Claude鈥怣ichel Sch枚nberg

    I Dreamed a Dream

    Composer: Alain Boublil.
  • Claude鈥怣ichel Sch枚nberg

    A Heart Full of Love

    Composer: Alain Boublil.
  • Claude鈥怣ichel Sch枚nberg

    One Day More

    Composer: Alain Boublil.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Dance At The Gym

  • Leonard Bernstein

    America

    Performer: Betty Wand. Performer: George Chakiris.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    A Boy Like That / I Have a Love

  • Elaine Paige

    Don't Cry For Me Argentina

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Lord Grade
Executive Producer Sue Summers
Producer Michael Burke
Director Michael Burke

Broadcasts