AmericanTheaterWeb Original News & Reviews

A special return holiday engagement of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber wil run for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center’s newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater, December 23 through January 4. The engagement marks the first return of the special concert since a sold out holiday run at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December 2004. The official Opening Night will be Saturday, December 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Featuring a 30-piece onstage symphony, this stirring event will feature the best-loved songs from the scores composed by the Tony®, Grammy and Academy Award®-winning composer and 2006 Kennedy Center Honoree, including Cats, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ Superstar, Song & Dance, Starlight Express, Aspects of Love, Whistle Down the Wind, The Beautiful Game, The Woman in White and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber has been presented in various incarnations and versions throughout the years. This new edition has been personally devised by Andrew Lloyd Webber for this exclusive engagement for Washington audiences. Like the 2004 version, which Lloyd Webber also oversaw, it will also include the U.S. premiere of new music by the composer. In 2004, that included songs from two then-forthcoming projects for the composer: his new musical The Woman in White and the film version of The Phantom of the Opera. Details on new music being included for the 2008 edition will be announced in the coming weeks.

Headlining the show will be six Broadway stars that will include Tony Award® nominee Liz Callaway (Baby, Cats, Miss Saigon), Eric Kunze (Jesus Christ Superstar, Whistle Down the Wind, Miss Saigon), Ron Bohmer (the title role in The Phantom of the Opera, The Woman in White, Sunset Boulevard), David Josefsberg (Les Misérables, Grease, Altar Boyz) and Laurie Gayle Stephenson (Christine in The Phantom of the Opera). A sixth cast member will be announced imminently.

The creative and design teams for this engagement will reunite the team behind the 2004 production: director Tom Kosis, musical supervisor and conductor Edward G. Robinson, lighting designer Brian Nason and sound designer Lucas J. Corrubia, Jr. Mr. Robinson, who will be center stage conducting the 30-member symphony, has a long history working on Andrew Lloyd Webber shows including Cats, The Phantom of the Opera and previous tours of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Performances will be Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. with matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. There is no performance on December 24 and there will be an additional matinee performance on December 26 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25-$110 and may be purchased at the Kennedy Center Box Office or by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600. Tickets for performances on Wednesday, December 31 at 6:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. cost $25-$150 and include admission into the Kennedy Center’s New Year’s Eve party in the Grand Foyer. Those patrons living outside the Washington metropolitan calling area may dial toll-free at (800) 444-1324 or www.kennedy-center.org.