The Magic of the Musicals
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The Magic of the Musicals was a UK concert series, produced by Flying Music, that regularly toured the UK in the 1990s and 2000s, initially starring Marti Webb and Mark Rattray with Mitch Sebastian, Paul Robinson, Lucie Florentine and Dawn Spence.
It was recorded for album release and television broadcast at the Bristol Hippodrome on 21 June 1992. The album, on CD and cassette, and VHS video was released on 28 September 1992.[citation needed]
The show first toured in spring 1991, but its popularity led to a further tour in early 1992 and another in the autumn of that year. It was subsequently repeated with different performers and songs, a number of times. Notably a 30 date tour of Canada and North America playing to sold out Arenas. The cast featured Marti Webb, Mark Rattray, Mitch Sebastian, Ian Mackenzie-Stewart, Alison Pollard and Linda Mae Brewer.
Mitch Sebastian was the director / choreographer from 1994 - 1998 creating new formats each season to reflect the current hit shows. Webb performed regularly on all UK and European Tours alongside Robert Meadmore, Wayne Sleep and Dave Willetts. Melanie Stace and Kerry Ellis also replaced Webb for various tours.
By 1991, Webb was established as one of the principal musical theatre performers in the UK. Rattray had won the 1990 series of the television talent show Opportunity Knocks with his performance of "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" from the musical Les Miserables.
Album[edit]
Track listing[edit]
| # | Title | Original Show | Performer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Lullaby of Broadway" | Gold Diggers of 1935 | |
| "I Got Rhythm" | Girl Crazy | ||
| 2 | "I Get a Kick Out of You" | Anything Goes | Mark Rattray |
| 3 | "It Ain't Necessarily So" | Porgy and Bess | |
| "I Got Plenty of Nothing" | |||
| "There's a Boat That's Leaving Soon for New York" | Mark Rattray | ||
| "Porgy, I's Your Woman Now" | Marti Webb | ||
| 4 | "Summertime" | Mark Rattray | |
| 5 | "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" | Anything Goes | Marti Webb |
| 6 | "Losing My Mind" | Follies | |
| 7 | "Not While I'm Around" | Sweeney Todd | Mark Rattray |
| 8 | "Send in the Clowns" | A Little Night Music | Marti Webb |
| 9 | "Do You Hear the People Sing?" | Les Miserables | |
| 10 | "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" | Mark Rattray | |
| 11 | "I Dreamed a Dream" | Marti Webb | |
| 12 | "Do You Hear the People Sing?" (reprise) | ||
| 13 | "The Last Night of the World" | Miss Saigon | Marti Webb and Mark Rattray |
| 14 | "Bui-Doi" | Mark Rattray | |
| 15 | "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" | Evita | Marti Webb |
| 16 | "Superstar" | Jesus Christ Superstar | Mark Rattray |
| 17 | "Mama, A Rainbow" | Minnie's Boys | |
| 18 | "Take That Look Off Your Face" | Song & Dance | Marti Webb |
| 19 | "In One of My Weaker Moments" | Budgie | |
| 20 | "Anthem" | Chess | Mark Rattray |
| 21 | "You and I" | Marti Webb and Mark Rattray | |
| 22 | "Tell Me It's Not True" | Blood Brothers | Marti Webb |
| 23 | "Only He" | Starlight Express | |
| 24 | "Love Changes Everything" | Aspects of Love | Mark Rattray |
| 25 | "The Music of the Night" | The Phantom of the Opera | |
| 26 | "Memory" | Cats | Marti Webb |
Personnel[edit]
- Producer - Pip Williams for Handle Artists
- Associate Producer - Tom Button
- Executive Producers - Paul Walden and Derek Nicol for The Flying Record Company
- Live Recording Engineer - John Wilson
- Post Production Engineer - Paul Golding
- Assistant Engineers - Mark Tucker and James Collins
- Original Stage Directors - Hugh Wooldridge and Richard Sampson
- Choreographer - Richard Sampson
- Replacement Director/Choreographer - Mitch Sebastian
- Marti Webb's Manager - Don Black
- Mark Rattray's Managers - Lindsey Brown and David Walker for Handle Artists
- Album Coordination - Paul Walden and Lindsey Downs
- Album Concept - Paul Walden and Derek Nicol
- Logo Design - Dewynters
- Liner Notes - John Martland
Musicians[edit]
- Musical Director / Keyboards / Backing Vocals - Jae Alexander
- Keyboards - Dominic Barlow
- Electric and Acoustic Guitars - Graeme Taylor
- Bass Guitar - Steve Richardson
- Percussion - Keith Fairburn
- Trumpets / Flugels - Avelia Moisey and Lance Kelly
- Alto Sax / Flute / Clarinet - Nick Moss
- Tenor Sax / Clarinet / Bass Clarinet - Jenny Tilley
- Oboe / Cor Anglais - Deborah Boyes
- Trombone / Bass trombone - Steve Wilkes
- Drums - Sebastian Guard