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.
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In rehearsal - day one
Duration: 01:26
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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Irving Berlin
Call Me Madam (overture)
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Irving Berlin
You Can鈥檛 Get a Man With a Gun
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Irving Berlin
There鈥檚 No Business Like Show Business
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Richard Rodgers
Oh What a Beautiful Mornin鈥�
Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II. -
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Richard Rodgers
Dream Ballet
Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II. -
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Richard Rodgers
The Farmer and the Cowman
Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II. -
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Richard Rodgers
Oklahoma
Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II. -
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Alan Jay Lerner
Wouldn鈥檛 It Be Loverly
Composer: Frederick Loewe. -
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Alan Jay Lerner
A Hymn to Him
Composer: Frederick Loewe. -
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Alan Jay Lerner
The Rain in Spain
Composer: Frederick Loewe. -
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Alan Jay Lerner
I鈥檝e Grown Accustomed to Her Face
Composer: Frederick Loewe. -
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Leonard Bernstein
Dance At The Gym
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Stephen Sondheim
The Rumble
Composer: Leonard Bernstein. -
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Stephen Sondheim
America
Composer: Leonard Bernstein. -
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Leonard Bernstein
A Boy Like That / I Have a Love
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Jerry Herman
Hello Dolly
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John Kander
Wilkommen
Composer: Fred Ebb. -
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John Kander
Don't Tell Mama
Composer: Fred Ebb. -
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Lionel Bart
Overture
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Lionel Bart
Pick a Pocket or Two
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Lionel Bart
It's a Fine Life
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Andrew Lloyd Webber
Don鈥檛 Cry For Me Argentina
Composer: Andrew Lloyd Webber. Composer: Tim Rice. -
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Andrew Lloyd Webber
You Must Love Me
Composer: Tim Rice. -
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Andrew Lloyd Webber
Buenos Aires
Composer: Tim Rice. -
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Stephen Sondheim
A Little Priest
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Stephen Sondheim
Prelude/The Ballad of Sweeney Todd
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Stephen Sondheim
Pretty Woman
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Stephen Sondheim
Final Scene
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Claude鈥怣ichel Sch枚nberg
I Dreamed a Dream
Composer: Alain Boublil. -
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Claude鈥怣ichel Sch枚nberg
A Heart Full of Love
Composer: Alain Boublil. -
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Claude鈥怣ichel Sch枚nberg
One Day More
Composer: Alain Boublil. -
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00:19Leonard Bernstein
Dance At The Gym
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00:20Leonard Bernstein
America
Performer: Betty Wand. Performer: George Chakiris. -
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00:22Leonard Bernstein
A Boy Like That / I Have a Love
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00:40Elaine Paige
Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Lord Grade |
| Executive Producer | Sue Summers |
| Producer | Michael Burke |
| Director | Michael Burke |