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Still living the dream
The mastermind lyricist behind a string of musical hits, is sharing his life story
The man behind some of the world’s favourite musicals is revealing all in a new one-man show.
Tim Rice, who has penned the lyrics to sensational shows like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar, will be reflecting on the hits and misses of his remarkable career in My Life in Musicals.
In the musical theatre extravaganza, the lyricist will be sharing anecdotes from his time working with award-winning composer Andrew Lloyd Webber to seeing his work on the big screen in 1996’s Evita, starring Madonna, and the James Bond film Octopussy.
The show will also feature some of the EGOT winner’s (someone who is the rare recipient of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award) most well-known numbers, including Any Dream Will Do, Don’t Cry For Me Argentina and I Don’t Know How to Love Him.
In 2002, Tim was also named a Disney Legend by the Walt Disney Company for his work on the Lion King, Aladdin and the live action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast.
Fans of the family films can expect to hear songs from the soundtracks such as A Whole
New World and Can You Feel the Love Tonight.
“My Life in Musicals is a show in which I reveal all (well, nearly all) of the secrets behind the creation of some of the best-known songs featuring my lyrics,” says the 79year-old musician.
“I have had the good fortune to work with some of the greatest composers of our time, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, Elton John, and Alan Menken, without whose wonderful melodies I’d be at home watching TV.”
“You’ll know quite a few of the songs – and will therefore be relieved to hear I won’t be singing them. All musical aspects of the show I hand over to the outstanding Duncan Waugh Band and West End Singers.
“There will be plenty of stops in between the hits during which I’ll tell you how they happened and, in some cases, nearly didn’t. Actually, I might sing a little – but not Don’t Cry
For Me Argentina.”
After working for record label EMI in the 1960s, the aspiring songwriter contacted a 17-year-old Lloyd Webber, who had dreams of becoming a theatre composer, to collaborate on a new show.
In 1967, the pair came up with the idea for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a musical based on the character from the Bible's Book of Genesis.
The show was put on hold while the duo turned their attention to rock opera album - and later smash hit musical - Jesus Christ Superstar before Joseph made its stage debut in 1970.
The show marked the beginning of a string of successes for the two young men, including Evita, Cricket, the Likes of Us and the Wizard of Oz.
Over his decade-spanning career, Tim has received three Academy Awards, five Grammy Awards, three Tony Awards and one Emmy Award.