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The Most Important Person in Musical Theatre History: Theatre Producer Cameron Mackintosh

             When examining the broad cannon of the shows in musical theatre that have

made the greatest stamps on the theatre entertainment industry, it is difficult to ignore the

mammoth hits of the last century that have come to shape the scope of what we now view

musical theatre as being. The ever popular monoliths of musicals that fall easily in the

category of the most well known musicals of our time include those of the newly

cinimized “Les Miserables”, the epic “Miss Saigon”, the longest running musical of all

time both in the West End and on Broadway, “The Phantom of the Opera”, and its close

runner-up, “Cats”. What is common to and notable about these shows that have come to

serve as musical theatre landmarks to an audience greater than those directly involved in

the industry, is the man who is essential in their firs coming to the stage. A man whose

keen insight and instincts have not only molded the world of musical theatre, but have

similarly made him, as the New York times says, “the most successful, influential and

powerful theatrical producer in the world” whose ability “[to] transform [the] musical

into a global, highly profitable brand” (Gamerman) has been honored by for his

contributions and excellence in Musical Theatre by no less than 5 prominent theatre

organizations, as well as being knighted by Queen Elizabeth the II for his services to

musical theatre; all of which suggest that Cameron Mackintosh, the world’s most

prominent theatre producer is easily also musical theatre’s most valuable player.

 

         To first understand how a producer, as opposed to a director, composer, lyricist,

choreographer, or actor might be the most important person in the history of musical

theater, it is of paramount importance to first understand the role of a theatrical producer.

In understanding that a producer’s role reaches far beyond garnering funds necessary for

a production, one can began to comprehend the scope of influence a producer’s work has

in putting up a musical. In the case of Mackintosh, his involvement in the creative side of

the musicals he has produced far surpasses his involvement in the financial aspects of his

productions, though he was and remains solely responsible for financing his productions

after his establishment as a prominent theater producer.

 

         After his first somewhat less than successful forays into the world of theatrical

producing in 1970’s London, in 1981, Mackintosh struck gold in what would be later

recognized as a genius decision to bring the story of a poem written by T.S. Elliot to the

stage. While the initial idea of writing a musical about cats seemed less than inspiring to

the majority of composers, Mackintosh was able to peak the interest of composer and

lyricist Andrew Lloyd Weber to write the score for what would become “Cats”. Cats

revolutionized the modern musical by pushing the boundaries of subject matter usually

considered appropriate for the stage; “Cats” was a story about felines created on the stage

by a large cast of dancer-singers that moved and inspired audience members for nearly 17

years on Broadway after transferring from its original production in the West End.

Mackintosh enjoyed great success with this unlikely hit even after the establishment of

West End and Broadway English versions as the show was to be translated and

performed in over 20 other languages and 37 countries (Gamerman).

 

         His next big hit came with his notion to produce a popular French concept album

written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alan Boubil into a fully staged English musical

in conjunction with the Royal Shakespeare Company that would become an absolute

landmark of musical theatre being performed and translated into 25 languages, and most

recently being performed as a major-motion picture, commercializing and popularizing

the musical to a much broader audience than any musical to precede it. “Les Miserables”,

winner of 8 Tony Awards and 3 Olivier Awards, was first produced in the West End in

1985 (Laws). This epic sung-through musical would become a global phenomenon giving

worldwide acclaim to not only Mackintosh, but also Schonberg and Boubil, as well as the

actors such as Colm Wilkinson, Patti LuPone, Michael Ball, Randi Graff, Judy Kuhn,

Norm Lewis, and Samantha Barks (to name a select few) who would come to play the

idolized roles of Jean Valjean, Fantine, Marius, Cosette, Eponine, and Javert in

subsequent productions of the show.

 

         Mackintosh was also responsible for producing the “10th Anniversary Concert” at

Royal Albert Hall in London in 1995 as well as the “25th Anniversary Concert” of “Les

Miserables” in 2010, both of which were sold-out performances that were subsequently

aired on PBS and sold in DVD and CD form to over 11 million viewers worldwide

(Gamerman). “Les Miserables” much like “Cats” was instrumental in revolutionizing the

world of musical theatre, breaking from the traditional formats and styles of musical

theatre as it incorporated aspects of opera, pop, and legit musical theatre in its score. The

great success of the musical on the stage is only rivaled by its success as a move-musical

released in 2012, also produced by Mackintosh, that served to share the world of musical

theatre to an audience far beyond regular theatre-goers as it came into the consciousness

of the general public as a popular film. Mackintosh’s involvement with this show is

demonstrative of his great influence over the shape of modern musical theatre as well as

the continued commodification and popularization of the genre to a more global

audience.

 

         Following “Les Miserables”, Mackintosh saw similar successes with musicals “The

Phantom of the Opera” that would become the most commercially successful musical of

all time and the longest running musical of all time that outgrossed films “Titanic” and

“E.T.”, ("Cameron Mackintosh: Biography") which was also scored by Weber, as well as

“Miss Saigon”, another creation of Boubil and Schonberg that received the greatest

advance ticket sales in theatre history as well as giving famed Pilipino musical theatre

actress Lea Salonga, her start in the industry after Mackintosh conducted a search for the

role “Kim” in her hometown in the Philippines. These two incredibly popular musicals,

much like that of “Les Miserables” became fundamental parts of the musical theatre

cannon, and are among the most recognizable musicals of all time, with “Phantom”

employing over 10,000 actors and technicians, and entertaining over 130 million

audience members worldwide (Laws).

 

Next came Mackintosh’s stage version of “Marry Poppins” based upon the 1964

film which he also had a hand in producing. The show opened in the West End and

transferred to Broadway in 2006 bringing a classic film to the world of theatre, again

broadening the scope of the traditional Broadway musical and their audience. Mackintosh

was highly involved in piecing together “Poppins’’ production team, handpicking the

composer/lyricist team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe , as well as the book writer,

Julian Fellows, giving him his start in the theatre that would later afford him the

opportunity to become head-writer for BBC’s “Downton Abbey” (Cameron

Mackintosh." Broadway the American Musical). Mackintosh not only created a new

pocket of interest in the world of musical theatre but nourished the careers of writers and

practitioners that would similarly further the world of the arts.

 

         Mackintosh can also be credited with the advent of the touring musical in national

and international tours as he recognized the possibility of sharing the magic of the

Broadway musical far beyond the West End and Manhattan. Additionally, beyond the

production of original musicals, Mackintosh is also known for the production of revivals

such as “Oklahoma!” in 1999, “Carousel” in 1993, and most recently, “Oliver!” which

was produced in tandem with a BBC series, “I’d Do Anything” that was a competition for

two of the lead roles in the musical, Oliver and Nancy (Cameron Mackintosh:

Biography). His decision to delve into the world of reality television for casting purposes

again further expanded his audience, eventually making his revival a colossal West End

hit.

In researching the life’s work of Cameron Mackintosh, it becomes all too

apparent that the world of musical theatre as we know it would be markedly different

without his great influence. A world of musical theatre without its striking landmarks of

“Cats”, “Les Miserables” and “Phantom” is unimaginable as their progressive nature in

the world of theatre and the arts reaches far beyond their individual impacts as stand-

alone musicals. Rather, the production of these musicals has paved way to a world of

theatre in which anything is possible, where genres are mixed and combined to create a

striking piece of theatre, and where the commercial nature of the industry has allowed it a

much broader audience and exposure than might otherwise be possible. Without Cameron

Mackintosh, the world of theatre would remain in a small, insular community whose

impact would be reduced to a small audience of devoted theatre goers which leads one to

surmise that without Cameron Mackintosh and his bringing theatre to a global audience,

the existence of the industry might fail to survive.

 Works Cited

"Cameron Mackintosh." Broadway the American Musical. PBS, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/cameron-mackintosh/>. "Cameron Mackintosh: Biography." Allmusic. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. <http://www.allmusic.com/ artist/cameron-mackintosh-mn0000641919>. Gamerman, Ellen. "Exporting Broadway." The Wall Street Journal. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704220704575367132050234118.html>. Laws, Roz. "Sir Cameron Mackintosh on Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera." Birmingham Mail. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. <http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/theatre/ sir-cameron-mackintosh-les-miserables-1727618>. "Mackintosh pays homage to the show that inspired his career." The Independent. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/ mackintosh-pays-homage-to-the-show-that-inspired-his-career-6167282.html>.