The Musical - From Page to Stage

Sheila Hancock presents 'From Page To Stage', the sixth programme in Radio 2's season of documentaries celebrating 'The Musical'. The Musical can take many forms and tell many different kinds of story in a variety of styles; but, before there can be any show, there has to be a story. In searching for that story, composers have repeatedly turned to the world's greatest literary classics; from Cevantes' 'Don Quixote' to Dickens' 'Oliver Twist' which became the basis for Lionel Bart's 'Oliver!'. Ron Moody, Jodie Prenger, Elaine Paige and Cameron Mackintosh consider Bart's landmark show. Truly, the musical knows no national boundaries: Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil based 'Les Misérables' on the epic nineteenth century novel by Victor Hugo which is also explored in this programme by Patti LuPone and the musical's creative team. Director Michael Grandage discusses 'Guys and Dolls', inspired by the work of Damon Runyan. But even when a musical is based on a famous book, they can fail. This programme also looks at shows that have flopped including 'The Baker's Wife' and 'Margueritte' with contributions from Ruthie Henshall, Tim Rice and Don Black. And Stephen Sondheim explains that even the most highly regarded writers have experienced musicals that haven't found their audiences. Other contributors include: Elaine Stritch, Arlene Phillips, Sandy Wilson and Victor Spinetti.