As of Tuesday, London’s West End theaters will now remain closed through June 28, Playbill reports. But London-based composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is helping people get their theater fix amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Every Friday, the YouTube channel “The Shows Must Go On” streams a Webber musical for free. Last week, the channel streamed a 1999 birthday celebration for Webber that featured guest artists like Donny Osmond, Sarah Brightman and Antonio Banderas .
This Friday, the channel will stream Webber’s musical “By Jeeves” — a comedy based on the P. G. Wodehouse characters Bertie Wooster and his butler, Jeeves, according to Playbill.
The musical was initially a flop upon its London premiere in 1975. “By Jeeves” went through a few rewrites and eventually premiered on Broadway in 2001. “The Shows Must Go On” will stream a production from that Broadway run, starring John Scherer as Bertie and Martin Jarvis as Jeeves, according to Playbill.
The musical will be available for 48 hours starting May 8 at noon MT.
Previously, “The Shows Must Go On” has aired “The Phantom of the Opera,” the “Phantom” sequel “Love Never Dies,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” starring Osmond, and the 2012 U.K. arena tour production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Proceeds from the streams have gone to The Actors Fund, Acting for Others, Broadway Cares and Actors Benevolent Fund, among others, according to Playbill.
In self-isolation, Webber has stayed connected to fans through social media, the Deseret News previously reported. Using the hashtags #HomeIsWhereTheMusicIs and #TogetherAtHome, the “Phantom” composer has regularly performed songs from his musicals on his piano at home.
Most recently, to celebrate “Star Wars” day on May 4, Webber performed a brief portion of the “Star Wars” theme for fans.