‘All the characters [have] kind of got something to say, so it gives you great scope for writing,’ said Elton who, alongside Shaina Taub, has written over twenty ‘modern’ songs for the show. ‘You can write tongue-in-cheek numbers, you can write serious numbers, you can write a very romantic song, a very frivolous song.’
The Grammy-winning composer has been writing musical theatre for over 25 years, making lions, vampires, icy editors and ballet boys sing. Among others, his eclectic shows include The Lion King, Billy Elliot and The Devil Wears Prada.
Here we look at five stage musicals by Elton, from his hits to his box office flops.
The Lion King – among the longest running musicals of all time
Lyceum Theatre, London
Elton’s first foray into musicals was in the early 1990s, when he collaborated with lyricist Tim Rice on the soundtrack for the Disney animated film The Lion King. Telling the story of the lion cub Simba whose father is killed by his uncle, the cinematic masterpiece fast became a cult hit and won Elton an Academy Award. Stirring songs including ‘Hakuna Matata’, ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King’ and ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ are modern day classics. A few years later, the motion picture was adapted to a stage version first premiering on Broadway and then in the West End in 1999. Twenty-five years later, the stage musical is as wildly popular today, as it was the day it opened.
Lestat – Elton’s vampire musical that died a painful death
Not currently booking
Ouch. Even Elton hadn’t been optimistic about his vampire musical saying, ‘I’d be a liar if I said I’m not nervous about it being a flop.’ In 2006, harsh critics were quick to get their claws out and ridicule Lestat which immediately panned on Broadway. ‘Lestat is a musical sleeping pill,’ scathed influential journalist Ben Brantley. Following The Lion King and Aida, he and longtime songwriting collaborator Bernie Taupin had tried to tackle an adaptation of Anne Rice’s stories The Vampire Chronicles with a musical called Lestat. It’s about a vampire called Magnus attacking Lestat and turning him into a vampire. This follows with a quest for everlasting love and companionship. The musical closed after a brief two month run with 39 performances.
Aida – lavish Broadway musical about a love triangle
Not currently booking; due for a West End run soon, sign up for alerts
Elton John again teamed up with Tim Rice for the music and lyrics in this rock musical, inspired by Giuseppe Verdi’s 19th century opera of the same name. It is the story of forbidden love, conflicting loyalties and feuding nations in Ancient Egypt. Reggae, gospel, pop and African influences are in Elton’s score. The play had a three-and-a-half year run on Broadway and was performed extensively internationally and translated into 16 languages. It won four Tony Awards (including Best Original Show) and last year opened in the Netherlands. Despite this, Aida is yet to be performed professionally in the UK.
Billy Elliot: The Musical Live – smash show based on Stephen Daldry’s hit film
Not currently booking; you can stream online
Elton John was so moved when he saw the film of Billy Elliot that he suggested a musical version and instantly agreed to write its songs including Electricity’, ‘Expressing Yourself’ and ‘Solidarity’. Set during the miners’ strike in 1980s County Durham, it is the powerful tale of a motherless young lad from a mining family who stumbles out of a boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dancing. In 2000, the quintessentially English musical film was released and five years later, its stage adaptation first premiered at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre. The production, which won over 80 awards including four Olivier Awards and ten Tony Awards, played for 11 years in London’s West End and went to Broadway in New York. There are no plans announced for its return to London’s West End.
The Devil Wears Prada – for an ab fab chick flick on stage
Dominion Theatre, London, opening 24th October 2024
Soon coming to London’s Dominion Theatre, this musical is based upon the bestselling book and the blockbuster film starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep. It is the coming-of-age story of a fashion journalist and features dagger-sharp dialogue, era-defining fashion and best of all, music by Elton. ‘The lyrics are so brilliant, because it sounds like I’ve been to enough fashion shows in my life to know that it’s the excitement of when you see something new, and you see something great, and you’re there and you can feel the excitement within the crowd, and you know that something special has come,’ says Elton about his song When a Legend Is Born in the new musical. ‘It’s like going to a rock concert.’
