2025: Here’s To a Year of Highlights

We’ve rounded up some of the moments we’re most looking forward to this year...

If you love Musical Theatre, there’s a lot to get excited about over the next 12 months. So, with your diaries at the ready, prepare to chase away those January blues with this host of highlights and high notes from the world of ALW Musicals over the next 52 weeks.

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JANUARY

@ALWMusicals launches!

We are excited to have launched @ALWMusical channels across Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok and Youtube so that you can celebrate everything from The Phantom of the Opera to CATS, Starlight Express, and beyond… all on your channel of choice, so get your phones out at follow us for the latest news!

‍Love Never Dies arrives in Japan

The start of the year Love Never Dies at the Nissay Theatre in Tokyo, Japan. With a score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, Love Never Dies continues the story of The Phantom of the Opera, with that show’s beloved characters reuniting 10 years later in Coney Island, New York.

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Play the Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals piano at St. Pancras International station

If you’re travelling though London’s St. Pancras International station, keep an eye out for our magnificent Yamaha piano, situated at the exit of the Eurostar.

Donated by Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals, we invite you to sit at piano stool and follow in the footsteps of musicians including James Arthur, Alicia Keys, Sir Rod Stewart and Jools Holland, Tom Odell, Jeff Goldblum, Sara Bareilles and John Legend, all of whom have also played in public at St. Pancras International.

Book your tickets to see the Joseph UK tour

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be making its multicoloured way around the UK throughout 2025, playing in towns and cities including Sunderland, Nottingham, Belfast, Manchester, Norwich, Birmingham, Newcastle, Cardiff, Glasgow and more.

With a cast that includes former Joseph stars Jason Donovan and Joe McElderry, both taking on the role of The Pharaoh at selected performances, this beloved show is bound to sweep audience members of all ages up in its joyful song-filled story.

FEBRUARY

Sunset Boulevard’s Sarah Brightman is ready for her close-up in Singapore!

After a successful 2024 season in Melbourne and Sydney, the Australian production of Sunset Boulevard will transfer to the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore in February, with Sarah Brightman reprising her role as Hollywood icon Norma Desmond.  
In the early days of her career Sarah originated another iconic Andrew Lloyd Webber role, that of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. Since then, Sarah has become the world’s best-selling soprano’s, and her performance in Sunset Boulevard is her first theatrical role in almost three decades.

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‍What’s On Stage Awards

2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the WhatsOnStage Awards: the only major UK theatre awards to be nominated and voted for by the theatre-going public, with current London production of Starlight Express leads the competition with an impressive nine award nominations, including Best Musical Revival.

The winners are set to be revealed at a star-studded concert ceremony at The London Palladium on Sunday 9th February. Did you know you could be there too? Get your skates on and purchase tickets here.

MARCH

The Phantom of the Opera makes its India debut

It’s going to be a bumper year for Phantom productions! March sees this much-loved show make its long-awaited debut in India at BKC's Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai.  

‍Phantom continues to tour Europe and Asia

The Phantom of the Opera continues to perform in venues across Europe and Asia, as well as in its original home at His Majesty’s Theatre in the heart of London’s West-End.  
Find your nearest production here.

Spring anniversaries

If you like collecting anniversary dates, there’s a whole bunch coming up in the spring and early summer of 2025!

• 21st April marks the 60th anniversary of Tim Rice’s very first letter to Andrew Lloyd Webber. Yes, THE letter that led to their first collaboration, which evolved to become Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  

• 21st April is also the 40^th anniversary of the Cats album release in Japan – clearly an auspicious day for musical theatre fans.

• 11th May is the 44th anniversary of the world premieres an original London production of Cats, which opened at the New London Theatre in 1981.

• 8th June - The current London production of Starlight Express will celebrate its first year of performances having premieres in 2024.
  

• 12th June sees the long-running German production of Starlight Express marks its 37th anniversary at its purpose-built home in Bochum - holding the Guinness World Record for most visitors to a musical in a single theatre since 1988.

JUNE

Evita opens at the London Palladium

Following the huge success of his direction of Sunset Boulevard, Jamie Lloyd returns to direct another legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber show this summer.  

Opening at the London Palladium on 14 June, Evita – which features a score by Tim Rice and Andrew – Lloyd Webber, includes such iconic songs as ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’, ‘Oh What A Circus’, ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’ and the Oscar-winning ‘You Must Love Me’ – will be playing to audiences 10 weeks until 6^th September. Book here.

Summer and Autumn anniversaries

And here’s another selection of anniversary dates for later in the year...

• 12th July is the 32nd anniversary of the original London production of Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi Theatre in 1993.

• 9th August is the 53rd anniversary of the original London production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which opened at the Palace Theatre in 1972.

• 23rd August will mark an incredible 52 years since the original film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar  starring Ted Neeley as Jesus was released in the UK in 1973.
  

• On 9th September 1978, CATS was first presented to an audience at the 4^th annual Sydmonton Festival – that’s 47 years ago.

• 25th September is the 46th anniversary of the Broadway opening of the original production of Evita in 1978

OCTOBER

The return of Phantom Fest

The London production of The Phantom of the Opera will celebrate 39 years on 9th October – which means next year, 2026, will be the big 4-0. In the meantime, watch out for the return of Phantom Fest, a global celebration of the music and theatre of Phantom.  

NOVEMBER

The Phantom of the Opera North American Tour

The Phantom of the Opera is set for a triumphant return to North America, with the multi-year touring production of the show premiering at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, MD, in November. Phantom will travel through the US and Canada into 2026, audiences across North America experience of the Brilliant Original” throughout during its 40th anniversary year.

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Stay tuned!...

This is just a flavour of the show openings and celebrations this year from Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals, and there’s a lot more still to be announced. Ensure you are following us at our new social handle @ALWMusicals and spread the word about The Box Five Club to all your musical friends so ensure they too can enjoy the latest news, exclusive perks, first looks, curated content and much more.

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