Andrew Lloyd Webber (born 22nd March 1948) is an English musician and composer who is known for creating musicals like Cats, The Phantom of the Opera (which is based on the novel of the same name), Evita, and The Wizard of Oz (which is based on the 1939 adaptation along with the book it is based on). He read The Railway Series as a child, and was such a fan that he intended to adapt the series to television as a musical programme in 1973.
Granada TV produced a pilot episode in early 1976 and Lloyd Webber had strived to bring the project to fruition, but ended up cancelling the plan.
Trivia[]
- Even after the plan was cancelled, he retained affection and respect for The Railway Series:
- In 1977, Lloyd Webber formed the "Really Useful Group", a name inspired by the phrase "Really Useful Engines".
- In 1984, he wrote Starlight Express, which was inspired by The Railway Series and became one of his most famous works.
- The title of the twenty-second series episode "An Engine of Many Colours" references the title of the song "A Coat of Many Colors" from his musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
See Also[]
Source[]
- The Thomas the Tank Engine Man by Brian Sibley, pages 310-13 (2015 edition).
- Unmasked by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Chapter 16 and Chapter 20
External Links[]
- Official Website
- Andrew Lloyd Webber on Wikipedia
- The TV Series on Sodor Island Fansite