 
                
                        Seasons of Love
Neil explores why musical theatre is thriving in the 21st century, charting the rise of the 'megamusical' and seeing how they have also captured contemporary life.
Series in which composer Neil Brand explores how musical theatre evolved over the last 100 years to become today's global phenomenon. Neil hears the inside story from leading composers and talent past and present, and recreates classic songs, looking in detail at how these work musically and lyrically to captivate the audience.
In the concluding episode, he explores why musical theatre is thriving in the 21st century. He charts the rise of the 'megamusical' phenomenon, with shows like Cats and Les Miserables, learns the behind-the-scenes story of how Disney transformed The Lion King from a cartoon into a record-breaking stage success, and sees how musicals have captured contemporary life in shows like Rent and Avenue Q. Neil recreates classic numbers to reveal the secrets of their songwriting, including The Rocky Horror Show's Sweet Transvestite, Don't Cry for Me Argentina from Evita, and Les Miserables' Empty Chairs at Empty Tables. Neil meets a host of top musical theatre talent, including master lyricist Tim Rice, Lion King director Julie Taymor, and leading composers Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast) and Robert Lopez (Avenue Q and Frozen).
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Clips
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                                            ![]()  Julie Taymor on The Lion KingDuration: 01:14 
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                                            ![]()  Don't Cry For Me ArgentinaDuration: 03:37 
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
- 
    ![]() 00:00 00:00Citizens Of Oz & Kristin ChenowethNo One Mourns the Wicked From Wicked 
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    ![]() 00:00 00:00Idina Menzel & Kristin ChenowethDefying Gravity From Wicked 
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    ![]() 00:01 00:01Kristin Chenoweth & Idina MenzelDefying Gravity 
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    ![]() 00:01 00:01Claude‐Michel SchönbergWork Song From Les Miserables 
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    ![]() 00:01 00:01Claude‐Michel SchönbergI Dreamed a Dream From Les Miserables 
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    ![]() 00:01 00:01Jonathan LarsonSeasons of Love From Rent 
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    ![]() 00:02 00:02Robert LopezThe Internet Is for Porn Composer: Jeff Marx.From Avenue Q 
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    ![]() 00:02 00:02Anthony RappLa Vie Boheme From Rent 
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    ![]() 00:02 00:02Milton Rosenstock OrchestraGypsy 
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    ![]() 00:03 00:03Galt MacDermotI Got Life Lyricist: James Rado. Lyricist: Gerome Ragni.From Hair 
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    ![]() 00:03 00:03Andrew Lloyd WebberSuperstar Lyricist: Tim Rice.From Jesus Christ Superstar 
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    ![]() 00:04 00:04Ronnie DysonAquarius (from Hair) From Hair 
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    ![]() 00:04 00:04Richard O’BrienSweet Transvestite From The Rocky Horror Picture Show 
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    ![]() 00:07 00:07Richard O’BrienTouch-A, Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me From The Rocky Horror Picture Show 
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    ![]() 00:10 00:10Richard O’Brien, Little Nell, Patricia Quinn & Charles GrayTime Warp From The Rocky Horror Picture Show 
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    ![]() 00:11 00:11Andrew Lloyd WebberSuperstar Performer: Murray Head. Lyricist: Tim Rice.From Jesus Christ Superstar 
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    ![]() 00:12 00:12Andrew Lloyd WebberOh, What A Circus Performer: Colm Wilkinson. Lyricist: Tim Rice.From Evita 
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    ![]() 00:15 00:15Andrew Lloyd WebberDon't Cry for Me Argentina Performer: Neil Brand. Lyricist: Tim Rice.From Evita 
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    ![]() 00:19 00:19Andrew Lloyd WebberMacavity: The Mystery Cat Lyricist: T. S. Eliot.From Cats 
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    ![]() 00:19 00:19Andrew Lloyd WebberRace Downhill Final From Starlight Express 
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    ![]() 00:19 00:19Andrew Lloyd WebberThe Phantom of the Opera Lyricist: Charles Hart. Lyricist: Richard Stilgoe. Lyricist: Mike Batt.From The Phantom of the Opera 
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    ![]() 00:22 00:22Claude‐Michel SchönbergWork Song From Les Miserables 
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    ![]() 00:23 00:23Claude‐Michel SchönbergLa journée est finie From Les Miserables 
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    ![]() 00:24 00:24Claude‐Michel SchönbergAt the End of the Day Lyricist: Herbert Kretzmer.From Les Miserables 
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    ![]() 00:24 00:24Claude‐Michel SchönbergAt The End of The Day Lyricist: Herbert Kretzmer.
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    ![]() 00:25 00:25Claude‐Michel SchönbergEmpty Chairs at Empty Tables Lyricist: Jean-Marc Natel. Lyricist: Herbert Kretzmer. Performer: Neil Brand.From Les Miserables 
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    ![]() 00:29 00:29Benny AnderssonOne Night In Bangkok Performer: Murray Head. Lyricist: Tim Rice. Composer: Björn Ulvaeus.From Chess 
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    ![]() 00:32 00:32Jonathan LarsonRent Performer: Anthony Rapp.From Rent 
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    ![]() 00:33 00:33Jonathan LarsonLight My Candle From Rent 
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    ![]() 00:36 00:36Jonathan LarsonSeasons of Love Performer: Anthony Rapp. Performer: Theatre Clwyd.From Rent 
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    ![]() 00:35 00:35Jonathan LarsonOne Song Glory Performer: Adam Pascal.From Rent 
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    ![]() 00:41 00:41Alan MenkenBelle Performer: Paige O’Hara. Lyricist: Howard Ashman.From Beauty and the Beast 
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    ![]() 00:47 00:47Lebo MOne By One From The Lion King 
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    ![]() 00:48 00:48Robert LopezThe Avenue Q Theme Composer: Jeff Marx.From Avenue Q 
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    ![]() 00:52 00:52Robert LopezEveryone's a Little Bit Racist Performer: John Tartaglia.From Avenue Q 
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    ![]() 00:59 00:59Okieriete Onaodowan, Original Broadway Cast of HamiltonAlexander Hamilton 
Credits
| Role | Contributor | 
|---|---|
| Presenter | Neil Brand | 
| Producer | Andy Hall | 
| Director | Andy Hall | 
| Executive Producer | John Das | 
| Interviewed Guest | Tim Rice | 
| Interviewed Guest | Alan Menken | 
| Interviewed Guest | Robert Lopez | 
Broadcasts
- Fri 27 Jan 2017 21:00
- Sat 28 Jan 2017 01:00
- Mon 30 Jan 2017 01:25
- Thu 28 Dec 2017 19:00
- Fri 29 Dec 2017 00:50
- Sun 21 Jul 2019 23:30
- Fri 31 Jan 2020 20:00
- Sat 1 Feb 2020 02:30
- Fri 5 Feb 2021 19:00
- Sat 6 Feb 2021 02:25
- Sun 19 Dec 2021 23:45
Featured in...
![]()  - Christmas TV 2017- The home of Christmas 2017 across ѿý television. 
![]()  - The Joy of Musicals- Exploring the wonder of musical theatre. 
 
             
             
             
