Cameron Mackintosh on Sending "Les Miz"'s Ramin Karimloo to the Gym and Saigon's New Helicopter

Get tickets to "Les Miserables": www.broadway.co...
In an exclusive interview, mega-producer Cameron Mackintosh talks to Broadway.com's Imogen Lloyd Webber about Susan Boyle's game-changing "Dream," the new Miss Saigon and memories of Judi Dench almost starring in "Cats."

[@lorikodama8212]

I just realized that Andrew Lloyd Webber's first wife's name was Sarah, who he divorced to marry his second wife Sarah Brightman. Sarah Brightman's first husband's name was Andrew, who she divorced to marry her second husband Andrew Lloyd Webber.

[@dontpugme]

gosh i'd love to see ramin do javert

[@brab20]

That was a really good interview.

[@jaydude]

I really wish they would revive Martin Guerre. It's a gorgeous score and the version that played in London in November of 96 was a great show. It doesn't deserve to be forgotten. At least do a concert of it and record it.

[@botori9194]

I saw Martin Guerre in Los Angeles. I enjoyed it and it was still a great show on its own, but I think part of its lack of success might be that it didn't quite live up to its older siblings, Les Mis and Miss Saigon. Also, they retooled the music and I preferred the cast album from the first version more than the second.

[@mikekaraoke]

@@botori9194 I mean it was successful, just not the Juggernauts of Les Mis, Miss Saigon! So didn't live up to them running for a decade and more! I know you posted this 2 years ago. But still lol

[@Dianaemanuel]

At last! An intelligent, interesting interview! I like Imogen's style very much. However, I am 100% SICK of people banging on about how Susan Boyle somehow injected new life into Les Miserables. Boyle is a charming lady with a very average voice. I wish her well but she is NOT a force in musical theatre in any respect.

[@Waggers789]

Cameron is brilliant but he also scares me a little how much power he has over shows. He’s about to change phantom in London and that means getting rid of the Angel statue and original chandelier 😢 if he changes London he WILL change Broadway.

[@NOONE-cd4gu]

Susan Boyle really was and is extraordinary

[@kaceydonnelly4821]

Yep

[@hannahrosereviews5073]

I actually really dislike cats the musical. Probably because I am not a dancer but, I just couldn't get the story of it all.

[@mikekaraoke]

Hannah Rose the story was easy to grasp if you saw any Webber,Macintosh interviews or its in the book programme:The musical tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make what is known as "the Jellicle choice" and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life

[@Waggers789]

I don’t think Cameron realised the 25th anniversary tour of phantom wasn’t good. Changing the design and costumes don’t work and I’m devastated that he’s changing phantom in London. Maria Bjornson costumes and sets are iconic and the show won’t be the same without them. If he changes London he WILL change NYC too.

[@botori9194]

One show I would like to see come back is "The Fix", which starred John Barrowman in the late 90s. I loved the cast album and can't figure out why it didn't make it past a trial run in UK (had a small run at a theatre in CT, but not a pre-Broadway run).

[@michaelwilliamybarra2409]

It also starred Philip Quast, I would like to add.

[@anthonyhenrysmith]

i recall the cast album but never got to see it

[@StephShrubb]

Great interview! Love Imogen.

[@Nina-lp7kt]

Imogen Lloyd-Webber?

[@dontpugme]

I loved this

[@Sometimes_Happiness]

what are the "big four musicals"? Les mis, Phantom, Cats, and one other I assume?

[@pimpball7343]

+Vikram C Miss Saigon

[@mikekaraoke]

Vikam there are more than 4

[@jaydude]

mikey p they are the ones that are considered the 'megamusicals'

[@eriel7]

The biggest musicals (golden era) are probably les mis, phantom, cats, miss Saigon and the big contemporary musicals are wicked and Hamilton. And the original big musicals are probably west side story my fair lady etc.

[@scotthamp384]

And are Cameron's four big shows The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miz, Cats and Miss Saigon?

[@gramps2matt]

Totally informative and captivating interview which only adds to my distain and desire to knock all those ruffigans at the rear of those upside the head for being so distracting.

[@AlexMcGillvrey]

Is Imogen Lloyd Webber the daughter of Andrew Lloyd Webber?

[@healthyholemealbread]

it says on wiki she's the daughter he had with his first wife

[@AlexMcGillvrey]

I thought so.

[@Irishpilot24]

I'd imagine the coincidence of cameron being her godfather and the same not-very-common surname i should imagine so! :P

[@LegoPiers]

She says 'dad' several times in the interview.

[@TheAvesMYSTR]

"As is Dads' Stephen Ward" "Dad's reaction to Stephen Ward" It's pretty obvious

[@anthonyhenrysmith]

what a lovely girl

[@josephmcdonnell7599]

I wish she'd stop interrupting...

[@francine_mcg]

I don't think she's interrupting but more that she would have a list of questions to go through and keeps the interview on track. Plus they have a closer relationship then interviewer and interviewee so I think it is just a natural repartee.

[@jbo4547]

Joseph McDonnell You have better conversations with people you know than with strangers dont you?

[@lizrohme2232]

Billionaire who closed all the shows within no compensation . Not a fan....

[@scotthamp384]

Ramin is half Canadian, and half Iranian

[@theresachaffey4404]

I would say he is Iranian. Both his parents are from Iran and he was born there. He was raised in Canada.

[@scotthamp384]

I thought one of his parents is Canadian

[@theresachaffey4404]

@@scotthamp384 No they are both Iranian,they fled Iran when he was a baby ended up in Italy and then Canada.

[@scotthamp384]

@@theresachaffey4404 well, why did his family flee Iran?

[@theresachaffey4404]

@@scotthamp384 because of the revolution, his father was in the military and had to get out quickly.