cus on spectacle and lavish set and costume designs.
FollowingMe and My Girl(pr. 1986), an exception to
this formula, Broadway welcomed Lloyd Webber’s
Starlight Express(pr. 1987) andThe Phantom of the Op-
era(pr. 1988). Even France’s Claude-Michel Schön-
berg and Alain Boublil got in on the act, although
theirLes Miserableshad a relatively strong book (based
on the 1862 Victor Hugo novel). The large casts,
melodramatic story lines, and sung-through style of
these productions ushered in a new era of romanti-
cism on Broadway, as well as one of dramatically in-
creased ticket prices: Those prices nearly doubled in
just five years.
The British versus American musical controversy
seemed to reach its apex in 1988, when Stephen
Sondheim and James Lapine’sInto the Woods(pr.
1987) went head-to-head againstThe Phantom of the
Operaat the Tony Awards. Although numerous crit-
ics favored Sondheim’s work, especially for its com-
plex musicality, they could not overlook the incredi-
ble popularity of Lloyd Webber. WhileInto the Woods
won Tony Awards for its book and music,The Phan-
tom of the Operatook the top prize for Best Musical.
Into the Woodswould eventually close after 769 per-
formances, whileThe Phantom of the Operawould be-
come the longest-running musical in Broadway his-
tory.The End of the Decade The year 1988 also saw one
of the largest flops in Broadway history:Carrie. Based
on Stephen King’s best-selling novel, the produc-
tion, which also originated in London, lasted only
five performances on Broadway. Incorporating a
pop sound and high-energy choreography, the pro-
duction ultimately died under the weight of its weak
book and overtly desperate special effects. A book148 Broadway musicals The Eighties in America
At the 1988 Tony Awards ceremony in New York City, the best actor and actress winners display their awards. Joanna Gleason, center left,
won Best Actress in a Musical for her performance inInto the Woods,while Michael Crawford, center right, won Best Actor in a Musical
for his work inThe Phantom of the Opera.(AP/Wide World Photos)