So, the British appear to know a thing or two about musical theatre after all...

My friend Nathan Matthews over at TheatreRadio (the UK's Only Internet Radio Station For Musical Theatre) sent me an e-mail about MUSICAL MAD, a new website that is being created to host a range of online concerts featuring some of the greatest performers in musical theatre today.

From the e-mail I got:

MUSICAL MAD

In Association with Creative Concerts Limited, TheatreRadio and Sonic Media

Broadcast Online at www.musicalmad.co.uk

BOX OFFICE IS NOW OPEN!

MUSICAL MAD has arrived! The Box office selling tickets giving instant access to on-line musical theatre events is now open for business!

Simply log-in now at www.musicalmad.co.uk and experience for yourself exclusive musicals and concerts online, watch video clips, enter competitions and get up-to-the-minute interviews with all your favorite West End performers. The first event has just been announced...

From Sunday 23rd July, from just 4.95 pounds, you can catch the very first online audio broadcast of the star-studded musical extravaganza Summer Showstoppers that was recorded live with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. This unique two-hour medley features some of the best loved musicals from CATS, GUYS AND DOLLS, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, ANYTHING GOES, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and sung by some of the hottest musical stars on the scene today.

The talented line-up of principal artists includes Earl Carpenter (The Phantom in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA), Anita Louise Combe (Roxie in CHICAGO), Kerry Ellis (Elphaba in WICKED), Chris Holland (DIRTY DANCING), Ramin Karimloo (Chris in MISS SAIGON) and Rebecca Thornhill (Julie in SHOWBOAT).

Earl Carpenter, Artistic Director of Creative Concerts Limited and co-founder of MUSICAL MAD has become increasingly aware of the growing expectation for instant access to entertainment. Earl comments, "With the convenience and popularity of internet access at home, we can watch or listen to whatever we want at anytime. It struck me that as well as making entertainment more accessible, the Internet can sustain and deliver large-scale events that we simply didn't catch first time around or really loved and want to re-live. Just as we replay CDs of our favorite shows, MUSICAL MAD broadcasts will allow unique experiences to be played out, on demand, over and over again."

"In the West End at the moment, musicals are more popular than ever, with AVENUE Q, WICKED and SPAMALOT as good examples of what's attracting mainstream audiences. Similarly, if people can afford relatively inexpensively, the excitement and delight that only the magic of a musical can bring, then by logging onto MUSICAL MAD, we're doing our job and 'bringing the West End closer'."

For full information and further details of forthcoming events on-line, including an exciting cabaret season later in the Autumn, simply log on to www.musicalmad.co.uk.

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