LONDON, Jan. 23, 2019
/CNW/ - CPLG has been appointed worldwide licensing agent by
Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Really
Useful Group, to represent the composer's best-known, award-winning
musicals – The Phantom of the Opera, CATS and
Starlight Express.
The Really Useful Group, which is wholly owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber, produces, licenses and
promotes Webber's shows and music around the globe.
CPLG will develop a cross-category licensing programme,
including apparel, dress-up, gifting, paper and stationery and
homewares, which celebrates the themes and captures the iconic
logos of these well-loved shows.
The Phantom of the Opera, the longest running musical in
Broadway history, tells the love story of a masked figured who
lurks beneath the Catacombs of the Paris Opera House. It first opened in
October 1986 in London and is now in its 33rd
year. It has been seen by more than 145 million people
worldwide across 30 countries, and has received more than 70 major
theatre awards.
Since its world premiere in 1981, CATS has been presented
in over 30 countries, has been translated into 15 languages and has
been seen by more than 73 million people worldwide. This year
will see the theatrical release of the smash hit musical on
December 20th when
Universal Pictures and Working Title release the big-screen
adaptation of CATS with an ever-growing A-list cast
including Jennifer Hudson,
Taylor Swift, Ian McKellen, James Corden and Judi
Dench.
Starlight Express opened in London in March
1984, taking the revolutionary approach of building a race
track all the way around the auditorium. In
April 1991, Starlight Express
became the second-longest running musical in London theatre history, at that time.
The show has been produced all over the world from the USA to Japan
and Australia. There is also a
production in Bochum, Germany,
which has been running for over 25 years and has been seen by 15
million people.
The Phantom of the Opera and CATS recently
made their first foray into the world of fashion when The Really
Useful Group announced a collaboration with US streetwear brand,
The Hundreds. Founded in LA and sold worldwide, The Hundreds
is one of the biggest players in the streetwear scene and heavily
influenced by 80's and 90's skate, punk and pop-culture. This
collaboration explores the connecting themes between the theatrical
productions and streetwear culture across a range of adult apparel
and accessories.
Steve Manners, EVP Business
Development, at CPLG, said: "Andrew Lloyd
Webber has reigned over the musical theatre world for nearly
five decades with fans of his musicals spanning many countries and
generations. There is huge potential to capitalise on this
universal appeal and we already have some exciting conversations in
the pipeline which we will be announcing soon."
About The Really Useful Group
The Really Useful Group
is wholly owned by Andrew Lloyd
Webber and exists to produce, license and promote his shows
and music around the globe representing Andrew's work in theatre,
film, television, music publishing and all forms of licensing.
The Phantom of the Opera
Based on the classic novel
Le Fantome de L'Opera by Gaston
Leroux, Andrew Lloyd Webber's
The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a masked figure
who lurks beneath the Catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of
terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with
an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to
creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by
employing all of the devious methods at his command. The
musical opened at Her Majesty's Theatre on 9
October 1986, and at the Majestic Theatre in New York on 26 January
1988, with Michael Crawford,
Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton in the leading roles. There
have been dozens of productions worldwide since. Now, 33 years
after the production, The Phantom of the Opera is one of
most successful productions in entertainment history, having played
to over 145 million people in 150 cities across 30 countries.
It is the longest running show on Broadway, having celebrated its
30th anniversary in 2018, and has won more than 70 major
theatre awards, including seven Tony Awards and four Oliver Awards,
including Best Musical.
CATS
Adapted from TS Eliot's Old Possum's Book of
Practical Cats, Andrew Lloyd
Webber's CATS is one of the longest-running shows in
West End and Broadway history, received its world premiere at the
New London Theatre in 1981 where it played for 21 record-breaking
years and almost 9,000 performances. The ground-breaking
production, originally directed by Trevor
Nunn and featuring musical staging by Gillian Lynne, was the winner of the Olivier and
Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. In 1983, the
Broadway production become the recipient of seven Tony awards,
including Best Musical, and ran for 18 years.
Since its world premiere in 1981, CATS has been presented in
over 30 countries, has been translated into 15 languages and has
been seen by more than 73 million people worldwide. Both the
original London and Broadway cast
recordings won Grammy Awards for Best Cast Album. The magnificent
musical score includes one of the most treasured songs in musical
theatre – 'Memory', which has been recorded by over 150 artists,
from Barbara Streisand and Johnny
Mathis to Liberace and Barry
Manilow.
Starlight Express
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and choreography by Arlene Phillips, Starlight Express has
been seen by over 20 million people and gross box office world-wide
is estimated at over $1.2 billion
dollars.
A child's train set magically comes to life and the various
engines compete to become the "Fastest – engine in the World"! The
underdog, Rusty the Steam train, has little chance until
he is inspired by the legend of the "Starlight Express" and
ultimately defeats his arch
rivals Greaseball and Electra before going on
to win the hand of the lovely first-class coach, Pearl.
The show opened at the Apollo Victoria in London on 27th March
1984, taking the revolutionary approach of building a race
track all the way around the auditorium. In April 1991, Starlight Express became the
second-longest running musical in London theatre history, at that time.
The show has been produced around the world, from the
USA to Japan and Australia. There is also a production in
Bochum, Germany, which has been
running for over 25 years and has been seen by an incredible 15
million people.
About CPLG
CPLG (www.cplg.com) is one of the world's
leading entertainment, sport and brand licensing agencies with
offices in the UK, Benelux, Nordics, France, Germany, Italy, Spain,
Sweden, Poland, Middle
East, Greece &
Turkey and the US. Owned by DHX
Media (www.dhxmedia.com) a leader in the creation, production and
licensing of family entertainment rights, CPLG has more than 40
years of experience in the licensing industry. It provides each of
its clients with dedicated licensing and marketing industry
professionals and a fully-integrated product development, legal and
accounting service. CPLG believe that partnership is about clarity,
openness and trust, and is widely known for its no-nonsense,
straightforward approach; Expert Common Sense.
About DHX Media
DHX Media Ltd. (TSX: DHX, NASDAQ:
DHXM) is a global children's content and brands company, recognized
for such high-profile properties as Peanuts,
Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Caillou,
Inspector Gadget, and the acclaimed Degrassi
franchise. One of the world's foremost producers of children's
shows, DHX Media owns the world's largest independent library of
children's content, at 13,000 half-hours. It licenses its content
to broadcasters and streaming services worldwide and generates
royalties through its global consumer products program. Through its
subsidiary, WildBrain, DHX Media operates one of the largest
networks of children's channels on YouTube. Headquartered in
Canada, DHX Media has offices
worldwide. Visit us at www.dhxmedia.com.
Disclaimer
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" under
applicable securities laws with respect to DHX Media including,
without limitation, statements regarding expected activities under
the agreement with The Really Useful Group and the business
strategies and operational activities of DHX Media and results
therefrom. Although DHX Media believes that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such
statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on
information currently available to DHX Media. Actual results or
events may differ materially from those expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual
results or events to differ materially from current expectations,
among other things, include the ability of DHX Media to execute on
licensing arrangements and other factors discussed in materials
filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time
to time including matters discussed under "Risk Factors" in
DHX Media's most recent Annual Information Form and annual
Management Discussion and Analysis, which also form part of DHX
Media's annual report on Form 40-F filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made
as of the date hereof, and DHX Media assumes no obligation to
update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances,
except as required by law.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cplg-to-take-centre-stage-with-andrew-lloyd-webbers-musicals-300782427.html
SOURCE DHX Media Ltd.