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FLASH SPECIAL: Sir Tim Rice's Whole New World Of Lyrics

By: Oct. 01, 2014
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Today we are celebrating the lyricist and producer of this week's hotly anticipated Fathom Event, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, with multi-award winner Sir Tim Rice!

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40-Year Man

The astounding amount of artistic accomplishments racked up by Sir Tim Rice over the last 40 years of his career is simply astonishing to behold: three Academy Awards, three Tony Awards, a knightship, countless chart-topping hits, and, most recently, his mega-hit long-running stage musical, THE LION KING, just became the most successful entertainment in world history. Nevertheless, the current endeavor embarked upon by the prodigious and prolific master of words in bringing his West End musical FROM HERE TO ETERNITY to movie theaters nationwide is virtually unprecedented. This week, viewers will be offered the rare opportunity to see a West End musical from the comfort of a local movie theater in its original production many months before a new Broadway edition of the property hits the Great White Way in 2015. While previous Fathom Events have showcased entertainment extravaganzas, special concert events, filmed stage productions and beyond, this will be the first time a musical centrally focused American history is shown in the country it evocatively and skillfully depicts.

In speaking of what drew him to the award-winning James Jones novel in the first place and what justified its musical adaptation, Rice recently expressed his views as part of an extensive InDepth InterView (available here). In that conversation, Rice relayed of his relationship with composer Stuart Brayson as being an elemental ingredient in inspiring him to join the creative team for FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, first as a producer, and, eventually, as lyricist, as well.

"I had known Stuart for a very long time and this, of all the amazing things that he has written, this was the one that grabbed me. He brought me some songs that he had written based on the book and I thought, 'Well, the songs are so strong already, now we need the story,' so we brought in Bill Oakes to do the book, based on James Jones's masterpiece. And, so, after that, it all came together," Rice said.

Furthermore, Rice revealed, "It's quite a sophisticated show. You know, it's very hard these days to get people into a brand new musical that doesn't have a backstory or a back catalogue, but I thought it worked very well and I am very hopeful that the screening in America will be the gateway to getting the show established in the States. After all, it is an American story, and, to be brutally honest, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY as a title and even Pearl Harbor itself doesn't mean a lot to young English people these days. I still think it has a great resonance in America, though."

In discussing the various musical influences on the impressively complex and gripping score, Rice shared, "Funnily enough, Darius [Campbell] does sound a bit like Nat King Cole on it, doesn't he?! Yes, it was that sort of thing. We wanted the whole thing to have a rock sort of feel, but, at the same time, it is set in 1940 and 1941. The part of Warden has to be vocally and physically different from that of Pruitt - they are both GIs, but Warden has been around the block a bit longer and heading more into the [Frank] Sinatra end of things, if you like, whereas Pruitt is much more Bruce Springsteen or Eddie Cochran or something."

Given the fact that Sir Tim Rice has topped the pop charts with a host of unlikely subjects ranging from songs about the wife of a controversial Argentinean dictator (EVITA's "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" and "You Must Love Me") to a twist on the story of Jesus Christ and his relationships with Judas Iscariot and Mary Magdalene ("Jesus Christ Superstar" and "I Don't Know How To Love Him") to a love song shared by two lions ("Can You Feel The Love Tonight") to a modern romantic classic depicting a flying magic carpet ride ("A Whole New World"), not to mention a wildly ahead of its time rap ditty about chess ("One Night In Bangkok"), Rice is more than merely well-versed and versatile. Subsequently, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY finds Rice firing on all axles and exploring any number of new and intriguing musical forms and styles that even he had not attempted until now - all with his characteristic wit, charm and delectably idiosyncratic turn of phrase, of course.

More information on the Fathom presentation of FROM HERE TO ETERNITY in movie theaters nationwide on October 2, 5 and 9 is available at the official site here.

A Whole New World

Now, let's take a look at some career highlights from Sir Tim Rice's impressive resume as we look ahead to FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.

First up, see the trailer for Fathom's presentation of FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.

Now, peruse the music video for "Fight The Fight" from the show.

Check out this extended performance preview of "More Than America".

Sir Tim Rice explains his involvement with FROM HERE TO ETERNITY in this featurette.

Go back to 1971 and revisit Sir Tim Rice's first Stateside hit, "Jesus Christ Superstar".

Also, Helen Reddy finds success with "I Don't Know How To Love Him".

Next, EVITA proved Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice were the new Rodgers & Hammerstein.

Rice found success on the charts with the concept album of CHESS, boasting this memorable earworm.

Then, Webber and Rice re-teamed decades later to pen a new song for the EVITA film starring Madonna.

After that, the next Webber & Rice partnership occurred for THE WIZARD OF OZ in 2010, with Michael Crawford.

Meanwhile, Rice had made a mark on the world with his Disney contributions, beginning with ALADDIN.

THE LION KING came next - along with Hollywood, Broadway and world history.

Plus, Rice and Elton John won a 2000 Best Score Tony Award for their work on the stage musical AIDA.

Lastly, Sir Tim Rice introduces Robert Lonsdale of FROM HERE TO ETERNITY at WEST END LIVE 2013.

As a special bonus, see Sir Tim's invitation to join him at FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.

What is your absolute favorite composition by Sir Tim Rice to date? Furthermore, what is your favorite property containing his indelible lyrics? With a spate as spectacularly stacked as this one, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY is undoubtedly yet another career pinnacle worthy of the utmost praise at attention. Here's to 40 more years of Sir Tim Rice!




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