In a wide-ranging interview published in the U.K's Financial Times, he was defensive at the suggestion that he wasn't doing new work. "Even very sophisticated people ask, ‘Are you doing anything new?’ But they’re wrong. They’re very wrong. Look: A, I’ve reinvented all the original hits so they are successful and, B, I’ve done a number of new musicals."
The interview asserts that Mackintosh has 47 productions planned through 2020. "I've got six or seven Les Mis's, three Phantoms, a couple of Cats, four Saigons . . . Two weeks ago, we opened in Brisbane and Korea with Les Mis, and in Japan with Saigon. Mary Poppins was in Bristol and Phantom in the U.S. And I’m preparing two movies — one of Oliver!, one of Saigon."
Half a Sixpence is being re-worked by Julian Fellowes, who also worked with Mackintosh on the long-running West End and Broadway hit stage version of Mary Poppins (now on another U.K tour) and the shorter-lived Betty Blue Eyes, and who is also currently represented on Broadway by School of Rock (which Mackintosh is not involved in).
As previously reported, he is also angling to co-produce the London production of the Broadway hit, Hamilton.
He is also expanding his interests in Music Theatre International, which handles the secondary performing rights to some 450 musicals. According to the interview, he currently holds 75 percent of the business, and by next year will control the whole business. The interview also revealed plans he has put in place for after his death. According to the report, the business will pass to his Mackintosh Foundation, "which last year gave £679,000 to theatrical and medical causes, with the proviso that it keeps the business running but does not mimic his role." He is quoted saying, "I've been successful beyond any of my dreams and I realize my foundation is going to be worth an absolute fortune. But it can't create any new productions. I don’t want anyone getting their hands on it and using the money to make new versions of my shows. They can be a co-producer but they'll have to find another me. I want all the innovation to come from others."
For more information on Mackintosh and his productions, visit cameronmackintosh.com.
