Palace Theatre, London was musical director at the theatre from 1900 until 1920. The Marx Brothers appeared at the theatre in 1922, performing selections from their Broadway shows. In 1925, the musical comedy "No, No, Nanette" opened at the Palace Theatre, followed by other musicals, for which the theatre became known. "The Sound of Music" ran for 2,385 performances at the theatre, opening in 1961. "Jesus Christ Superstar" ran from 1972 to 1980, and "Les Misérables" played at the theatre for nineteen years, beginning in 1985. In 1983, Andrew Lloyd Webber purchased and by 1991 had refurbished the theatre. "Monty Python's Spamalot" played
Musical theatre way for Kern's later work by showing that a musical could combine light, popular entertainment with continuity between its story and songs. Historian Gerald Bordman wrote: The theatre-going public needed escapist entertainment during the dark times of World War I, and they flocked to the theatre. The 1919 hit musical "Irene" ran for 670 performances, a Broadway record that held until 1938. The British theatre public supported far longer runs like that of "The Maid of the Mountains" (1,352 performances) and especially "Chu Chin Chow". Its run of 2,238 performances was more than twice as long as any previous musical,