The concept recording of the show was released in 1976, and the first stage production took place in London, premiering at the Prince Edward Theatre on June 21, 1978. It won awards for Best Musical and Best Actress (Elaine Paige), and played for 2900 performances. The show then debuted in Los Angeles and moved on to Broadway, opening at the Broadway Theatre on September 25, 1979, where it won seven Tony Awards, including Best Book, Best Score, and Best Musical, and ran for 1,568 performances.

The movie opened in December 1996, and has brought much more attention to the show. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice won a 1997 Oscar for Best Original Song for "You Must Love Me". There are few professional productions of it done presently, but it is constantly being revived, so be on the lookout for it playing somewhere near you! It was also released on a limited basis for amateur productions in the U.K.