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UKTickets Profile: Andrew Lloyd Webber

Posted by Jack on Monday 22nd June 2009 at 3:38PM

On stage:

Perhaps most widely known for his collaboration with Tim Rice. The pair first found success in 1968 with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, followed in 1970 by Jesus Christ Superstar and again in 1976 with Evita.

In 1985, Lloyd Webber created his only classical production to date. Requiem featured the classic Pie Jesu.

Lloyd Webber has worked with many other lyricists. Most notable are Don Black (Tell Me on a Sunday, Aspects of Love and Sunset Boulevard) and Richard Stilgoe (Starlight Express and The Phantom of the Opera).

Off stage:

In recent years, Lloyd Webber has also become known for his television work. His successful TV talent searches have so far cast Maria in The Sound of Music, the title role in Joseph and Oliver and Nancy in Oliver!.

This year, he wrote the UK’s Eurovision entry and helmed a TV show to find someone to sing it. The song, It’s My Time, came a respectable fifth, sung by Jade Ewen.

Theatre highlights:
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (1968)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1970)
Evita (1976)
Cats (1981)
Starlight Express (1984)
The Phantom of the Opera (1986)
Aspects of Love (1989)
Sunset Boulevard (1993)
The Woman in White (2004)

On screen:

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? (2006)
Any Dream Will Do (2007)
I’d Do Anything (2008)

Currently:

Working on Phantom sequel Love Never Dies. The show was expected at the Adelphi this summer but has now reportedly been pushed back to 2010. Casting rumours have mentioned Wicked’s Kerry Ellis and Hairspray’s Michael Ball.

A fourth TV talent search? A show to cast Dorothy and Toto in a new production of The Wizard of Oz is reportedly in development. Liza Minnelli has apparently been asked to join the judging panel.

Trivia

The name Lloyd Webber is not hyphenated. Andrew’s father, William Lloyd Webber, simply began using his middle name at college to avoid confusion with another William Webber. The name has been passed down ever since.

The precocious Andrew Lloyd Webber composed his first suite when he was only nine and reportedly wrote the music for Cats when he was fourteen.

Some of his teenage collaborations with Tim Rice as a teenager were recorded by pop musicians on various record labels in the 1960’s. They also wrote two songs for Elvis Presley. One of them, It's Easy For You, appeared on the King's last album Moody Blue.

He wrote the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera especially for his second wife Sarah Brightman.

In 1991, Andrew Lloyd Webber became the first and only composer to have six productions running simultaneously in the West End.

Andrew Lloyd Webber owns six of the West End's most prestigious theatres, including the Palace and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

While composing Love Never Dies, ALW’s kitten Otto reportedly fell into the digital piano he had been using, erasing the entire score.

He displayed his unhoned acting talent playing himself in three episodes of Hollyoaks in 2008.