Andrew Lloyd Webber

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Andrew Lloyd Webber Once Had a Poltergeist Problem

He said he had to call on a priest to help

(Newser) - Andrew Lloyd Webber once had to call on a priest to rid his home of a pesky spirit. In a recent interview with the Telegraph , the Phantom of the Opera composer was asked whether any of the six London theaters he owns are haunted. The Guardian reports the question wasn'...

Andrew Lloyd Webber Worries About the Math of Broadway

Composer reflects on financial realities of the theater as 'Phantom' ends its epic run

(Newser) - Now that the last performance of the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway is in the books after a 35-year run, people are tossing around the phrase "end of an era." That's not quite accurate, writes Andrew Lloyd Webber in a New York Times essay. He points...

Broadway's Longest-Running Show Closes After 35 Years

Sunday was the final curtain call for 'Phantom'

(Newser) - The final curtain came down Sunday on New York's production of The Phantom of the Opera, ending Broadway’s longest-running show with thunderous standing ovations, champagne toasts and gold and silver confetti bursting from its famous chandelier, the AP reports. It was show No. 13,981 at the Majestic...

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Reaction to Cats Was Intense

'It was the first time in my 70-odd years on this planet that I went out and bought a dog'

(Newser) - Cats the movie got almost universally bad reviews , and that includes the feelings of the person responsible for the musical in the first place. Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer of the Broadway show that debuted in 1981, says that when he watched the 2019 film adaptation, he had quite the...

Andrew Lloyd Webber: Only Arrest Will Stop Me Reopening

He plans to reopen London theaters on June 21 'come hell or high water'

(Newser) - Andrew Lloyd Webber owns six London theaters—and he says he's going to reopen them on June 21 whether the British government changes its reopening date or not. The composer claims that scientific evidence shows theaters are "completely safe" even at full capacity, the Guardian reports. His production...

Andrew Lloyd Webber Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is

Says he would do 'anything' to reopen theaters, steps up for vaccine trial

(Newser) - Andrew Lloyd Webber is anxious to get audiences back to the theater, which is why he's now taking part in a coronavirus vaccine trial from Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. "I am excited that tomorrow I am going to be vaccinated for the Oxford Covid 19 trial,...

Andrew Lloyd Webber Sums Up His Take on Cats Movie

In a word, 'ridiculous'

(Newser) - If you don't have anything nice to say ... well, whatever. Andrew Lloyd Webber had previously made his less-than-rosy thoughts on the movie version of Cats known via some harsh words for James Corden's performance as alley cat Bustopher Jones, reports NBC News . He returned to the topic during...

Andrew Lloyd Webber Offers Something to 'Lift the Spirits'

Win contest and you could sing for 13 seconds after 'Phantom' performance on Broadway or in London

(Newser) - Andrew Lloyd Webber has launched a virtual competition that could lead to one fan singing on Broadway or the West End when musicals resume playing. The composer has invited singers to make up their own tiny vocal showcase at the end of the song "Think of Me" from The ...

Lloyd Webber on Sarah Brightman Affair: 'Of Course I Loved the Sex'

He tells their story in new memoir, out Tuesday

(Newser) - Andrew Lloyd Webber "dreaded" writing about his affair with Sarah Brightman, which led to a marriage and ultimately a divorce, he writes in his new memoir. But write about it he did, revealing that after first meeting when Brightman auditioned for Cats in the early 1980s and their shared...

Can We Really Blame a Dog for Freaking Out During Cats?

Service animal went after feline-dressed performer during Broadway play

(Newser) - A showing of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats almost went to the dogs this week, quite literally. Witnesses tell the New York Post that during a performance at New York City's Neil Simon Theatre, a service dog broke free from its owner during the opening number and rushed the...

Andrew Lloyd Webber Is Furious With a Pussycat Doll

He's angry that Nicole Scherzinger left 'Cats'

(Newser) - In what might be one of the weirdest celebrity feuds ever reported, Andrew Lloyd Webber is furious with Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger. Scherzinger pulled out of her role in Cats just before rehearsals started for its return to Broadway, the Guardian reports. In an interview with the Economist Radio Thursday,...

'Jesus' Musical Shelved for Offending Christians

Russians call 'Jesus Christ Superstar' a 'profanation'

(Newser) - Looks like some Russians don't consider Jesus Christ much of a "superstar." Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Jesus Christ Superstar had to shut down in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don after prosecutors began investigating the production, AFP reports. Several people had complained that the show offended Christians:...

Lloyd Webber Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer

Disease in early stage; expects to be back at work before end of year

(Newser) - British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, a spokeswoman said today in a statement that said "the condition is in its very early stages. Andrew is now undergoing treatment and expects to be fully back at work before the end of the year."

Lloyd Webber Eyes Boyle for Stage Role

Could even be Evita lead, originally played by Susan's idol

(Newser) - Susan Boyle’s dream might be coming true. The Britain’s Got Talent superstar—who elicited snickers from the audience when she said before her audition that she aspired to be like British stage icon Elaine Paige—has caught the eye of musical theater composer Andrew Lloyd Weber, who is...

Jazz Great Dearie Dead at 82
 Jazz Great
 Dearie Dead at 82 
Feb 9, 2009 6:39 AM CST

Jazz Great Dearie Dead at 82

Blossom Dearie dead at 82

(Newser) - Blossom Dearie, whose career as a jazz and cabaret singer spanned six decades, died peacefully in her sleep at her Greenwich village apartment over the weekend. She was 82. Dearie continued performing until 2006, and her last public appearance was at the now-defunct Danny's Skylight Room, reports the New York ...

Phantom of the Xbox: Lloyd Webber Tries Gaming

You'll soon be able to play along with your faves from Evita , Jesus Christ Superstar

(Newser) - Andrew Lloyd Webber, the man behind musical hits such as Phantom of the Opera and Cats, is getting into the video-game business, paidContent reports. The burgeoning female gaming audience and the popularity of music-themed hits encouraged Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group to begin developing games based on Phantom, Evita...

Spacey Slams BBC's 'Unfair' Talent Searches

Actor slams Webber's Idol clones as ads for musicals

(Newser) - Kevin Spacey has criticized the BBC’s West End reality shows as overt promotions for the musicals they're casting for, the Guardian reports. Andrew Lloyd Webber's popular talent-search series, Any Dream Will Do and I’d Do Anything, sought out new stars for big-budget productions of Joseph and the Amazing ...

17 Stories