01of 15Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Early LifeEvening Standard/Hulton Archive/GettyBorn on March, 22, 1948,Andrew Lloyd Webberwas raised in a very musical family. His father, William Lloyd Webber, was a composer and organist and his mother, Jean Hermione Johnstone, was a violinist and pianist. His younger brother, Julian Lloyd Webber, was also a cellist.Growing up in London, Webber developed an interest in music at a young age, including writing his own songs and putting on productions for his family.In 1965, Webber briefly studied history at Magdalen College, Oxford, though he later abandoned the course to study at the Royal College of Music and pursue a career in music.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Early Life
Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty
Born on March, 22, 1948,Andrew Lloyd Webberwas raised in a very musical family. His father, William Lloyd Webber, was a composer and organist and his mother, Jean Hermione Johnstone, was a violinist and pianist. His younger brother, Julian Lloyd Webber, was also a cellist.
Growing up in London, Webber developed an interest in music at a young age, including writing his own songs and putting on productions for his family.
In 1965, Webber briefly studied history at Magdalen College, Oxford, though he later abandoned the course to study at the Royal College of Music and pursue a career in music.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Partnership
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While studying at Magdalen College, Oxford, Webber met Tim Rice, with whom he would later collaborate on numerous musical productions, includingJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,Jesus Christ Superstar, andEvita.
“I don’t think it would be any good. You’ve got to have a young element in any show,” he said. “The two of us trying to write something wouldn’t work. We’re not relevant as a team any more.”
03of 15Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat MusicalFiona Hanson/PA Images/GettyJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, based on based on Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis, was Webber and Rice’s first musical to be performed publicly.It hit the West End in 1973 before moving to Broadway in 1982. Since then, it has had several different revivals, national tours, and a 1999 film which starredDonny Osmond. In addition to Osmond, many different celebrities have starred in the production, including David Cassidy and Jason Donovan (pictured with Webber in 1991).
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Musical
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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, based on based on Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis, was Webber and Rice’s first musical to be performed publicly.
It hit the West End in 1973 before moving to Broadway in 1982. Since then, it has had several different revivals, national tours, and a 1999 film which starredDonny Osmond. In addition to Osmond, many different celebrities have starred in the production, including David Cassidy and Jason Donovan (pictured with Webber in 1991).
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar Musical
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Jesus Christ Superstarhit Broadway in 1971 before heading to the West End the following year. Just likeJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the musical has taken on many different forms including several revivals, national tours, a 1973 film adaptation, and anNBC live concert special starring John Legend.
05of 15Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita MusicalMichael Putland/GettyEvitawas originally released as a rock opera concept album in 1976, before it eventually hit the West End in 1978. The Broadway production the following yearstarred Patti LuPone in the titular role. In this photo from 1979, Webber and LuPone can be seen working on the original Broadway cast recording of the musical.Evitareceived critical acclaim during its run on the West End and Broadway, including winning the Laurence Olivier Award for best musical and the Tony Award for best musical, making it the first British musical to receive the honor.The musical has lived on with several revivals, national tours, and a 1996 film adaptation starring Madonna (much to LuPone’s dismay).
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita Musical
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Evitawas originally released as a rock opera concept album in 1976, before it eventually hit the West End in 1978. The Broadway production the following yearstarred Patti LuPone in the titular role. In this photo from 1979, Webber and LuPone can be seen working on the original Broadway cast recording of the musical.
Evitareceived critical acclaim during its run on the West End and Broadway, including winning the Laurence Olivier Award for best musical and the Tony Award for best musical, making it the first British musical to receive the honor.
The musical has lived on with several revivals, national tours, and a 1996 film adaptation starring Madonna (much to LuPone’s dismay).
06of 15Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats MusicalJack Vartoogian/GettyIn the late ’70s, Webber began setting T. S. Eliot’s collection of poems to music, which later resulted in the musicalCats. The musical opened on the West End in 1981 and ran for 21 years before closing. After hitting Broadway in 1982, the musical ran for 18 years, making it the longest-running Broadway show at the time.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats Musical
Jack Vartoogian/Getty
In the late ’70s, Webber began setting T. S. Eliot’s collection of poems to music, which later resulted in the musicalCats. The musical opened on the West End in 1981 and ran for 21 years before closing. After hitting Broadway in 1982, the musical ran for 18 years, making it the longest-running Broadway show at the time.
07of 15Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Marriage to Sarah HugillStan Meagher/Daily Express/GettyWebber’s first marriage was to Sarah Hugill. The two tied the knot in July 1971 and had two children together, a daughter named Imogen Lloyd Webber born in 1977, and a son named Nicholas Lloyd Webber born in 1979.The couple eventually parted ways in November 1983 after Webber fell in love with Sarah Brightman.“It wasn’t our fault that Sarah and I fell in love,” he told the Daily Express. “We talked and talked about what we should do about it. In the end I drew a line down a piece of paper and put on one side the ‘pros’ and on the other side the ‘cons’ of us trying to get free to marry. The ‘pros’ came out only just ahead, but it was from that moment that I decided to tell my wife.”
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Marriage to Sarah Hugill
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Webber’s first marriage was to Sarah Hugill. The two tied the knot in July 1971 and had two children together, a daughter named Imogen Lloyd Webber born in 1977, and a son named Nicholas Lloyd Webber born in 1979.
The couple eventually parted ways in November 1983 after Webber fell in love with Sarah Brightman.
“It wasn’t our fault that Sarah and I fell in love,” he told the Daily Express. “We talked and talked about what we should do about it. In the end I drew a line down a piece of paper and put on one side the ‘pros’ and on the other side the ‘cons’ of us trying to get free to marry. The ‘pros’ came out only just ahead, but it was from that moment that I decided to tell my wife.”
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Marriage to Sarah Brightman
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The couple eventually divorced in January 1990 asWebber fell in love with an equestrian named Madeleine Gurdon.
“I don’t think Sarah was expecting the whole thing to be over,“a source close to the couple told PEOPLE in July 1990. “From what I understand, there have been lots of problems, and she thought Andrew would issue a statement acknowledging that. She didn’t realize he would publicly humiliate her in the way he did. She’s behaving very well, but it is anybody’s guess as to what is going on.”
09of 15Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the OperaDave Hogan/Hulton Archive/GettyArguably Webber’s most iconic production,The Phantom of the Operahit the West End in 1986 before heading to Broadway in 1988.Webber wrote the musical during his marriageto Brightman, who played Christine Daaé in the original West End and Broadway productions.The musical received critical acclaim during its release, including the 1986 Olivier Award and the 1988 Tony Award for best musical. It is currently the the longest-running show in Broadway history, celebrated its 10,000th Broadway performance in February 2012.As with many of Webber’s productions,The Phantom of the Operahas taken on many forms, including several national tours, a 2004 film adaptation, and a recent revival on the West End in 2021.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera
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Arguably Webber’s most iconic production,The Phantom of the Operahit the West End in 1986 before heading to Broadway in 1988.
Webber wrote the musical during his marriageto Brightman, who played Christine Daaé in the original West End and Broadway productions.
The musical received critical acclaim during its release, including the 1986 Olivier Award and the 1988 Tony Award for best musical. It is currently the the longest-running show in Broadway history, celebrated its 10,000th Broadway performance in February 2012.
As with many of Webber’s productions,The Phantom of the Operahas taken on many forms, including several national tours, a 2004 film adaptation, and a recent revival on the West End in 2021.
10of 15Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Musical For Queen Elizabeth IIRon Bell/PA Images/GettyIn 1986, Prince Edward enlisted Webber and Rice to commissiona short musical titledCricketforQueen Elizabeth II’s 60th birthday. The musical reunited Webber and Rice for the first time since ending their partnership and was performed at Windsor Castle.Rice and Webber could be seen posing with the queen and Prince Philip as they attended the Royal Ascot Ball in June 1986.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Musical For Queen Elizabeth II
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In 1986, Prince Edward enlisted Webber and Rice to commissiona short musical titledCricketforQueen Elizabeth II’s 60th birthday. The musical reunited Webber and Rice for the first time since ending their partnership and was performed at Windsor Castle.
Rice and Webber could be seen posing with the queen and Prince Philip as they attended the Royal Ascot Ball in June 1986.
11of 15Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Marriage to Madeleine GurdonGeorges De Keerle/GettyA year after his divorce from Brightman, Webber moved on with Madeleine Gurdon. The two tied the knot in Westminster in February 1991 and later had three kids together, a son named Alastair Adam Lloyd Webber born in May 1992, a son named William Richard Lloyd Webber born in August 1993, and a daughter named Isabella Aurora Lloyd Webber born in April 1996.The couple are still together and Gurdon has also accompanied Webber at various events recently, includingthe reopening ofThe Phantom Of The Operaon Broadway in October 2021.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Marriage to Madeleine Gurdon
Georges De Keerle/Getty
A year after his divorce from Brightman, Webber moved on with Madeleine Gurdon. The two tied the knot in Westminster in February 1991 and later had three kids together, a son named Alastair Adam Lloyd Webber born in May 1992, a son named William Richard Lloyd Webber born in August 1993, and a daughter named Isabella Aurora Lloyd Webber born in April 1996.
The couple are still together and Gurdon has also accompanied Webber at various events recently, includingthe reopening ofThe Phantom Of The Operaon Broadway in October 2021.
12of 15Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Kennedy Center HonorLESLIE E. KOSSOFF/AFP/GettyIn December 2006, Webber was a recipient of theKennedy Center Honorsfor his outstanding contribution to American performing arts. He received the honor alongside Zubin Mehta,Dolly Parton, Steven Spielberg, andSmokey Robinson.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Kennedy Center Honor
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In December 2006, Webber was a recipient of theKennedy Center Honorsfor his outstanding contribution to American performing arts. He received the honor alongside Zubin Mehta,Dolly Parton, Steven Spielberg, andSmokey Robinson.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s EGOT Win
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Webber is one of the few stars to achieveEGOT status(receiving awards at the Emmys, the Grammys,the Oscarsand the Tonys).
14of 15Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats MovieBruce Glikas/FilmMagicIn 2019,Catsgot the movie treatmentwith a star-studded cast that included Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Ian McKellen,Taylor Swift, and Rebel Wilson.For the film adaptation, Webber collaborated with Swift for a brand-new song titled “Beautiful Ghosts,” which later received nominations for best originalsSong at the Golden Globe Awards and best song written for visual media atGrammy Awards.ThoughWebber expressed his displeasure with theCatsmoviefollowing its release, he revealed thatworking with Swift was one of the highlightsof the process.“It was one of the few enjoyable experiences [on the film],” Lloyd Webber said about working with the Grammy-winning singer. “It was probablytheenjoyable experience.”
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats Movie
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
In 2019,Catsgot the movie treatmentwith a star-studded cast that included Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Ian McKellen,Taylor Swift, and Rebel Wilson.
For the film adaptation, Webber collaborated with Swift for a brand-new song titled “Beautiful Ghosts,” which later received nominations for best originalsSong at the Golden Globe Awards and best song written for visual media atGrammy Awards.
ThoughWebber expressed his displeasure with theCatsmoviefollowing its release, he revealed thatworking with Swift was one of the highlightsof the process.
“It was one of the few enjoyable experiences [on the film],” Lloyd Webber said about working with the Grammy-winning singer. “It was probablytheenjoyable experience.”
15of 15Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella MusicalDavid M. Benett/Dave Benett/GettyWebber is still keeping busy in the musical theater world; in 2021, Webber’s new version ofCinderellaopened at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in the West End.A Broadway production of the musical is reportedly in the works and slated to begin its New York run in Fall 2022,according to BroadwayWorld.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella Musical
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
Webber is still keeping busy in the musical theater world; in 2021, Webber’s new version ofCinderellaopened at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in the West End.
A Broadway production of the musical is reportedly in the works and slated to begin its New York run in Fall 2022,according to BroadwayWorld.
source: people.com
