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English composer and theatrical producer Andrew Lloyd Webber was born on March 22nd, 1948 in South Kensington, London to William Lloyd Webber and Jean Hermione Johnstone. Andrew later has a younger brother: Julian Lloyd Webber. -
Andrew Lloyd Webber's younger brother, Julian Lloyd Webber was born in London, three years after Andrew was born. -
Webber's earliest music pieces were arranged to be published on magazine Music Teacher by his father. One of his pieces being featured in his earliest work, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." -
The scene of music began to change in the 1960's when rock and pop rose to popularity within the music scene. This influence shaped Webber's works with his implementation of both genres into opera and plays.
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Before his interest in theatre and music, Andrew wanted to become England's chief inspector of ancient monuments from childhood. Therefore, he enrolled at Westminster School and studied history at Magdalen College in 1965. -
Upon pursuing musical theater at the Royal College of Music, Webber would meet lyricist Tim Rice and would begin their long collaboration with their first work, "The Likes of Us" which did not debut until later in their careers. -
Despite his childhood dreams of learning about history and pursuing a career in that field, Andrew dropped out the same year he enrolled at Westminster and Magdalen to enroll at the Royal College of Music. -
After collaborating with Tim Rice to create their first work, "The Likes of Us" the pair were commissioned to create a religious work. Upon receiving the commission, they would work together over the course of two months to create their first major work, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Supercoat," a retelling of the biblical story of Joseph. -
Webber and Rice's first published work, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Supercoat" debuted on March 1st, 1968 and was praised and enjoyed by many audience members. After each performance, the play eventually expanded from its original 20 minutes to its 2 hour run time. -
Following the success of their first biblical work, Webber and Rice collaborated to create "Jesus Christ Superstar" which began their tradition of creating albums that were later used to produce their subsequent plays. -
Webber first marries Sarah Hugill in 1971 and eventually divorces in 1983. Together, the then couple gave birth to their children, Imogen Lloyd Webber and Nicholas Lloyd Webber.
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Rather than working with Rice, Webber collaborated with British playwright Alan Ayckbourn to produce "Jeeves", which found less success than his precedent works. -
After finding little success with "Jeeves", Webber and Rice teamed up to create a concept album, "Evita" which followed the story of Eva Perón, the wife of Argentine dictator Juan Perón. -
In 1977, Webber founded the Really Useful Company which become responsible for producing and managing his subsequent plays. -
After the completion of the play, Evita would debut on the London Stage where much of its success was received through the hit song, "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina." The play would receive the Olivier Award for the "best musical" and eventually moved to Broadway. Evita serves as a pivotal play in Webber's works as a playwright, giving him the first taste of critical acclaim. -
Despite the end of Rice and Webber' collaborations, Webber's career would continue to thrive in the musical and theatrical world with the production of "Cats." This play would truly indicate his journey as a playwright with his following plays finding success after each debut. "Cats" would accumulate the longest run in London of 21 years, while running on Broadway for 18 years. -
Andrew's father, William, passed away on October 29th, 1982. -
Following the divorce between Webber and Hugill, Webber is then married to Sarah Brightman from 1984 to 1990.
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Following "Cats" and "Starlight Express" Webber would produce his magnum opus, "Phantom of the Opera" which became the longest running Broadway show, completing its run on April 2023. The play would be known as one of his most critically acclaimed works, winning an Olivier and Tony Award for "best musical." -
Following the divorce between Webber and Brightman, Webber weds his current wife, Madeleine Gurdon, who gives birth to their children, Isabella Aurora Lloyd Webber, Alastair Lloyd Webber, and William Richard Lloyd Webber.
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In 1992, Webber was knighted. -
Andrew's mother, Jean, passed away in 1993. -
Webber created an honorary life peer. -
In 2009, Webber was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent surgical procedures for treatment. -
In January 2010, Webber was declared cancer-free with the removal of his prostate. -
On March 2018, Webber published his memoir, "Unmasked" which follows the story of his life from his school days to the release of "Phantom of the Opera" in 1986. -
After the Covid-19 outbreak, the globe faced a pandemic which brought much struggle to all industries with the issue of social distancing and isolation. This would make a great impact on the theatre industry with cancelled productions and financial hardships. -
Andrew's son Nicholas, passed away on March 25th, 2023 due to gastric cancer. -
The showtime for "Phantom of the Opera," known for being the longest running play on Broadway would conclude on April 16, 2023. -
“Andrew Lloyd Webber - Songs, Shows Plays.” Biography, 26 Mar. 2021, www.biography.com/musicians/andrew-lloyd-webber. Accessed 16 June 2025.
“Andrew Lloyd Webber | the Stars | Broadway: The American Musical | PBS.” PBS, www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/andrew-lloyd-webber/. Accessed 16 June 2025.
“Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.” Academy of Achievement, achievement.org/achiever/andrew-lloyd-webber/. Accessed 16 June 2025. -
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Andrew Lloyd Webber | Biography, Musicals, Facts | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-Baron-Lloyd-Webber-of-Sydmonton. Accessed 16 June 2025.
“Timeline • Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals.” Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals, 2015, www.andrewlloydwebber.com/about/timeline. Accessed 16 June 2025.