Tim Rice to Never Work With Andrew Lloyd Webber Again?

According to The Telegraph, Sir Tim Rice does not see more collaborations in his future with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he worked on Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar, because of a disagreement the two had over Webber's new television show searching for the new lead for the Jesus Christ Superstar tour, 'Superstar' that will air on ITV this summer.

Rice believes that the television show is unnecessary and called it "tasteless”, “tacky,” and “relentlessly downmarket”. He said, "If it’s going to be cast with stars [Lord Lloyd Webber is said to be pursuing the pop singer Nicole Scherzinger to play Mary Magdalene] then you don’t need to do the TV thing.”

Rice and Webber first collaborated in 1965 and produced big musical hits during the 1960s and 1970s, but then parted ways. Since then Rice went on to write for Disney productions. He said,“We had a great 10 years. Very few artistic partnerships last more than 10 years, and if they do they tend to go down the tubes.”

When asked about working with Webber again, Rice said that he would not. He said, “I don’t think it would be any good. You’ve got to have a young element in a show. Any project needs youth and dynamism as well old codgerdom and experience. The two of us trying to write something wouldn’t work. We’re not relevant as a team any more.”

Rice believes that reality television is not the answer for musical theatre. He calls it a "crisis" with writers because there are not many new, young writers in the theatre world at the moment.

Tim Rice also wrote the lyrics for Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar which is now playing on Broadway, as well as Evita, which is in previews on Broadway. His other stage credits include Joseph and the Mazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Likes of Us, The Lion King, Aida, Beauty and the Beast, Blondel, Chess, Cricket, Heathcliff, King David, and Tycoon.

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Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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