Andrew Lloyd Webber Not Sure How Many More Musicals He Can Afford to Do

Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose new musical, STEPHEN WARD, opened last week in London's West End, believes his latest could be one of his last.

"The costs of doing musicals have risen absolutely hugely," he said. "I don't think I've got enough money to do very many more."

Though if 'WARD' doesn't prove to be a commercial success, Lloyd Webber is okay with it.

"I haven't had a hit in 20 years," he said." I've written six musicals in that time. I'm resigned now to the fact that anything I do probably nobody is going to like."

Regardless, the acclaimed composer and writer believes 'WARD" is one of his best musicals.

"It's an amazing piece of work," Lloyd Webber told The Evening Standard just before STEPHEN WARD's opening night. "Whether it's a commercial piece of work is another question...As a complete musical, with the production and everything coming together, I think I'm as pleased with this as anything I've done in a long time."

Stephen Ward, which has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by playwright Christopher Hampton and lyricist Don Black, opened 19 December 2013 at the Aldwych Theatre. The production, directed by Richard Eyre, is currently previewing with booking to 1 March 2014. Set and costume designs are by Rob Howell, with lighting by Peter Mumford, sound by Paul Groothuis, projection design by Jon Driscoll and choreography byStephen Mear. Stephen Ward is produced by Robert Fox Limited and The Really Useful Group.

The cast comprises Alexander Hanson as Stephen Ward, Charlotte Spencer as Christine Keeler, Charlotte Blackledge as MAndy Rice Davies, Anthony Calf as Lord Astor, Daniel Flynn as John Profumo, Joanna RidingasValerie Hobson, Ian Conningham as Ivanov, Chris Howell as Murray, Ricardo Coke Thomas as Lucky Gordon andWayne Robinson as Johnny Edgecombe. Other cast members are Martin Callaghan, Kate Coyston, Jason Denton,Julian Forsyth, Amy Griffiths, Paul Kemble, Emma Kate Nelson, Carl Sanderson, Emily Squibb, John Stacey, Helen Ternent and Tim Walton.

For more information, visit: www.stephenwardthemusical.com.