Andrew Lloyd Webber Talks Wanting One More Hit, New Song for CATS, Plus Return of JOSEPH, SUNSET, & More

With long-running smash hits like THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and CATS, Andrew Lloyd Webber is ready for a new musical hit- and a fresh take on his classics.

Lloyd Webber recently revealed that he has written a new song for CATS which he plans to put into the current revival.

"One thing that [producer Cameron Mackintosh] had said to me was that I should think about adding a little aria in Growltiger's Last Stand, and I said I'd write it," he said. "But then I was clearing out my briefcase to come to New York, and I found that I had written it but hadn't given it to anyone! Nobody seems to have noticed or minded in Blackpool, but I'll put it into London." This wouldn't be the first change the award-winner has made to the music of CATS. This season's revival features a new song as well, a rap number for Rum Tum Tugger.

Lloyd Webber further revealed that he also wrote a new song with Leslie Bricusse for Sarah Brightman to sing on her planned space travel. "The thing that really intrigued me was that no one has really worked out what or whether you can sing in space - a voice is a muscle, and given that you're weightless, I'm not as convinced as I'd like to be that you can actually sing." As her plans are on hold for the moment, the song, "has so far not found an appropriate outlet"

He also said that JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT and SUNSET BOULEVARD may be getting a new life on the stage as well, "T Rice and I realised in May this year that it was 50 years since we met, so that means that Joseph, too, is nearly 50 years old. So we're wondering if we should be doing something about it - it's the most performed work of mine in America."

As for SUNSET BOULEVARD, Lloyd Webber says there's a "very strong probability" that it will be produced by the London Coliseum. "Glenn [Close] wants to do it, and I said to her that if she really wants to, we should get on with it. We've got to find a very good Joe Gillis, but I'd love to hear it with that orchestra."

He considers SUNSET BOULEVARD to be his most recent successful musical, and as such, he just wants one more. Referring to both his career and the career of Cameron Mackintosh, he said, "In both our cases, [our last successes] were a while ago. And one of the reasons I want to keep myself in good health is that I'd love one more hit."

Source: The Stage