Andrew Lloyd Webber: WICKED Was Last Musical to Have 'Really Good Songs'

Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest musical, STEPHEN WARD, is just days away from beginning performance in London's West End. In anticipation, the acclaimed composer opened up to The Telegraph, telling them that he believes the modern musical has left music behind - and he hopes 'WARD' can break today's mold.

"The thing I've noticed is that music has not been a part of the most successful musicals of the last few years," Webber said. "The last musical that had really good songs in it was Wicked. You don't go and see the big hit musicals right now for the songs and it would be nice get back to that. My last hit was Sunset Boulevard - it has been quite a long time now. We have to get around the fact that it's so expensive to do. If this show doesn't really take off, it will be gone by February. That's the way it goes."

For his entire interview with The Telegraph, click here.

Stephen Ward, which has music by Webber and book and lyrics by playwright Christopher Hampton and lyricist Don Black, previews at the Aldwych Theatre from 3 December 2013 with press night on 19 December 2013. The production, directed by Richard Eyre, is currently booking to 1 March 2014. The cast album is set to be released by Decca in December 2013.

Set and costume designs are by Rob Howell, with lighting by Peter Mumford, sound by Paul Groothuis, projection design by Jon Driscoll and choreography by Stephen Mear. Stephen Ward is produced by Robert Fox Limited and The Really Useful Group.

The cast for this world premiere 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 Riding as Valerie Hobson, Ian Conningham as Ivanov, Chris Howell as Murray, Ricardo Coke Thomas as Lucky Gordon and Wayne 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.

1963. The scandal that shocked society. Stephen Ward charts the rise and fall from grace of the society osteopath. Friend to film stars, spies, models, government ministers and aristocrats, his rise and ultimate disgrace coincided with the increasingly permissive lifestyle of London's elite in the early 1960's. The musical centres on Ward's involvement with the young and beautiful Christine Keeler and their chance meeting in a West End night club which led to one of the biggest political scandals and trials of the 20th century.