Andrew Lloyd Webber is celebrating his anniversary in style! In honor of the composer’s 40 years in show business, London TV station ITV is throwing him a party, according to The Sun. Hosted by Michael Ball, the extravaganza will include appearances by Simon Cowell, pop star Nicole Scherzinger, Spice Girls alum (and Jesus Christ Superstar arena tour star) Melanie C., Myleene Klass, Broadway alum Denise Van Outen and singer-songwriter Kimberley Walsh. The evening will also debut new songs from Lloyd Webber’s forthcoming musical about the John Profumo scandal.
Lloyd Webber reportedly agreed to participate in the evening under one condition: “I would only do it if it was not some po-faced tribute to a bloke who’s about to collect his bus pass,” the Phantom of the Opera composer told The Sun. He also insisted the evening include a live performance of the “wet sari number” from the Lloyd Webber-produced musical Bombay Dreams, a showstopper which features a fountain of water soaking the performers.
Lloyd Webber is the composer of The Phantom of the Opera, Starlight Express, Evita, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sunset Boulevard, Love Never Dies, By Jeeves, Tell Me on a Sunday, Song and Dance, Starlight Express, Aspects of Love and The Woman in White. He is the winner of seven Tony Awards.
Celebrate Lloyd Webber's career by listening to the title tune from one of his biggest hits The Phantom of the Opera!