Andrew Lloyd Webber has 'withdrawn' his music from a production he was working on with Tim Rice, who says the pair may never work together again.
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pair → withdraw → Rice
The pair are renowned for the creation of some of musical theatre’s biggest hits such as Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (first performed in 1968), Jesus Christ Superstar (1971) and Evita (1978).
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pair → perform → 1968
They have collaborated only occasionally since — writing the song You Must Love Me for the 1996 film of Evita,
and with Rice contributing 'additional lyrics' for Lloyd Webber's 2011 musical The Wizard Of Oz.
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Rice → collaborate → Oz
And last year, they unexpectedly reunited to create for Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas, which premiered at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
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which → reunite → Theatre
However, it has been reported that Lloyd Webber has cut ties with the production, ahead of its revival at Alexandra Palace in north London next month.
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Webber → report → London
Rice revealed that Lloyd Webber's songs had been 'ditched' after claiming that the 78-year-old Oscar-winning composer withdrew his score.
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composer → reveal → score
Speaking to the Times, Rice said: 'Andrew really didn't want to continue with the show.
'
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Andrew → speak → show
He basically withdrew his score.
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He → withdraw → score
He really did not feel it was the sort of thing he wanted to do.
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he → feel → thing
Andrew Lloyd Webber (left) has 'withdrawn' his music from Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas, a production he was working on with Tim Rice (right)
Andrew Lloyd Webber (left) and Tim Rice (right) in 1970.
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he → withdraw → 1970
The pair are renowned for a trio of mighty musicals they created: Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (first performed in 1968); Jesus Christ Superstar (1971) and Evita (1978)
Lloyd Webber has disputed the claims and said that the show's producers Donald and Eva Rice, who are the children of Tim, had 'decided not to use the music I composed for the Birmingham production for two reasons'.
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I → create → reasons
The composer said he was told there 'needed to be further work' on the show which, due to his schedule, it would have been 'impossible' to take part in.
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it → say → part
Lloyd Webber added in a statement that he was asked to sign the rights of the music way in advance for five years 'without any right of approval over its use in a production [he] hadn't seen'.
'The two felt unable to allow me this basic approval which even a rookie writer would expect,' he said.
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he → add → which
Rice added that the production was 'not up [Lloyd Webber's] alley' and said he is now reworking the songs with the composer Howard Goodall.
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he → add → composer
Asked if the new songs were better than those Lloyd Webber had composed, Rice responded by saying: 'I have no comment to make on that.'
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I → ask → that
Lloyd Webber wished 'the charming show every success' and that 'Howard Goodall is a great composer and a really great choice to replace me'.
Rice, who has also written the lyrics for The Lion King, was unable to say if he and Lloyd Webber would work together again in the future.
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he → wish → future
Their legendary creative partnership started in the 1960s after Tim Rice wrote a letter to a young Andrew Lloyd Webber offering his services as a lyricist.
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Rice → start → lyricist
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the pair's first publicly performed collaboration at the 1972 Edinburgh International Festival, before it opened in London and transferred to Broadway.
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it → perform → Broadway
The duo's next production, Jesus Christ Superstar, began life as a 1970 concept album.
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production → begin → album
It was an immediate success, which led to it being revived numerous times in the West End and on Broadway, as well as being adapted for the big screen.
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it → lead → screen
Another huge success came in the form of Eva Perón, the former first lady of Argentina.
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success → come → Argentina
Evita opened on the West End in 1978 with Elaine Paige in the title role.
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Evita → open → role
The show has been revived on multiple occasions, with most recently Rachel Zegler taking up the lead role at the London Palladium last year.
The trio of musicals were all adapted for film and, between them, won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards, translated into numerous languages and performed in more than 80 countries.
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trio → revive → countries
After Evita, they went their separate ways, with Lord Lloyd-Webber creating Cats, Phantom Of The Opera and Starlight Express; and Sir Tim doing Chess and The Lion King (working with Elton John on the film and the musical).
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Tim → go → film
Lloyd Webber, who also owns six London theatres, is said to have built up a £516m fortune.
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who → own → fortune
Rice was estimated to be worth £150m by The Sunday Times Rich List in 2020
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Rice → estimate → 2020
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