Lloyd Webber grew up among an accomplished musical family. ” Rockwell points out, however, that “one thing about Andrew Lloyd Webber on which all squabbling observers must agree, … is that he is hugely, even astonishingly successful. ” On the other hand, others regard Lloyd Webber as “a cheap panderer to the lowest common denominator, derivative and faceless ” or “the instigator of the current penchant for glitzy spectacle on Broadway. To some, as John Rockwell commented in the New York Times Magazine, “he is the savior and regenerator of the very genre of the musical, ” “a composer of melodic genius and telling theatrical savvy, ” and “as a producer, … regarded as a resource for the revitalization of the musical on both sides of the Atlantic. Critics differ wildly, however, on Lloyd Webber ’s contributions to musical theater. Productions of his musicals are often lavish, while his musical scores -which display such varied influences as rock ‘n roll, country, blues, and opera -demonstrate his often-praised gift for melody. Lloyd Webber ’s success can be attributed to his particular blend of showmanship and craft, which have made him a favorite of theatergoers. His personal fortune has been estimated to exceed $200 million. Also a noted theatrical producer and entrepreneur, Lloyd Webber is the founder of the sprawling Really Useful Group, which comprises a production company, a music-publishing and record division, a video company, and the refurbished Palace Theatre of London. Known for their elaborate productions and lush scores, Lloyd Webber musicals have enjoyed lengthy stage runs -in 1991 Cats was playing in its ninth year on Broadway -while touring professional productions have played in more than fifteen countries across North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia. The first composer, in 1983, to have three musicals play simultaneously on Broadway and London ’s West End -a feat he duplicated in 1988 -Lloyd Webber has amassed a string of hits and awards in his twenty-year career with such shows as Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, and The Phantom of the Opera. British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber “has spun a worldwide empire unmatched in the history of musical theater, ” wrote Michael Walsh in Time.
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