Andrew Lloyd Webber’s family has some sad news to share. Nicholas Lloyd Webber, the eldest son of Tony Award-winning composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, is “critically unwell” and battling stomach cancer, according to a statement emailed to People.
The composer expressed “great sadness” about his inability to be there for the March 23 opening of his Broadway play Bad Cinderella at New York’s Imperial Theatre.
“As my friends and family know, he has been fighting stomach cancer for the preceding 18 months and Nick is now hospitalized,” Webber stated via People. I haven’t been able to make it to a preview of Bad Cinderella yet, and it looks like I won’t be able to make it to opening night on Thursday to cheer on the amazing cast, crew, and orchestra.
When asked about Nick, Webber remarked, “Everyone hopes Nick will make a turnaround. His usual humor is helping him through this ordeal, but for the time being, my support and prayers are with him and his loved ones.
Nicolas, at 43 years old, follows in the footsteps of his composer father. His art was featured on the BBC One series Love, Lies, and Records and in the film The Last Bus. In 2022, Nicolas and his dad both received GRAMMY nominations for their roles in the musical Cinderella.
Webber, 74, has four more children besides Nicolas: Imogen, Isabella, Alastair, and William.
Webber had been saving up Bad Cinderella until 2022 when he said he would bring the London version of Cinderella to the States under a new name.
Webber’s original lead part will be played by Linedy Genao, a Broadway veteran whose credits include On Your Feet! and Dear Evan Hansen. Bad Cinderella’s release couldn’t have come at a better time, since Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, which has been running on Broadway for 35 years, is set to close in April.