Us Brits have a fascination with money and how much the other person earns, so each year when the Times Rich List is published we all rub our hands and start thinking about the lucky so and so who’s sitting at the top of this list waving down at us “normal folk”.
One things for sure, we all now know that musical theatre is an absolute gold mine, oh yes sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has climbed the branches of this wealthy tree and is sitting comfortably on a huge nest egg. Webber has an estimated wealth of £750m and is the 101st richest person Britain, I know what you’re thinking, bad luck you didn’t get into the 100 richest people in Britain - no…not what your thinking? Of course not, any normal person would probably be swearing right now and saying “what, that crazy old kook from I’d Do Anything is that wealthy” - and the answer is yes, exceedingly!
Webber is actually richer than the Queen, she comes in at a reasonable 264th place and has an estimated wealth of £320m. Imagine that, being richer than the Queen! Webber’s theatrical partner Cameron Mackintosh also made it onto the list in 184th place and at an estimated wealth of £450m.
So with the upcoming production of Oliver! and the ongoing success of the television production “I’d Do Anything” - I’m sure that both Webber and Mackintosh are donning some durable trainers and preparing to climb that money tree to new heights!
Andrew Lloyd Webber isn’t all about gliz, glam and theatrics - he’s chosen to dumb down his birthday celebrations and opted for a knees up in Majorca!
Reportedly he was to spend £5 million on West End bash for his 60th birthday, however this is complete codswallop made up by The Daily Mail. Poor old Webber and his wife had to issue a statement in order to set the record straight, it states “The couple are hosting a low-key event in Majorca this weekend. Around 35 to 40 close friends and colleagues have been invited to attend a dinner at a restaurant in Deia, near to the Lloyd Webber’s home on the island. A local rock band has been hired to entertain the guests and not the star-studded, musical-themed entertainment some reports have suggested.”
Ok you may be thinking oooh sunny Majorca and a fancy dinner how lavish, BUT if you think about it - it is very normal and low key for someone of his celebrity status. So we say well done Mr Webber for proving that you don’t have to splurge to have a good time and that celebrities are human afterall!
Stuck for a half term activity? Well look no further than a London Theatre Break, it’s the perfect mini getaway for all the family.
Show and Stay have a range of shows to suit everyone, if you want action and adventure why not book to see Lord of the Rings - a powerful tale of good verses evil. If you loved the Wizard of Oz, then book the sensational Wicked and see how the good witch of the north and the wicked witch of the west came to be.
Family favorites Grease and Joseph are ideal for a half term theatre break, watch Susan McFadden, Danny Bayne and Lee Mead live on stage in the West End. The Sound of Music, Hairspray and The Lion King are just some more examples of great shows which will have your family smiling all half term.
Why not team your theatre break with a London Attraction, from as little as £12.50 per person you could be visiting celebrity wax works in Madame Tussauds or soaring above the clouds on the iconic London Eye.
If you book a family theatre break before the 14th March 2008 you will get one nights stay in a top London hotel for FREE - that’s right absolutely nothing! So get your skates on and book your family on a Show and Stay theatre break this half term.
Well all the theatrical worms have come out of the West End woodwork, it’s been discovered that Andrew Lloyd Webber had planted Summer Strallen in Hollyoaks!
Summer had been waiting in the wings on the popular teenage soap until it was her time to step into the bright lights of the West End to replace Connie Fisher. Summer had previously auditioned for The Sound of Music and expected to get the part of the alternate role - however it was decided that she would be cast in Hollyoaks and involved in a storyline with Andrew Lloyd Webber. This Hollyoaks storyline would see Summer go on to play Maria in the West End.
All we have to say is - congrats Mr Webber for deceiving us all and creating such a stir, you sure know how to catch people’s attention!
The guy we like to call the “King of Theatre”, Andrew Lloyd Webber, turns the grand old age of 60 this year. Will he be donning a paper party hat and nipping down to the local Spar to pick up a victoria sponge for his guests? I think not, good old Webber is going to party hard on a 60th birthday tour across the UK - how very rock and roll! P-diddy would be impressed by Webber’s partying skills as no other celeb has had a celebratory tour for their birthday - Paris Hilton must be pulling at her dad’s jumper as we speak.
All of Webber’s reality TV superstars simply must be involved in his birthday tour - Connie Fisher has already let slip that she’ll be making an appearance. Ladies you’ll just have to wait and see if the Joseph boys will jump on the Webber birthday bandwagon!
So start shopping for your party frock as this is one birthday you wont want to miss.
Bonnie Langford’s niece Summer Strallen has only just begun her stint on Hollyoaks (a channel four soap which is a popular with teens and hungover students on a sunday morning), now she may be set to join the cast of The Sound of Music in London’s West End.
Summer is no stranger to the bright lights of the West End as she has recently appeared in the toe-tapping forties style comedy ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ and starred in the popular ‘Cats’ and ‘Guys and Dolls’. We’ve heard on the grapevine that Summer may possibly be taking over from “How Do You Solve A problem Like Maria” winner Connie Fisher when she finishes her contact in February 2008.
If you want to know all the gossip about Summer’s jump from small screen to the stage - keep checking back here.
For those who can’t place a face to the name, here is a clip from Hollyoaks backstage.
Stuck for gift ideas? Well look no further than Show and Stay! Whether you want to treat a loved one or just fancy treating yourself, we have THE Christmas gift package to suit any stocking.
Step one: choose a show
From the shining colours of Joseph’s coat to the wild plains of Africa in the Lion King, we have all the TOP West End shows for you to choose from. Dads, mums, daughters and sons - we have something for everyone.
Step two: choose your hotel and pre-theatre dinner.
We have a delightful range of two star to five star hotels in London and a mouthwatering selection of pre-theatre restaurants to sample.
Step Three: Adding an attraction.
Whether you want to see iconic London attractions or get in the festive spirit we have something for you. As Christmas is nearly upon us we have a great selection of festive attractions to add on to your package, including ice skating at the Tower of London and festive fun at Winter Wonderland Hyde Park.
Christmas in London is simply magical and chock-a-block with festive attractions, from Spitalfields Winter Festival to Trafalgar Square Tree Lighting - check out our Christmas events in London page for more information on these activities.
The People’s Choice award winners Lee Mead and Connie Fisher will duet this Christmas on a BBC1 Xmas special, descibed by the BBC as entertainment extravaganza - it’s certainly one to watch this festive holiday
Aired on Christmas day this 60 minute special will include an interview with the theatre legend Andrew Lloyd Webber and festive songs from the talented Denise Van Outen and John Barrowman.
Mead and Fisher’s duet is expected to form the centrepiece of the show, however the reality TV winners will also be reunited with some of the other finalists such as Lewis Bradley and Aoife Mulholland.
Fans of “Any Dream Will Do” and “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria” will absolutely love this christmas special, don’t miss your chance to see your favorite theatre stars singing festive classics this holiday.
Werner Von Trapp, a member of the family made famous by the legendary film The Sound of Music, has died in his home aged 91.
Werner, depicted by Kurt in his stepmother’s novel The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, was second oldest son of the Von Trapp children. Along with his six siblings, father and step mother, Werner comprised the world renowned Trapp Family Singers whom inspired the film The Sound of Music.
Werner and his family found home in the United States, in which he served in the United States Armed Forces and then became a dairy farmer before retiring in Vermont.
The legend of the Von Trapp family still lives on today with the West End version of The Sound of Music proving popular with both adults and children alike.
When Graham Norton let slip last night that Andrew Lloyd Webber may be deciding to do another TV casting show - our ears pricked up!
Music man Webber has a great selection of shows to choose from, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Evita and Bombay Dreams would all work and bring in budding actors from near and far.
However we all know that the legend himself has been writing a sequel to Phantom of the Opera and we couldn’t help but wonder if this is the next musical to have a TV talent show star as the lead?
We shall keep you informed of any more news leaks on this story, but for now here are some clips from the past two Webber reality TV shows
