Andrew Lloyd Weber Misses ‘Bad Cinderella’ Opening To Be With Sick Son

The ball is coming to Broadway

Andrew Lloyd Webber – a sir, a lord, a winner of Grammys, Emmys, Oscars, Tonys, Oliviers – was asked to play King Charles’ coronation music.

And he created such treasures as “The Phantom of the Opera”, “Cats”, “Evita”, “School of Rock”, “Sunset Boulevard”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.

His latest musical, Bad Cinderella, opens tonight at the Imperial on Broadway.

But he told me, ‘I won’t be there to see my show. I won’t even be in New York. I’ve been to each of my Broadway and West End openings. It’s the only one I’ll ever miss.

“And that’s because I’m a father first.”

In London, he spoke on the phone about his eldest son, 43, who is seriously ill.

“I adore Nicholas. He was my rock. my anchor Talented musician, he writes great music. Great sense of humor, huge help for me during lockdown when we were making our ‘Cinderella’ album. He has now been transferred to a nearby hospice. I always think of him this weekend.

“The cancer goes up and down from day to day. He came over the weekend and I was with him this morning. Even today, very ill, he still smiled and said, “I hope your show goes well.”

“He has a wife. One-year-old son. So much to live for.”

One moment, then: “I’ve done my life. I would trade places with him if that were possible.

“We all love him. Our whole family was together. My wife Madeleine was so supportive. We’re all together at home all weekend. My three youngest children [his step-siblings] consider him their brother.

“I can’t believe what he went through – 30 rounds of chemo.”

Creating Bad Cinderella was a long project, so why didn’t he postpone the Broadway opening?

“You can not. No point. Postpone a week? Nicholas rallies one week, then declines the next – so there’s no telling when is a good time. He is very weak. Can speak but is very ill. He’s sedated while I’m there.

“Saturday night my eldest child came on the critical list. He knows he’s going nowhere. He is sane, but the condition seems to have its own way and time.”

At today’s premiere of “Bad Cinderella” he only said: “I don’t want to talk about that. My place can only be with my son. I can’t trade places with him – or I would.”

“Bad” girls

The show’s beautiful lead lady, Linedy Genao – she is of Dominican descent – came to my house in a red cashmere sweater that said “BAD CINDERELLA”. I was then handed a similar red cashmere sweater, except that it had the words “Bad Cindy” engraved on it.

So, while none of us are wearing them tonight – Linedy’s opening gown is a gift from Oscar de la Renta – we hope to see you at the Imperial Theatre. Curtain time is 6:30am. Andrew’s daughter Imogen will do the honors. A

LW’s Broadway friends and staff will be in power to support them.

And that’s because Lord Lloyd of Sydmonton’s latest musical – after a run in London’s West End – premieres tonight – only in New York, kids, only in New York.