Sir Tim Rice has hit out at his long time friend and collaborator Andrew lloyd Webber, for his plans to stage a new TV reality TV show around their hit musical ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’

It was announced last week that the composer had joined forces with ITV and would soon be starting auditions, to find a male singer and actor who could take on the lead role in a new arena tour of the stage show.

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice and the latter revealed that he has made his dissatisfaction with the idea of it being given TV treatment clear to Andrew, however it appears that his objections have been overlooked.

“I’ve had several meetings with Andrew and said that I don’t want this done but now it appears it’s been signed and sealed,” he told The Sun.

The star – also responsible for shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, and The Wizard of Oz – went on to claim that he hates how ‘downmarket’ TV talent shows have become and while he supports the idea of an arena tour, he doesn’t think it needs to be preceded by the TV series.

Rice continued:

“Andrew wants to rehash things all the time but I don’t think Superstar needs that tasteless reality television treatment. Those shows are relentlessly downmarket which is fine if the show is a lightweight bit of fluff.

“I am fully behind an arena show but I just don’t think you need another television series to do that.”

“It sounds tacky and I really don’t think Andrew should do it.”

Tim may hold the final ace though, as he explained that in the end, Lloyd Webber will have to get his approval as he has the power of veto and can refuse to allow the person chosen on the ITV show, to take part in the tour. Rice explained:

“They can’t cast the show without my approval. I have the right to veto casting. So if Andrew casts it on TV and I didn’t like the person, I could say so.”

Auditions for ‘Superstar’ will start next month and Andrew will be joined by the acclaimed Steve Balsamo – who took on the role of Jesus in the re-make of the show back in the mid-90s.

It has been claimed that X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger will also sit on the panel and may be cast in the role of Mary Magdalene for the tour.

Auditions for ‘Superstar’ will take place in various locations around the UK next month and you can get more details on the tryouts and apply for the ITV show here.

If you are trying out for this or any other TV show, we have a busy auditionees forum where hopefuls share tips, advice and information with one another and also chat about their behind the scenes experiences. You can join up or have a browse here.

Lastly, get all the latest Superstar news and join in the chat, on Facebook and Twitter!

View the original post Tim Rice threatens to ruin Andrew Lloyd Webber and ITV’s Jesus Christ Superstar series on Unreality TV

Andrew Lloyd Webber is reportedly considering Nicole Scherzinger as a judge on his new ITV1 talent show.

The musical genius is on the lookout for a talented female vocalist to join the panel of his new series, which will look for a male singer to take on the lead role in his new production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’

Insiders say he is interested in working with the brunette beauty on his latest venture, which was confirmed by ITV yesterday.

“Andrew is obsessed with Nicole — he thinks the world of her,” a source told The Sun.

“As soon as he got the nod his new show was going to happen, Nicole was his No1 target.

“He’s got a great working relationship with her and Nicole hugely respects his work.”

It was reported yesterday that the female actress who joined the panel, may also be playing Mary Magdalene in the JCSS tour and speaking on This Morning Andrew claimed that he had a very famous lady in mind.

Nicole and Andrew have been linked before, as in late 2009 it was reported that Scherzinger was working closely with Lloyd Webber on the musical Love Never Dies, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. Although she has not yet appeared in the show, she has recorded her own version of the title song – Love Never Dies.

The former Pussycat Dolls star certainly has enough big stage experience as in 201, she played the role of Maureen in the Hollywood Bowl production of the rock musical Rent, directed by Neil Patrick Harris.

Later that year she took part in the 35th anniversary of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and as part of the 25th Anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera, the singer performed the title song at The Royal Variety Performance.

She also has the reality TV experience, having spent most of the last year working on Simon Cowell’s X Factor USA.

It has been reported that Lloyd Webber will also be joined on the panel by Steve Balsamo, who starred as Jesus in the West End version of Jesus Christ Superstar in the mid 90s.

Do you think Nicole would make a good judge? Leave your comments below.

Auditions for ‘Superstar’ will take place in various locations around the UK next month and you can get more details on the tryouts and apply for the ITV show here.

Also, don’t forget, if you are trying out for this or any other TV show, we have a busy auditionees forum where hopefuls share tips, advice and information with one another and also chat about their behind the scenes experiences. You can join up or have a browse here.

Lastly, get all the latest Superstar news and join in the chat, here.

View the original post Superstar: Andrew Lloyd Webber lining Nicole Scherzinger up as new judge and Mary Magdalene? on Unreality TV

Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed why he decided to move from BBC to ITV for his new talent show ‘Superstar.’

The British composer and TV star will soon commence his search for a male singer and actor to take on the lead role in his hit musical ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ which will embark on an arena tour later this year.

The search will be televised on ITV, much in the same vein as his previous series ‘I’d Do Anything’ and ‘Any Dream Will Do’ did on BBC One.

Speaking on This Morning Andrew said that he hasn’t abandoned the BBC and would work with them again if the right project came up but explained that he already had working relationships with Elaine Bedell, ITV’s Director of Entertainment & Comedy and ITV’s director of television Peter Fincham.

Lloyd Webber said:

It’s not like a move for me, because TV is not my day job anyway. I’m sure I’ll do something else with the BBC if they ask me but Peter Fincham who is boss of ITV, he worked with me along with Elaine Beddell on the original casting programmes with the BBC and they asked me if I fancied doing something.

I said I would if we did something completely different.

Explaining the history of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, Andrew explained that the show started out as a rock project and a rock album, because back in the late 60s, no one would produce it for theatre. In this way, he is delighted that the show will finally be returning to it’s roots.

He added:

Originally when Tim Rice and I wrote the piece, nobody was interested in producing it for theatre at all….which probably was great news because we did get the money together to record the album. We made it as a rock album and we didn’t have anyone breathing down our necks saying “you’ve got to make a change here or you ought to do this.’ I’m sure if we’d went the theatre route, we wouldn’t be here talking about it today.

The original album came out in 1970 and the stadium tours in America – there were three going out at once – all went out in 1971. People slightly forget I think that it really started in rock arenas, it got slightly shoe horned into theatres.

What I want the TV show to reflect is, I want it to be about real rock. For example I want a rock band in the studio if I can find one, I want everything to be live.

Andrew also revealed that if they find enough talented hopefuls, he and his fellow judges may also cast the role of Judas during the series.

Auditions for the show will take place in various locations around the UK next month and you can get more details on the tryouts and apply for the ITV show here.

Also, don’t forget, if you are trying out for this or any other TV show, we have a busy auditionees forum where hopefuls share tips, advice and information with one another and also chat about their behind the scenes experiences. You can join up or have a browse here.

Lastly, get all the latest Superstar news and join in the chat, here.

View the original post Superstar: Andrew Lloyd Webber explains his move from BBC to ITV on Unreality TV

Andrew Lloyd Webber has admitted that he may end up casting the two main roles of Jesus Christ Superstar in his new ITV show.

The musical genius announced earlier today that he would be moving from BBC to ITV, to find a male singer who could star in his upcoming arena tour for his hit 1970 musical.

He is on the lookout for a rock tenor who can take on the role of Jesus in the stage show, however in an interview on This Morning, the star revealed that if they find enough talent, they may also award the role of Judas to one of the hopefuls.

Lloyd-Webber said that the premise of the new series excites him, as it will bring ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ back to it’s rock roots and explained:

This time what’s exciting me is that we are casting a rock arena tour, we will find a rock star and go right to my roots. We’ve got two real rock roles and it wouldn’t surprise me if we casted Judas as well.

On what he is looking for in the finalists who will reach the live stages of the series, Andrew added:

It’s a huge sing, it’s a three octave range. He has to be of enormous charisma but he also has to be a genuine, genuine rock tenor. Think Freddie Mercury, that’s the kind of range we are looking for.

Whoever plays this role will be opening in the O2, there are going to be big stars alongside. This won’t be just any old casting, i already have an idea of who is going to play Mary Magdalene and that is huge!

It has been reported that Andrew will be joined on the judging panel by Steve Balsamo – who took on the role of Jesus in the stage show in the 1990s – along with an as yet unnamed male star and whichever female actress is chosen to play Mary.

Auditions for the show will take place in six cities around the UK next month and you can find more details on the tryouts and apply for the ITV show here.

Also, don’t forget, if you are trying out for this or any other TV show, we have a busy auditionees forum where hopefuls share tips, advice and information with one another and also chat about their behind the scenes experiences. You can join up or have a browse here.

Lastly, get all the latest Superstar news and join in the chat, here.

View the original post Andrew Lloyd Webber reveals he may cast Judas in ITV’s ‘Superstar’ on Unreality TV

Andrew Lloyd Webber is bringing his search for new talent to ITV this summer and will be on the lookout for the star of his West End hit, Jesus Christ Superstar.

The musical genuis will be touring the UK starting next month, looking for hopefuls to take on the role and we have the details of how you can apply to audition for the ‘Cats’, ‘Phantom Of The Opera’ and ‘Starlight Express’ mastermind.

Andrew has left the BBC and will give his new search for talent an X Factor feel when it debuts on the commercial channel and this year, instead of taking the lead on a West End show, the winner will instead take central stage in an arena tour of the musical, performing to crowds of tens of thousands around the country.

If you are male, aged 18 and over and available to audition between Thursday 16th February 2012 to Saturday 10th March 2012, then you can apply for the show. It is open to everyone, amateurs and professionals, and if you make it through the initial rounds, you will pass onto a bootcamp and then hopefully judges houses, before finding out if you have made the live shows.

Auditions will take place in Belfast, Dublin, Cardiff, Manchester, London and Glasgow and you can apply by filling in this form.

Also, don’t forget, if you are trying out for this or any other TV show, we have a busy auditionees forum where hopefuls share tips, advice and information with one another and also chat about their behind the scenes experiences. You can join up or have a browse here.

Lastly, get all the latest Superstar news and join in the chat, here.

View the original post Apply to audition for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Superstar in Belfast, Dublin, Cardiff, Manchester, London or Glasgow on Unreality TV

Andrew Lloyd Webber is leaving the BBC and bringing his search for a star to ITV1 and insiders say the new show will have more than a hint of the X Factor about it.

It was revealed earlier this month that the musical genius would be switching channels this summer and would be looking for an actor and singer to take on the lead role in his hit musical ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, one with a rock edge to his voice.

Auditions for the show will take place nationwide this February and March and just like ITV’s other hit show The X Factor, hopefuls who make it through the first stage will be subjected to a bootcamp, where they will be put through their paces and further whittled down by the judges.

The last ones standing will then attend a judges houses type round, where the best performing 12 singers will be passed onto the live shows.

The female judge for the show has not yet been chosen, but will most likely be the actress who will play Mary in the stage spectacular, while also joining Andrew at the judging table will be Steve Balsamo, a Welsh singer who starred in the West End show for most of the 1990s.

Lloyd Webber said:

“Presenting a new, 2012 version of Jesus Christ Superstar for arenas is truly exciting. Some of the best performances of this show have been in rock venues and I’m thrilled to see the show return to its roots. ITV is providing the perfect platform for us to find a new, British Superstar.”

“It is the public who lead the casting process and they’ve got it absolutely right four times already. It’s been wonderful to see the careers of so many of the contestants blossom, so it will be especially fascinating to see who the public chooses as their Superstar!” he added.

Elaine Bedell, ITV’s Director of Entertainment & Comedy, says: “We are asking ITV viewers to help us find a new superstar – in every sense of the word. We’re looking for the kind of performer who can fill arenas – and produce a rocking performance to match.”

You can apply to audition for ‘Superstar‘ by filling in this form.

After watching the video below, we can’t help wondering why they ever replaced Steve…he is absolutely amazing!

Lastly, get all the latest Superstar news and join in the chat, here.

View the original post Andrew Lloyd Webber and Steve Balsamo will bring The X Factor to ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ hunt on ITV1 on Unreality TV

Nicole Scherzinger has admitted that she would rather work with the ‘legend’ that is Andrew Lloyd Webber than X Factor boss Simon Cowell.

The former Pussycat Dolls star had been hotly tipped as likely to land a judging role on the new American version of the TV talent show, however in an interview with The Mirror she made that seem quite unlikely by admitting that she’d rather be affiliated with musical genius Lloyd Webber on one of his BBC theatre shows.

Nicole said:

“X Factor is hot, but for me Andrew Lloyd Webber is the foundation. He’s where it all began. He’s a legend. He’s more theatrical.

“If there’s any way I can have a working and creative relationship with Andrew that would be my greatest honour.

“They are different shows. For X Factor, I think the intention to win is to become famous, whereas for theatre it’s a more rewarding prize.”

“I can’t say enough just how highly I regard Andrew Lloyd Webber,” she added. “I met him and his wife recently and they are absolutely lovely. Andrew has changed the face of musical theatre.

“He is so witty on his shows, too, like Over The Rainbow. I did Chicago before the Pussycat Dolls, so musical theatre is where it all began for me. Andrew knows more than anybody what he is talking about, so we should all listen to him.

“I did a song with Andrew, Love Never Dies, which would be perfect for the royal wedding.”

Do you think Nicole would be a natural fit for Lloyd Webber’s next reality TV venture? Leave your comments below.

View the original post X Factor: Nicole Scherzinger would rather work for Andrew Lloyd Webber than Simon Cowell on Unreality TV

Nicole Scherzinger has revealed that she has held talks with Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber about joining the panel of his new BBC reality TV show.

The former Pussycat Doll had acted as a guest judge on The X Factor last year and is thought to be a front runner for Simon Cowell’s new American series of the show. However, the ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’ singer admitted that she may sign with the BBC instead, as Andrew and his wife are close personal friends.

“We’ve been talking about doing some work together soon, on stage and on his new TV show. I would love it,” Scherzinger told The Sun.

“Andrew is a friend – he and his wife Madeleine are lovely. I’m in awe of him and inspired by him. Coming up in the musical theatre, we have a lot in common.”

On the possibility of landing The X Factor job, she added:

“I haven’t heard about X Factor. If Simon asked me, I’d do it.

“I had some reservations initially because it sounds like such a big commitment, but it’s a challenge I would be willing to take on.”

The newspaper implied that Nicole will sign with whoever offers her a job first.

View the original post X Factor’s Nicole Scherzinger in talks for new BBC Andrew Lloyd Webber show on Unreality TV

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber is to become a US TV star.

The composer – best known for writing musicals such as ‘Cats’ and ‘Evita’ and appearing on stage star search shows ‘Any Dream Will Do’ and ‘Over the Rainbow’ – will say goodbye to British television after getting offers from American network bosses.

The 62-year-old Oscar winner’s first programme will see him look for an unknown to play Dorothy in a new adaptation of ‘The Wizard of Oz’.

He said: “I don’t know if I’ll do any more in the UK. But a couple of the networks in the US have wanted to build something around what I do on TV, and I think with the ‘Wizard of Oz’ something is definitely going to happen there.”

Lord Webber is looking forward to taking on Simon Cowell’s ‘X Factor’ when it launches Stateside in 2011.

He added: “The ‘X Factor’ juggernaut is going to be huge there next year, but other networks are looking for something to go against it. Once we’ve found a Dorothy in the US, my instinct is to open the show in Kansas.”

Kansas is where the story of the ‘Wizard of Oz’ is set.

View the original post Andrew Lloyd Webber will bring ‘Over The Rainbow’ to America! on Unreality TV

After producing hit shows like Any Dream Will Do, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria, I’d Do Anything and this year’s Over The Rainbow, it seems that Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber is done with the BBC.

Sources report that the theatre mogul will not be making any more TV shows with the channel, but is instead considering a move across to ITV and the land of Simon Cowell.

A BBC source told The Sun: ‘Andrew’s three-year deal ends next year and nothing else is planned.’

‘There are no plans for a new series but if the right show came up it could happen.’

While Graham Norton added:

“It’s so hard setting these shows up, because you need Andrew. I’d love to do another, but I’m not holding my breath.”

If Lloyd Webber does do a bit of channel hopping, his new show may replace Cowell’s Britain’s Got Talent or X Factor, as it has been rumoured that one will be dropped due to Simon’s commitments on his new American version of his singing show.

But if his ITV and BBC plans don’t pan out, Lloyd Webber may just return to his day job of writing musicals. He recently said: ‘It’s not like I need a television career. I never thought of myself as somebody who was going to be on television. I love it, but I don’t need it.’

View the original post Andrew Lloyd Webber leaving the BBC? on Unreality TV