When you hear the name of English theatre composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, you always associate him with his longstanding theatre hit shows like, "Cats", "Phantom Of The Opera", "Evita, "Jesus Christ: Superstar", "Love Never Dies", and the Tony-award winning "Sunset Boulevard" just to name a few.
And while live performances like Broadway, the West End theatres and Concerts have all been put on hold, he is making headlines these days not because he has written a new show but has willingly volunteered for a coronavirus vaccine and claims that he will do anything to assure the reopening of theatres safely.
His recent post on Twitter drew a lot of praise from the theatre and acting industries:
The performing arts is just one of the sectors in the entertainment industry that had to face huge challenges due to coronavirus measures which have shut theaters and other venues, and it seems that the Olivier and Tony and Oscar-winning composer is desperate to get shows up and running again.
The vaccine that Lloyd Webber is taking is part of the trials for a coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. It is one of a number of vaccines to have shown encouraging early results. Should it prove to be successful, a developed vaccine would be a huge step towards allowing many parts of public life to resume, including the reopening of live performances as well venues such as concert halls, stadiums, and theaters.
Over in the US, shows at Broadway theaters in New York will not be returning to the stage until at least January of 2021 next year. All 41 Broadway theaters have been closed since March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Broadway League has repeatedly extended the suspension of shows since that time.