Andrew Lloyd Webber confirms new show The Illusionist will open next year, while Jamie Lloyd hints at next musical wish

Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed more details about his forthcoming new musical – and it’s great news for UK theatre fans.

Lloyd Webber spoke to the Tony Awards press pool last night after picking up the award for Best Musical Revival for the Broadway transfer of Jamie Lloyd’s production of Sunset Boulevard, led by Nicole Scherzinger.

Speaking of future collaborations with Lloyd, the Cats composer said: “We’re doing a new show together after Evita, called The Illusionist and that’ll open in London, I reckon, in September of next year. It’s produced by the wonderful Michael Harrison, who produced Sunset and is producing Evita.” 

The show is inspired by Steven Millhauser’s story Eisenheim the Illusionist and the 2006 film, though Lloyd Webber has previously stated that the stage adaptation will take the idea in a fresh direction rather than closely follow the movie.

The story is set in Vienna around 1900, centred on a magician whose performances challenge societal norms. The book is being written by Academy Award‑winning screenwriter Chris Terrio (Argo, Justice League), and lyrics are by singer‑songwriter Bruno Major.

You can listen to Lloyd wax lyrical about his collaboration with Lloyd Webber in our dedicated (and free!) podcast here:

Lloyd also discussed which Lloyd Webber show he’d love to tackle next, saying without hesitation: “Jesus Christ Superstar. I’d love to do it at some point. There was an amazing production in London not long ago at which I saw the US as well [which opened at Regent Park Open Air Theatre in 2016, with a new revival due in Newbury this summer]. So I don’t think that will happen any time soon. But maybe one day Andrew will entrust that one to us as well.”

In the meantime, Evita, led by Rachel Zegler, is poised to open in previews at The London Palladium.