American Theatre Wing to Honor Andrew Lloyd Webber at Annual Gala

The American Theatre Wing has announced that it will honor Andrew Lloyd Webber at its annual gala, to be held on Monday, September 24, at Cipriani 42nd Street.

"We are honoring Andrew for his immeasurable artistic contributions, and also for his unwavering commitment to arts education," Heather Hitchens, American Theatre Wing president and CEO, said in a statement. "The work he is doing on behalf of underserved young people is absolutely vital to the future health of both our industry and our society. We all feel incredibly lucky to count him as one of our most valuable partners on this front, and the work that we've accomplished together is some of the most meaningful, personally satisfying work we've ever done."

The funds raised at the gala will provide support for the Wing's programs, which champion theatrical excellence and ensure that American theater has a dynamic and diverse future. In 2016, Lloyd Webber gave the organization a $1.3 million, three-year grant to support theater education opportunities for underserved young people and public schools across the US.

The composer of Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, and The Phantom of the Opera is celebrating his 70th birthday this year, marking it with, among other things, the recent publication of his autobiography Unmasked.