Broadway icon Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed on Saturday that his eldest son is seriously ill with stomach cancer.
In a statement, the famed English composer and theater impresario said he is «absolutely devastated» by his son Nick’s condition.
«As my friends and family know, he has been battling gastric cancer for the last 18 months and now Nick is hospitalized,» he said.
Webber said that due to his son’s hospitalization, he hasn’t been able to attend recent previews of his new Broadway musical, «Bad Cinderella,» and may not be able to make it to opening night this Thursday.
«We are all praying that Nick comes around the corner. He is fighting valiantly with his indomitable humor, but right now my place is with him and the family,» Webber said.
Best known for Broadway shows like «Cats» and «The Phantom of the Opera,» Webber is an EGOT winner, «having received an Emmy, four Grammy Awards, an Oscar and eight Tony Awards,» according to his website.
Webber was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1992 for his contribution to the theater.
Her new musical, «Bad Cinderella,» is an updated version of Cinderella, where the princess is a maverick who rebels against traditional norms of beauty and behavior.
The show stars Linedy Genao, making her the first Latina to have a leading role in an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.