Andrew Lloyd Webber diagnosed with prostate cancer

LONDON - A spokeswoman for Andrew Lloyd Webber says the composer has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The announcement came in a statement Sunday which said "the condition is in its very early stages. Andrew is now undergoing treatment and expects to be fully back at work before the end of the year."

Lloyd Webber, 61, recently announced plans for a sequel to his phenomenally successful musical "Phantom of the Opera." Called "Love Never Dies," it is scheduled to open in London's West End in March and follow on Broadway in November.

He said the sequel resulted from "unfinished business."

Lloyd Webber's other musical hits have included "Cats," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "Evita." He was knighted in 1992 and named to Britain's House of Lords in 1997.

• 

  Andrew Lloyd Webber, left, stands with Iranian-born Canadian Ramin Karimloo, right, who plays the Phantom, and Sierra Boggess from U.S., who plays Christine Daae, as they promote his new production 'Love Never Dies' at a theatre in London, Thursday Oct. 8, 2009. (AP / Matt Dunham)