Kim Scott Taken To Hospital

Andrew Lloyd Webber has warned that Broadway is facing a serious crisis and believes urgent action is needed to protect its future.

On Tuesday, producers confirmed that Cats: The Jellicle Ball, the Tony Award winning reimagining of Webber's classic musical Cats, will close at the Broadhurst Theatre on 8 August.

Soon afterwards, the legendary composer shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, saying he is deeply worried about the current state of Broadway and the challenges facing productions in New York City's famous theatre district.

"What is happening in front of all who care about the Great White Way breaks my heart. One of the last things (director) Hal Prince said to me was that it broke his heart that it was impossible for new or daring work to be originated on Broadway anymore," he wrote. "The truth is that, for any show, it makes practically no financial sense to come to Broadway with things as they are."

Webber also questioned whether a landmark musical such as West Side Story would even have a realistic opportunity to debut on Broadway under today's financial conditions.

"With its big cast and orchestra it would break even at well over $1 million weekly before any royalties to creatives. With its sets and costumes, the production could easily cost $30 million (£22 million). That was Hal Prince's point," the musical theatre legend continued. "Creators, writers and directors have been forced to take minimal royalties from new shows, often surviving on a fixed weekly fee rather than a royalty. It makes it impossible for young creatives to make a living from theatre alone."

Although Webber acknowledged that Broadway's biggest productions continue to make money, he argued that the industry cannot rely on only a handful of long running successes.

"As someone who is still as in love with Broadway as I was when I was a teenager, I beg the theatre owners, unions and producers to come together urgently to address what is a crisis coming to a head," he added. "Broadway is in dire danger of rivalling Hollywood's empty soundstages with increasingly dark theatres."

Several well known stars responded to the 78 year old's message in support. Nicole Scherzinger wrote, "You're exactly the person to say this to help drive the change that's needed!" while Rachel Zegler replied with a single red heart emoji.

Madonna has claimed the Number 1 spot on the UK Official Albums Chart for the first time in more than 10 years with her new album, Confessions II. The achievement makes her the first American female artist to earn a UK Number 1 album in five different decades. It also marks her 13th chart topping album in the UK, placing her level with Elvis Presley in fifth place for the most Number 1 albums in the chart's history.

Confessions II is Madonna's first UK Number 1 album since MDNA in 2012. Her long list of chart topping releases stretches back more than four decades and includes landmark albums such as Like a Virgin (1984), True Blue (1986), The Immaculate Collection (1990), Ray of Light (1998), Music (2000), and Confessions on a Dancefloor (2005). Alongside its success on the main albums chart, the new release also topped the Official Vinyl Albums Chart after selling the most vinyl copies in the UK over the past week.

It was also a standout week for London singer songwriter Sienna Spiro, whose debut album Visitor opened at Number 2. The release has become the biggest debut album by a British artist so far this year. Spiro also finished at Number 1 on the Official Record Store Chart, making it the best selling album across the UK's independent record stores.

Elsewhere on the chart, Deep Purple scored their 27th Top 40 album as SPLAT! debuted at Number 12. Pitbull's Greatest Hits climbed to a new high of Number 18 ahead of his headline performance at BST Hyde Park. BTS jumped 16 places to Number 21 with ARIRANG following two sold out shows at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance returned to the Top 40 at Number 27 as the band prepared for their Wembley Stadium concerts. Country duo The Shires earned their sixth Top 40 album with Bonfire at Number 28, while indie rock band mary in the junkyard celebrated their first chart appearance as Role Model Hermit entered at Number 30.

Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has revealed that he has started using a wheelchair during many of his public appearances, but he wants fans to know that it has not slowed his passion for music.

The legendary drummer shared the update in an Instagram post on Thursday (July 9) titled, “Something New To Let You Know About.”

“Dear Friends, Fans, Families, and people I’ve not met yet,” he wrote. “I’m announcing today somewhat sadly but nonetheless truthfully, that I’ve reached a place where publicly more and more I need to use a wheelchair, mostly in airports, or public events. I can still walk, let there be no doubt, but I can’t walk very far without needing to rest, meaning I need to sit down.”

Ward explained that he first began relying on a wheelchair from time to time about 18 months ago, mainly while traveling through airports. Since celebrating his 78th birthday in May, however, he has found himself using it more often. “I was a long distance walker, I’ve walked in many different parts of the world, and I’m still a drummer,” Ward continued. “I can still play pretty good for 78 years old.”

“My talents and ambitions, and my unyielding need to be artful, and to play drums, is still as strong as it was so many years ago now,” the rocker added. “I’m just saying if you see me in a wheelchair, I’m just catching a ride, I’m not in retirement or ill or giving up, or any of those thoughts that ignite when we see people in wheelchairs.”

Ward ended his message by assuring fans that he plans to “keep rocking until I’m dead.” He also said he wanted to be open about the change because keeping things hidden “can be dangerous to our health,” adding that he chose honesty and transparency instead.

Alongside the announcement, Ward posted a smiling photo of himself sitting in his wheelchair.

The update comes roughly a year after Ward reunited with Black Sabbath for Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell concert in Birmingham, England. Just two weeks later, Osbourne died at the age of 76 from cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease after also living with Parkinson’s disease.

“Where will I find you now? In the memories, our unspoken embraces, our missed phone calls,” Ward wrote on Instagram following Osbourne’s passing. “No, you’re forever in my heart. Deepest condolences to Sharon and all family members. RIP. Sincere regrets to all the fans. Never goodbye. Thank you forever.”

Ward co-founded Black Sabbath in the late 1960s and helped the band earn multiple Billboard 200 charting albums, including Master of Reality in 1971 and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath in 1974. Although he left the group in the early 1980s, he reunited with the band on several occasions over the years, most recently for Osbourne’s farewell performance.