ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER - LLOYD WEBBER DEFENDS HIS MARIA

LLOYD WEBBER DEFENDS HIS MARIA

SIR ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER has rubbished reports his TV talent search to find an actress to play the lead role of MARIA in a London production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC will not provide the star with regular performances. CONNIE FISHER, 23, has landed the coveted role after winning British television show HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA? on Saturday (16SEP06). However, Lloyd Webber insists understudy EMMA WILLIAMS will only perform two out of the musical's eight planned weekly performances, and that Fisher will be onstage for the other six. He says, "In the West End musical world it's absolutely normal for a younger leading lady to sing only six out of eight possible performances a week. "Connie is only 23 and we have to consider what is best for her career in the longer run. "We certainly don't want her ending up like JULIE ANDREWS, who strained her voice when young and can no longer sing."