US Edition 
Andrew Lloyd-Webber says political correctness is stifling creativity
Andrew Lloyd-Webber has bemoaned the rise of political correctness in the arts, claiming some of his greatest musicals would never be written today for fear of offending minorities.
Together with Tim Rice, Lord Lloyd-Webber began his theatre career with two shows that drew on Christian tradition - Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Now theatreland's most successful composer, who is currently planning a new BBC talent search to find a Dorothy for a West End production of The Wizard of Oz, has spoken of his fears that political correctness is stifling creativity.
In an interview looking back on his triumphs, Lord Lloyd-Webber said: "I'm lucky to have had such a successful career. I'm actually lucky enough to have always done as I want.
"I look back at when I was younger and ask myself would I have written an opera with Tim Rice? So many people nowadays are obsessed with things offending people. Today people say you can't do this because it will offend that community, and then you can't say this because the Muslims will be offended by it and we'll end up being talked out of it. Talked out of ideas. Whereas when I was 20 I didn't think about those things - you could just do it."
Rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar was controversial in its day. Its 1971 Broadway debut was met with protests by Christian groups who believed it was blasphemous and Jewish organisations who alleged it was anti-Semitic.
However, the show went ahead regardless, followed by a West End production in 1972 and a film in 1973. Lord Lloyd-Webber went on to dominate theatreland with shows including Evita, Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.
This Sunday, some of the stars he has created - including Elaine Page, Lee Mead and Connie Fisher - will celebrate his 60th birthday with a concert in London's Hyde Park.
His latest project is a sequel to Phantom of the Opera, which has led him to turn down the offer of another Saturday night television talent show this year. However, he has agreed to a show based around The Wizard of Oz next year and told Closer magazine: "I will do the search in 2010 to find Dorothy and possibly Toto the dog."
The composer has found leads for The Sound of Music and Joseph via such shows, but admitted that I'd Do Anything, his recent search for stars to appear in Oliver!, was less of a success. "I think Oliver didn't connect half as well with the public," he said.
• The full interview is at www.closeronline.co.uk