Sir Tim Rice to Receive Olivier Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre

By Mark Shenton
16 Mar 2012

Tim Rice
Tim Rice
Photo by Krissie Fullerton

Sir Tim Rice will receive this year's Special Award at the Laurence Olivier Awards in celebration of his outstanding contribution to musical theatre. He will be presented the award at the annual ceremony, which takes place April 15 at the Royal Opera House.

Working with Andrew Lloyd Webber, he wrote lyrics for Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. The latter two are currently in previews to open on Broadway in new productions that respectively originated at Stratford, Ontario and the West End.  They also worked together to write new additional songs for the current London production of The Wizard Of Oz.

He has also collaborated with Abba's Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus on Chess, which ran in the West End and briefly on Broadway, and has also collaborated with Sir Elton John on The Lion King (film, Broadway and West End) and Aida (Broadway).

As previously reported, he is currently working on a musical version of the film "From Here to Eternity."

As well as winning an Oscar, Golden Globe, Tony and Grammy Awards, he has also been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, induction into the Songwriters’ Hall Of Fame, and was made a Knight Bachelor in 1994.

For further details on the Olivier Awards, visit www.olivierawards.com.