The producers of REBECCA, the new musical based on the classic novel by Daphne Du Maurier novel (later turned into an Oscar-winning film by Alfred Hitchcock) announced this morning that the production has been postponed until next season. REBECCA was slated to open Sunday, April 22 at the Broadhurst Theatre, with previews beginning March 27.
Said lead producer Ben Sprecher, “It is with great disappointment that we have made the decision to postpone the Broadway debut of this phenomenal musical until next season. REBECCA is a grand and spectacular musical requiring substantial capitalization, and it’s no secret that in this very negative economic climate, raising money for Broadway has become even more difficult and laborious than it has historically always been. We are very close to meeting our financial goal, but we just ran short of time to complete capitalization with rehearsals slated to begin in two weeks. We feel that REBECCA is too special of a musical to short change in any way. It is our responsibility to the creators of this show, to our cast, our partners, our investors and our vendors that the complete financing is in place before rehearsals begin. REBECCA on Broadway must have the proper chance to continue the successful track record it currently enjoys worldwide. My co-producers and I remain very committed to bringing this wonderful show to New York next season.”
REBECCA features original book and lyrics by Michael Kunze, music by Sylvester Levay, English book adaptation by two-time Tony Award winner Christopher Hampton (Sunset Boulevard), English lyrics by Hampton and Kunze, and direction by Tony Award-winner Michael Blakemore (Kiss Me, Kate; City of Angeles; Noises Off) and Francesca Zambello (Little Mermaid). Musical staging is by multiple Tony-nominated director/choreographer Graciela Daniele (Ragtime). Scenic design is by Peter J. Davidson, costumes by Jane Greenwood, lighting by Mark McCullough, special effects by Gregory Meeh and projections by Sven Ortel. Musical direction and supervision is by Kevin Stites.
REBECCA is the story of Maxim de Winter, his new wife (“I”) and Mrs. Danvers, the controlling and manipulative housekeeper of Maxim’s West Country estate of Manderley – where the memory of his first wife, the glamorous and mysterious Rebecca, still casts a shadow.Announced for the cast of REBECCA were Sierra Boggs (“I”), Tam Mutu (Maxim deWinter), Karen Mason (Mrs. Danvers), James Barbour (Jack Favell), Howard McGillin (Frank Crawley), Donna English (Beatrice de Winter), Nick Wyman (Giles) and Henry Stram (Ben).
REBECCA had its world premiere in 2006 at Vereinigte Buhnen Wien in Vienna, where it played to sold-out houses for more than three years. Vastly successful productions of REBECCA have also played Budapest, Hungary; Bucharest, Romania; Helsinki, Finland; Stuttgart, Germany; St. Gallen, Switzerland and at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo.
The producers of REBECCA are Ben Sprecher, Louise Forlenza, The Shubert Organization, David Mirvish/ DC Tours Pty Limited, Nanda Anand and Peter Bogyo, in association with Tony Fusco, Larry Feinman and Peter Bezemes, by special arrangement with/and based on the Vereinigte Buhnen Wien GmbH production.
