FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT REBECCA

Vanity Fair Online Extra - REBECCA Must-Read!

As an online companion to Vanity Fair's feature article on Rebecca the Musical's scandalous Broadway collapse, David Kamp takes readers behind the scenes at Rebecca's first and only rehearsal. (more...)

Vanity Fair Delves Into REBECCA THE MUSICAL's Scandals in June Issue

Vanity Fair has dedicated a June 2013 feature article to uncovering the scandals that led to Rebecca the Musical's Broadway demise. (more...)

Exclusive: Ben Sprecher Still Intends to Bring REBECCA to Broadway This Year; Rehearsals to Begin in October?

Lead producer of Rebecca, the Broadway musical that was cancelled last Fall, is still intent on bringing the show to Broadway this year. Sprecher told BroadwayWorld that the producing team has brought in an additional $2 million for the production. Another $7 million will need to be raised to reach the $15 million needed to bring the show to Broadway. If the show is to open by the end of 2013, the fundraising goal must be reached by the end of June, and if things go as planned, Sprecher intends to begin rehearsals in October 2013. (more...)

SEC Investigating REBECCA; Show Still Coming to Broadway This Year?

The drama surrounding Rebecca, the Broadway musical that was cancelled last Fall, continues to grow, as Bloomberg reports that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is now investigating what happened bewteen lead producer Ben Sprecher and potential investors for the show. The SEC is reortedly specifically looking into 'whether Sprecher misled a prospective investor, Larry Runsdorf.' (more...)

REBECCA Producers and Publicist Caught in Lawsuit Back-and-Forth

2013's Broadway drama continues to unfold surrounding the musical REBECCA. According to The New York Times, the publicist who formerly represented REBECCA, Marc Thibodeau, has asked the State Supreme Court to dismiss a lawsuit put forth by the show's producers that accuses Thibodeau of 'defamation and breach of contract and fiduciary duty' for allegedly 'scaring off' a last-minute investor. Thibodeau is arguing that he only warned the potential investor that REBECCA's producers had been taken in by a fraud scheme. (more...)

BREAKING NEWS: REBECCA Still Hoping to Make it to Broadway in 2013?

According to a new update from the New York Times, REBECCA's lead producer, Ben Sprecher, is hopeful that the show might make it to Broadway in the coming 2013 season. He told the Times that he believes the necessary funds to mount the show can be raised because of 'the widespread publicity and notoriety surrounding the show after the fraud scheme was revealed.' (more...)

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 19th, 2012

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Three theatrical radio plays called 'It's A Wonderful Life,' two Second City touring companies, Gilbert and Sullivan in rep, the Rockettes, Karen Mason in town, holiday films we fancy, Congo Square's 'Nativity' and a special holiday thought.... (more...)

REBECCA Update: Millions Must Be Raised or Returned by Year's End

Today, the Wall Street Journal reports that the stock broker has been under investigation since 2009 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, in 12 different cases. (more...)

REBECCA Cast Takes Part in Holiday Concert at 54 Below Tonight

It's the Broadway musical that was, then wasn't. Tonight, December 3, join the intrepid cast of the ill-fated Rebecca when they gather on the 54 Below stage for one night only in Keep the Home Fires Burning: A Very Manderley Holiday. (more...)

REBECCA Update: Investigation Into Hotton Began in 2009

Today, the Wall Street Journal reports that the stock broker has been under investigation since 2009 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, in 12 different cases. (more...)

REBECCA Update: Producers File Lawsuit Against Mark Hotton

Now according to the New York Post, producers of the show will file a $100 million lawsuit against Hotton, for taking 'tens of thousands of dollars in advances on commissions for bringing in non-existent backers.' (more...)

REBECCA Drama Update: Mark Hotton Held Without Bail and Called a 'Considerable Threat'

Called 'a considerable threat' to the community and held without bail, if convicted, Hotton, 46, could face 40 years in jail. (more...)

REBECCA Producers Have 10 Weeks to Raise $4.5 Million

Following REBECCA's cancellation on Broadway and the news that financier and stock broker Mark C. Hotton was arrested yesterday for his role in the show's collapse, Bloomberg reports that REBECCA's producers now have 10 weeks-until Dec. 31-to raise $4.5 million or face returning millions more to their investors. (more...)

STAGE TUBE: REBECCA Producer Ben Sprecher Speaks Out on CBS THIS MORNING

REBECCA, the new musical based on the classic novel by Daphne Du Maurier novel, was scheduled to begin rehearsals Monday, September 10 prior to an October 30 first preview and November 18 premiere at the Broadhurst Theatre. The show's producer, Ben Sprecher, spoke out on CBS THIS MORNING - view the full interview below. (more...)

REBECCA Scoop! Read the Whole Indictment for Mark Hotton's Arrest

Now, we've gotten our hands on the full 19 page criminal indictment. Hotton was arrested this morning for defrauding the show's producers of $60,000 and for an unrelated $750,000 real estate scheme which prosecutors said featured some of the same deceptions used in the Rebecca fraud. (more...)

Breaking News: REBECCA Middle-Man Financier Mark Hotten Arrested Today

The twisting tale of REBECCA's cancellation on Broadway made a new turn this morning with multiple news outlets reporting that troubled financier and stock broker Mark C. Hotton was arrested this morning at 6am for his role in the show's collapse. (more...)

REBECCA Producer Says Now Clear That Four Investors 'Never Existed'

According to the New York Post, Ronald Russo , lawyer for producer Ben Sprecher has now said that 'Sprecher had been led to "Abrams" by shadowy Long Island businessman, Mark Hotton, who told him Abrams died before he could hand over the dough, sources have said. There also were three other investors Hotton told Sprecher about who supposedly promised another combined $2 million for the show, the sources have said. But "following an extensive search over the last week, I can now confirm that there is no evidence whatever that "Paul Abrams" or any of the other three investors brought to this production by Mr. Hotton, ever existed," said Sprecher's lawyer, Ronald Russo. The lawyer said they conducted an investigation in both the US and England.' (more...)

Letter to the Editor: Anonymous REBECCA Cast Member Sounds Off

As previously reported, the Broadway production of REBECCA, which was to open this fall, has been delayed indefinitely and is now at the center of an investigation to determine if any criminal wrongdoing occured in the show's long road to Broadway. (more...)

REBECCA Cast Member Karen Mason Speaks Out on Producer Controversy - Remains 'Invincible'

This morning, October 3, the following letter was composed by one of the Principal cast members of REBECCA, Karen Mason, in hopes of clearing up the ongoing speculation of the cancelled Broadway prodution of REBECCA (more...)

REBECCA Producer Denies Fake Investor & New Production Being Developed

Now according to the New York Times, the United States attorney's office is investigating whether the investor ever existed in the first place. Sprecher told NYT: "I never made up or fabricated any investor, and I never made up Paul Abrams." He also revealed that a new production of Rebecca is in the works that he 'hoped to mount soon, on Broadway or elsewhere.' (more...)

OFFICIAL: REBECCA Is Delayed Indefinitely; Producers Blame Anonymous Email for Scaring Away New Investor This Week

Ben Sprecher and Louise Forlenza, producers for Rebecca, the Musical, announced this afternoon that they were left with no option but to postpone the show. A new timeline has not been announced. (more...)

Breaking News: Has REBECCA Cancelled Its Broadway Run?

The offstage saga of REBECCA the musical continues to twist and turn with drama of its own. Today, Michael Riedel reports exclusively in the New York Post that, according to his sources, the show 'has been cancelled due to a lack of financing.' (more...)

REBECCA Cast Set to Start Rehearsals on October 1?

As BroadwayWorld reported last week, REBECCA's lead producer Ben Sprecher recently confirmed the receipt of new financial commitments from investors to alleviate the $4.5 million gap in the musical's budget. Now according to the New York Times, the cast of the show has been notifoed that rehearsals will indeed begin on Monday, October 1. (more...)

REBECCA Producer Says Musical's $4.5 Million Investment Gap Filled

After sending an email to cast and creative team members as previously reported yesterday, September 20, REBECCA's lead producer Ben Sprecher has confirmed the receipt of new financial commitments from investors to alleviate the $4.5 million gap in the musical's budget, according to The New York Times' ArtsBeat blog. (more...)

REBECCA Producer Says Musical's 'Uncertainty Will Be Resolved Shortly'

According to The New York Times' ArtsBeat blog, producer Ben Sprecher of the Broadway musical Rebecca sent an email to the show's cast and crew today with details about the production's fate. (more...)