HOUDINI Musical Still Coming to Broadway? Producers Seek New Creative Team

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, in late 2013, it was announced that Hugh Jackman had departed the upcoming stage musical based on America's greatest showman, Houdini. The project was originaly slated to come to Broadway in the 2013-14 theatre season, but it was later revealed that it would not arrive until 2015-16. According to the New York Times, the show still might have a life on stage, as producers are "trying to attract a new creative team and star to resuscitate the show."

One of the world's most fascinating figures takes center stage in Houdini, an original and contemporary look at the life--and death--of America's first superstar. Previously attached creative team members included three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, Aaron Sorkin, and Stephen Schwartz.

Jackman told NYT: "I wanted to find a great story about Houdini, but the show just never found the right size or shape. Creating a new original musical is the Mount Everest of the theatrical art form. That's why there are very few of them."

He continued: "What I didn't realize is it can take 10 years to get new musicals going. To get everything right with 'Houdini' - the script right, the music right, all the elements right, and the timing right - was very hard. And we couldn't get it right. Also, people had other jobs. I had jobs, Aaron had jobs, Stephen. It was taking an extraordinary amount of time."

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Harry Houdini a Hungarian-American illusionist and stunt performer, noted for his sensational escape acts. He first attracted notice in vaudeville in the US and then as "Harry Handcuff Houdini" on a tour of Europe, where he challenged police forces to keep him locked up. Soon he extended his repertoire to include chains, ropes slung from skyscrapers, straitjackets under water, and having to escape from and hold his breath inside a sealed milk can.

In 1904, thousands watched as he tried to escape from special handcuffs commissioned by London's Daily Mirror, keeping them in suspense for an hour. Another stunt saw him buried alive and only just able to claw himself to the surface, emerging in a state of near-breakdown. While many suspected that these escapes were faked, Houdini presented himself as the scourge of fake spiritualists. As President of the Society of American Magicians, he was keen to uphold professional standards and expose fraudulent artists. He was also quick to sue anyone who pirated his escape stunts.

Houdini made several movies, but quit acting when it failed to bring in money. He was also a keen aviator, and aimed to become the first man to fly a plane in Australia.