Prince Back in the Saddle and Taking 'Paradise Found' to Broadway

Michael Riedel of the New York Post is reporting that Hal Prince, after suffering a stroke back in January, is back to work and already working on his next Broadway production. In an exclusive interview Prince states that he will be producing and directing his 61st Broadway show, Paradise Found and will be aiming for an opening sometime in the spring. Back in 2005 news broke of Prince lining up both what appeared to be a version of Paradise Found (then reported as Paradise Lost) and LoveMusik.

BroadwayWorld.com reported that the show would have a book by Richard Nelson, lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Johann Strauss II and Jonathan Tunick. Prince confirmed today that Johann Strauss II will be doing the music (though it would contain "no waltzing")- but did not confirm anything else in terms of the creative team.

He went on to state that the production would likely star Mandy Patinkin, John Cullum, Judy Kaye and Shuler Hensley.

The show is based off of Joseph Roth's novel "Tale of the 1,002nd Night". In the novel, which takes place in Vienna, the Shah of Persia falls for a beautiful countess. The Austrian officials arrange for him to spend the night with the "countess", but unbeknown to the Shah she is a prostitute who merely resembles the countess.

A visionary director of some of the most ground-breaking musicals of the last 50 years, he's won 21 Tony Awards (more than anyone in history), and is perhaps best known for directing The Phantom of the Opera – the longest-running show in Broadway history and the most successful stage show of all time.  His other works range from The Pajama Game, to West Side Story, to Damn Yankees. 

Hal is especially known for maintaining his long-running shows and has kept a close eye on the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera for its entire 20 year run – frequently stopping in to observe, give notes and rehearse the cast to make sure the show stays fresh.

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.