Daphne Du Maurier News

New BroadwayWorld.com Poll - Will REBECCA Ever Find Its Way to Broadway?

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.'

THEATER TALK - Fall 2012 Season Preview will premiere at 1 a.m. today, October 19 (2012; early Saturday morning) on Thirteen/PBS, followed in New York City on CUNY TV* Saturday at 8:30 pm, Sunday at 12:30 pm, and Monday at 7:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 7:30 pm.

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

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.

THEATER TALK - Fall 2012 Season Preview will premiere at 1 a.m. on Friday, October 19 (2012; early Saturday morning) on Thirteen/PBS, followed in New York City on CUNY TV* Saturday at 8:30 pm, Sunday at 12:30 pm, and Monday at 7:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 7:30 pm.

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.

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.

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.'

One of the things that I adore most about this theater company is they are constantly evolving and they learn from their mistakes. REBECCA dots every 'i' and crosses every 't' and made for a thoroughly enjoyable evening of suspense.

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.

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

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.'

Toby Jones and Sienna Miller Star in THE GIRL, an HBO Films Presentation in Association with BBC, Debuting Oct. 20 The film tells the story of Alfred Hitchcock's obsessive relationship with his leading lady Tippi Hedren during the making of 'The Birds' and 'Marnie.'

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.

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.'

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.

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.

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.