Kevin Stites News

It's the Broadway musical that was, then wasn't. On 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. For tickets, visit; http://54below.com/T_keephomefiresburning.html

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), following the recent successful five month run of Closer Than Ever, continues the celebration with a one-night only performance of the hit Off-Broadway musical revue, Starting Here, Starting Now, with lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire, on Sunday evening, December 2, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

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.

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.'

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.'

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.

REBECCA, the new musical based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier novel, has delayed the start of its rehearsals by two weeks due to the death of a key investor responsible for a $4.5 million investment pool in the production . REBECCA was scheduled to begin rehearsals Monday, September 10 prior to an October 30 first preview and November 18 premiere at the Broadhurst Theatre.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Casting news for ChiShakes' 'Sunday,' TATC's '42nd Street' and Paramount's 'Grease,' plus ALW and the eye-popping Marriott season, Chicago's first 'Q,' Super September along Belmont Avenue and much more!

The Hollywood Bowl's production of THE PRODUCERS ended its limited run last night, July 29, 2012. The cast featured Richard Kind as Max Bialystock, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Leo Bloom, Roger Bart as Carmen Ghia, Gary Beach as Roger De Bris, Rebecca Romijn as Ulla and Dane Cook as Franz Liebkind. Below, check out 'Springtime for Hilter' from the big production!

The Hollywood Bowl's production of THE PRODUCERS ends its limited run tonight, July 29, 2012. The cast features Richard Kind as Max Bialystock, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Leo Bloom, Roger Bart as Carmen Ghia, Gary Beach as Roger De Bris, Rebecca Romijn as Ulla and Dane Cook as Franz Liebkind. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you Part 2 of extensive photo coverage of the all-star cast onstage. Scroll below for Act 2 and the curtain call!

The Hollywood Bowl's production of THE PRODUCERS ends its limited run tonight, July 29, 2012. The cast features Richard Kind as Max Bialystock, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Leo Bloom, Roger Bart as Carmen Ghia, Gary Beach as Roger De Bris, Rebecca Romijn as Ulla and Dane Cook as Franz Liebkind. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you Part 1 of extensive photo coverage of the all-star cast onstage in Act 1, as well as Mel Brooks at the show!

The Hollywood Bowl's production of THE PRODUCERS kicks off tonight, July 27 and runs through July 29, 2012. The cast features Richard Kind as Max Bialystock, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Leo Bloom, Roger Bart as Carmen Ghia, Gary Beach as Roger De Bris, Rebecca Romijn as Ulla and Dane Cook as Franz Liebkind.

One of the biggest events in Los Angeles this summer is Mel Brooks' multiple Tony Award winning musical THE PRODUCERS in the home stretch of its much anticipated July 27th opening at the legendary Hollywood Bowl. Broadway's smash hit stars Richard Kind as Max Bialystock and Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Leo Bloom. And, Broadwayworld's own Michael Sterling (Los Angeles Correspondent for BWW TV) and Jerry Evans of the JLE Media Group, Inc. were on hand last Friday, July 20 at rehearsal to chat it up with all of the stars of the grandiose production.