Houdini musical in development, aiming for B'way

[Jordan Levinson]

Announced today. Looks like those seemingly annual Illusionists engagements might have some competition in the future.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-HOUDINI-Musical-Set-Sights-on-Broadway-Ramin-Karimloo-and-Laura-Osnes-Take-Part-in-Virtual-Reading-20201215

This sounds right up Jim Steinmeyer's or Paul Kieve's alley- I hope one of them gets involved with this (what's Houdini without illusions?), as much of the creative team has not been assembled yet. According to his website, director Federico Bellone is the winner of the Garinei and Giovannini Award as Best Young Director for Musical Theatre in Italy. This show would be his B'way debut.

 

 

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

I think it's telling that the press release (when the byline is "BWW News Desk" it is usually a press release reprinted verbatim) starts with the name of the Producer, who's office (or press rep) was directed to do that. Legit shows rarely put out a press release about a developmental reading. And rarely start press releases with their names mentioned before the creators or creatives.

[Kad]

There was a reading, but they won't announce the *writers*? That's very odd.

I have to assume this is the project that's been in the works for like 12 years, with various teams and people attached but never coming to anything.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/theater/the-musical-houdini-travels-a-bumpy-path.html

[Tag]

Remember when everyone here said Laura would never work again!  Maybe Chad Kimball should join this project?

[Alex Kulak2]

Has anyone seen the weird website?

https://www.houdinibroadwaymusical.com/

This is one of the most bizarre show sites I've ever seen. It's so incomplete, there's no reason to have this site live so early on.

It also mentions it's going to do over 20 illusions, as well as "a new appearance of an elephant on stage"? What the hell are they talking about? Is it going to be a big puppet that comes up through the ground, or is this going to be the peak version of the goat from Once on This Island?

[Sutton Ross]

No one has ever said Laura won't work again. Of course she will, as will Chad. Get a life. 

[Tag]

Alex Kulak2 said: "It also mentions it's going to do over 20 illusions, as well as "a new appearance of an elephant on stage"? What the hell are they talking about? Is it going to be a big puppet that comes up through the ground, or is this going to be the peak version of the goat from Once on This Island?"

Many questioned Julie Taymor's concept of an elephant onstage, and 20+ years later it still works.  You never know!

[HogansHero]

Tag said: "Remember when everyone here said Laura would never work again! Maybe Chad Kimball should join this project?"

I don't remember anyone here saying that about her. In fact, what I remember when the subject of her politics came up, I pointed out that she has been working all year in one of the cliqueiest corners of Broadway, 54 Below, and there was no indication that folks were shunning people just for being republican. Kimball, on the other hand and as has been rehearsed here ad nauseum, has done a great many things that are odious and specifically anathema around these parts. To lump them in the same pot is to betray a really bad misunderstanding of the political landscape. I think he will work somewhere; I do not think he will work here ever again. For mutual reasons. That said, I believe in redemption and if he came forward with a sincerely felt mea culpa, that could change but I do not think that is going to happen. Also bear in mind that when you look at him through the casting prism, he is not "necessary" for anything.

[Mr Roxy]

In the 60's there was a musical.in London called. Houdini Man of Magic Album long since out of print but is now out on CD

[A.J.]

Presumably this isn’t the Houdini musical Stephen Schwartz has been writing? Otherwise they surely would have announced his involvement, right?

[Fan123]

^^Skimming that NYT article linked above, it looks as though Stephen Schwartz was attached to a Houdini musical at one point, but no longer.

As for this recent reading, I'm not sure if it was for the same musical as that long-gestating one. But this 'new' show looks to be the same as that represented by the below clips from 2019. These clips may not accurately represent anything about the final show though, if the creative team is in flux. Ugh, confusing.

Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvjbjBIFj8w

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trgsdk8KufU

 

[Lot666]

Ramin Karimloo talked about this musical several years ago.

[A.J.]

Two songs from Schwartz’s Houdini were featured in a revue show he produced with Princess Cruises (part of a multi-show deal). 

[HogansHero]

itsjustmejonhotmailcom said: "I think it's telling that the press release (when the byline is "BWW News Desk" it is usually a press release reprinted verbatim) starts with the name of the Producer, who's office (or press rep) was directed to do that. Legit shows rarely put out a press release about a developmental reading. And rarely start press releases with their names mentioned before the creators or creatives."

It is also a good idea that, wherever you mention a producer, the parenthetical credit provided be correct. This producer was not a producer of The Last Ship. 

[fashionguru_23]

Hogan, they are listing Karl Sydowas producer of the revision tour of "The Last Ship" that played Toronto, as was going to play California the past winter.

[yankeefan7]

"I don't remember anyone here saying that about her. In fact, what I remember when the subject of her politics came up, I pointed out that she has been working all year in one of the cliqueiest corners of Broadway, 54 Below, and there was no indication that folks were shunning people just for being republican."

Somebody posted about her being religious/conservative and wondered if she might be canceled. I posted something along the lines of wondering why she has not been on Broadway since "Bandstand" and that she had mentioned she has been auditioning for 2 1/2 years. I said it could not be due to a lack of talent (lol) and wondered why. As you mentioned above which I did not know at the time, she has worked regularly at "54 Below" so obviously she was not in danger of being canceled. In addition, she now is part of "Houdini" and I am personally thrilled.

[Kad]

fashionguru_23 said: "Hogan, they are listing Karl Sydowas producer of the revision tour of "The Last Ship" that played Toronto, as was going to play California the past winter."

So it's technically true, just misleading. Another great sign for this project!

[Plannietink08]

Is this the same Houdini musical that Hugh Jackman was attached to a few years ago?

[Call_me_jorge]

A.J. said: "Presumably this isn’t the Houdini musical Stephen Schwartz has been writing? Otherwise they surely would have announced his involvement, right? "

Wasn’t this the show Hugh Jackman had to dropout of because he didn’t have enough time to originate a musical?

[darquegk]

Mika was working on one briefly too.

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

HogansHero said: "itsjustmejonhotmailcom said: "I think it's telling that the press release (when the byline is "BWW News Desk" it is usually a press release reprinted verbatim) starts with the name of the Producer, who's office (or press rep) was directed to do that. Legit shows rarely put out a press release about a developmental reading. And rarely start press releases with their names mentioned before the creators or creatives."

It is also a good idea that, wherever you mention a producer, the parenthetical credit provided be correct. This producer was not a producer of The Last Ship."

Agreed. I have a suspicion that the press release was written by a producer and not a publicist.

[A.J.]

https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/ramin-karimloo-laura-osnes-houdini-musical_53034.html

Some additional info here. Former working title was “The Impossible Man”. Lots of press info from Aug 2019 when this production was originally announced: https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/THE-IMPOSSIBLE-MAN-Houdini-Musical-In-Development-20190821

This presumably confirms this project is separate from the Hugh Jackman or Stephen Schwartz iterations we’ve heard about.