"Rebecca" gets CNBC "American Greed" episode

It's sad/interesting to see this story being detailed on CNBC's "American Greed" 8/11, at 10pm EST. It's incredible that "Rebecca" played all over Europe for years and got murdered on Broadway. The cast they had listed just would have been phenomenal. Julian Ovenden as "Maxim", Sierra Boggess as "Mrs." de Winter or were they to be "Mrs. Danvers" and the evil "Jack"? Any juicy truth out there?

This is a link to Bloomberg and the lawsuits. (The photo of the stage and ensemble looks wonderful) I'd also love to hear and see a Christopher Hampton score, Blakemore, Daniele, Zambello creative team.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-10-19/-rebecca-producers-sue-backer-mark-hotton-in-n-y-state-court

This is a link to the defunct "Rebecca" home page with an equally impressive "cast that never was..."

http://rebeccathemusical.com/cast

Maybe one day it will happen on Broadway.

Updated On: 8/5/16 at 11:44 AM

Thx neon, the BWW article is kind of...how can I say nicely...imo, let's say a little muddled. The cast lists are included but not defined as to what reading or production they were detailing for the article. But thank you for the other info; Brent Barrett and Sierra Boggess, I would definitely want to see those two together! Thx for the link; I'll have to see what other info is still out there.

ahahaha Mr HH, Sorry I missed that, but it sounds like it should be in that thread of funny lyrics, or guilty lyrics, whatever it is...

But it will be kind of interesting if the CNBC doc is accurate and what some other

people around Broadway (hint, hint, hint) may know is true or not. We will see.

Yes JohnAdams, I am totally in your corner; very very sad, especially the way things went down with timing, and everyone cast. I'm pretty smart but not a lawyer; so this may be an unanswerable question as I query this; Is it ever possible to file a lien against future profits of a property? That would most probably and definitely kill any chances of ever seeing it.

Again, a disgusting swindle that affected so many people.

The way the fundraising has been going post-all of this I wouldn't be surprised if a GoFundMe ad was placed at the end of American Greed for this. The sets/costumes are all built and of course the translations and orchestrations are all done. It is a shame, regardless of what you think of the actual musical.

I hope this show gets its chance in America. It's a very good score. Anyone know if the producer is still trying ?

GavestonPS said: "What was naive was posters' notion that theater financing is ever based on anything but a leap of faith (or an enormous subsidy from Disney)."

I'm not sure who or what you are referring to.

GavestonPS said: "We had this argument at the time, Hogan. In my experience, Sprecher's "willing suspension of disbelief" in a man who promised to be the key to getting the show up is pretty common in the world of independent producers. (Busby Berkeley only made the "phony investor" a turning point in about 15 film plots!)

It's only when your show is underwritten by Disney or (in earlier days) a record company that the books are as tidy and organized as those of a shoe importer.

God knows independent films are financed just as oddly, much of the time.

REBECCA was hardly the first show to move forward without having its entire financing in place."

What happened in this case is nowhere near typical; rather, it is unprecedented. I don't know a person in this business who would agree with you, but I respect your right to believe as you wish. P.S. I can think of plenty of shows that had nothing to do with Disney that arrived fully funded. (And others that didn't.)

MadonnaMusical said: "The real question is... when Rebecca finally does come to Broadway... will it be considered a NEW MUSICAL or a REVIVAL. It's been performed all over the world for so long now...



"

New musical since it has never been performed in the US and since the lyrics are also new (first ever translation into English if I am not mistaken )

FYI

Curtain Up! Light the Lights! The expose on "Rebecca" is on tonight.

You'll be sorely disappointed. The episode is not about REBECCA, it's about Mark Hotton. The last 17 minutes or so focus on his involvement with (and defrauding of) the Broadway production but that's it.

There really isn't any new information not already reported when it all went down. It primarily features Ben Sprecher's attorney discussing the issue, however Karen Mason and Nick Wyman do make appearances.

The only interesting tidbit touched upon was that it appears his wife was deeply involved with the fraud, as well. She would attend backer workshops/presentations with Mark and even brought a younger woman with her once who apparently claimed to be the "niece" of one of Mark's potential investors. Other than that, you didn't really miss anything...

I should also mention he submitted expense reports totaling roughly $60k or so, which he claims were incurred as a result of courting prospective investors; ex. billing the producers over $18,000 for an African Safari Trip he took with the mysterious "Paul Abrams," who we know never existed. In total, between the reimbursement and finder's fee ($7,500), he only made out with less than $70,000 and for what? About three years of jail, along with another 11 1/2 years for other fraudulent activities unrelated to REBECCA. His wife pled guilty as well but hasn't been sentenced yet.

It sounds like it's sprecher himself.

Updated On: 8/12/16 at 06:56 PM