The "Rebecca" drama continues...- Page 2

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 11:06am

Oh yes. It was meant to run in rep with Senator Joe. Needless to say, it didn't happen after Senator Joe closed after something like 3 previews.

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 11:31am

^

Yes. I saw one of these three previews. It was one of those bad beyond bad shows.

I would have liked to have seen Nimrod too, if it could have been anywhere in the same category as Senator Joe.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 11:35am

Senator Joe and Nimrod both went into rehearsal (and Senator Joe actually made it to the stage) before the whole enterprise collapsed. The shows were also meant to run in rep with a musical version of 'Tis Pity She's A Whore. Also, regarding the marquee at the Virginia, it's not a photoshop job. The Virginia was empty for a long stretch of time after the massive failure of Carrie in May 1988. (It took a while to get the stink out of the upholstery). Senator Joe and Nimrod were meant to go up sometime in December 1988 or January 1989, so I believe they took advantage of the empty marquee at the Virginia to give Nimrod some attention.

Here are a couple of news stories from the time, for the doubters among us.

LOS ANGELES TIMES on Adela Holzer's grand larceny charge
http://articles.latimes.com/1989-03-09/entertainment/ca-1120_1_pop-opera

NY TIMES on Senator Joe, Nimrod and 'Tis Pity She's A Whore
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/19/movies/on-stage.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS on the two Tom O'Horgan works. (This story says that the shows were going to play the Virginia, but I don't think that's correct. Senator Joe did play its three previews at the Neil Simon and I believe Nimrod was meant to join it in rep there).
http://articles.philly.com/1988-10-24/news/26271246_1_full-length-works-orphans-robbers

Updated On: 9/25/12 at 11:35 AM

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 11:37am

I hope they make a musical of this debacle but it will be far more entertaining than Rebecca ever could (because it ain't happening).

Also what kind of millionaire gets malaria in this day and age? They could have come up with a more plausible cause of death.

Updated On: 9/25/12 at 11:37 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 11:48am

Tsetse fly.

[wonkit]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 12:36pm

A millionaire who doesn't use a mosquito net.

[sparepart973]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 12:37pm

This is quite unbelievable. He's either really really stupid beyond any fathomable belief or he's simply lying. How could he accept to do business with a person he never spoke to or met?!

[bk]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 1:42pm

Sorry, there may be big trouble ahead for Mr. Sprecher for all the reasons stated early in this thread. He either lied to his investors, or did this as a publicity stunt - you don't find a 4.5 million dollar investor via e-mail only. Please. Of course, he'll be asked to provide proof of those e-mails and the IP addresses of them, should he have them, will be very easy to check. Has he begun paying the actors, as he promised?

[JMPlayer6]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 2:14pm

Saying this is not good would be a vast understatement!

For me: I had booked this for 11/10. After I saw that Telecharge was showing 11/13 as the first show, I called. I was told that Telecharge had not received anything official about any canceled performances, so could do nothing. When I pointed out that their own website had showed this starting 10/30 and now showed it starting 11/13, I was told that, while this fact was not disputed, there was still no official word and that was that. I was in NYC this last weekend, so I took my information with me, and stopped at the theater. I figured I had nothing to lose by going there and asking for a refund at the theater. The box office gave me my refund without hassle, and this morning I saw the refund on my credit card online.

I have no plans to re-book this until things settle down, if that happens at all.

[sparepart973]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 4:05pm

This is really strange, it's just absolute terrible business practice. If you are asking for someone to join you as an investor, you don't just take a "promise" email. You'd expect to see official documentation, such as a statement, or a bank letter providing proof of adequate funds. I run a business of my own and under no means is it a portion of the 4mil contribution, and know that absolutely no one in the real business world functions this way.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 4:12pm

I really feel badly for everyone involved other than, possibly, Sprechter. That poor cast has been through the ringer, and the designers, creative team, authors. Horrifying all around. And no, none of this makes sense. You don't presume to have 4.5M arriving via an email relationship. It's practically impossible to get that kind of backing face to face, even from a loved one or a past investor. Where's the paperwork?

[leefowler]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 4:25pm

It's hard to imagine a more transparent lie. Sprecher needed investors, so he created a rich man who was going to pony up millions, hoping to raise money this way. When the money didn't come in like he hoped, he said the man died. And that he never met him, never spoke to him on the phone. And the man never had an obituary. And the email address give to the Times of the rich man's "representative" was created 2 weeks ago.

This is going to get interesting. I just wish the investor was named Bunbury.

[kooky]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 4:42pm

THE ENTIRE STORY IS TRUE .....I understand also that making fun of a TRAGIC situation makes for fun blogging .... so enjoy yourselves THEATRE LOVERS ...

[Neverandy]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 5:03pm

We'll find out the truth when the inevitable lawsuits start rolling out. The Times article was basically asking for public speculation. I'm sure the other investors have all contacted their lawyers.
Unfortunately it is the actors who will suffer the most-especially the chorus members. Obviously they have cleared their calendars for this and now it looks like they will be unemployed. Hopefully the Union contracts have all been signed so that they will at least get the bond
Also there's not too much casting going on until after the 1st of the year, so lining up work is going to be tough. what a shame.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 8:18pm

Riedel must be pissed, the TIMES stumped him on this one.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 10:51pm

And Riedel comments:

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/rebecca_puzzle_39hfU2rhqPS0NuM9gtZWUL

[chewy5000]

Posted: 9/25/12 at 11:40pm

Season 3 of smash?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/26/12 at 1:52am

No, the posters on the boards would say:
"Unbelievable!"
"That would NEVER happen"

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 9/26/12 at 10:31am

I have some emails from really trustworthy Nigerian princes who are holding money from an inheritance from a relative I never heard of if I'd just send them my bank account information. I should hook them up with Sprecher.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 9/26/12 at 10:43am

^ I'm sayin'; either this guy got royally scammed and he was so desperate to play with the big boys he took the bait, or this is the biggest attempt at the shuck and jive I've ever seen.

[tazber]

Posted: 9/26/12 at 10:50am

I have to say that I'm kinda disappointed about the whole thing.

I know if it ever makes it to opening night it will get trashed (I could be wrong, but when was the last time a sung through show was well received?), but I feel like this was going to be a great guilty pleasure.

Oh well....

Question for the actors on here:

can the cast seek other work and audition or are they bound by a contract? And if so, at what point can that contract be considered null and void?

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 9/26/12 at 11:32am

rehearsals start on Monday

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 9/26/12 at 11:47am

Source?

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 9/26/12 at 12:01pm

a cast member

[sparepart973]

Posted: 9/26/12 at 12:16pm

It's actually not a sung through show. There is a good amount of dialogue.