Broadway Journal

‘REBECCA’ TESTIMONY ENDS ON DISCLOSURE OF WEAK SALES

May 5, 2017 by Philip Boroff

Producer Ben Sprecher/Steven Hirsch

EXCLUSIVE: On Sept. 27, 2012, four days before Rebecca the Musical was to begin rehearsals, it sold 27 tickets.

The day’s “wrap,” or sales, was $2,952.50, according to an internal production document introduced this week in the Rebecca civil trial.

Its advance sale was $1.035 million, the document said. “That would be a weak advance,” testified Aaron Lustbader, a partner at Foresight Theatrical, the general manager of such shows as Phantom of the Opera. Lustbader wasn’t involved in Rebecca, which was postponed for the third and final time a day before rehearsals were to start. Big musicals typically wrap $50,000 each day before previews, he testified yesterday.

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SPRECHER CHOKES UP TESTIFYING ABOUT ‘REBECCA’ COLLAPSE

April 28, 2017 by Philip Boroff

Producer Ben Sprecher broke down on the stand today at the Rebecca civil trial in lower Manhattan, while recounting being forced to shutter the $12 million musical on the eve of its first rehearsal.

“The whole thing was a tragedy,” Sprecher testified, speaking with apparent difficulty. “I don’t know what to say.”

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‘REBECCA’ COURTROOM BOMBSHELL: SPRECHER LOSES RIGHTS TO MUSICAL, OWES INVESTORS $5.5 MILLION

April 24, 2017 by Philip Boroff

UPDATE: Producer Ben Sprecher’s 11-year quest to bring Rebecca the Musical to Broadway is over. Last year, he lost the rights to produce the show and now must repay his investors $5.5 million, his lawyer said in opening statements in the civil trial against his former press agent, Marc Thibodeau.

Sprecher, his partner, Louise Forlenza, and their lawyer, Erik Groothuis, all declined further comment. An email to licensor VBW International wasn’t returned.

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