Is Rebecca Back on Track for Broadway?

Rebecca, the oft-delayed, scandal-plagued musical inspired by the novel by Daphne du Maurier, might still make it to Broadway. Lead producers Ben Sprecher and Louise Forlenza have announced that the show's rights have been extended through December 31, 2014, and the production is "eyeing a winter 2014 start." Sprecher and Forlenza have now been joined on the producing end by Steve Colson, Peter Bezemes, and Barbara Sellinger.

The beleaguered production was set to open at the Broadhurst Theatre at various points throughout 2012. The frequent postponements resulted from a lack of funding as well as an outlandish scheme involving fake investors, deaths from malaria, an untrustworthy middleman who is now serving time in jail, and a Broadway publicist accused of scaring potential investors away.

Michael Blakemore and Francesca Zambello are still set to codirect Rebecca, which features an original book and lyrics by Michael Kunze, music by Sylvester Levay, an English book adaptation by Christopher Hampton, and English lyrics by Hampton and Kunze. The creative team includes Graciela Daniele (musical staging), Peter J. Davidson (scenic design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Mark McCullough (lighting design), Peter Fitzgerald (sound design), Tom Watson (hair and wig design), Gregory Meeh (special effects), Sven Ortel (projections), and Kevin Stites (musical direction and supervision).

Jill Paice (Matilda The Musical) and Ryan Silverman (Chicago) were set to lead the cast of the musical as "I" and Maxim de Winter, respectfully. The principal company was also to include Karen Mason, Howard McGillin, James Barbour, Donna English, Nick Wyman, and Henry Stram. No casting or additional information about this latest expected Broadway bow have been announced.