Sierra Boggess is no longer headed to Manderlay in the upcoming musical adaptation of Rebecca. Even after producers of the delayed show announced the production was back on track for a fall Broadway opening, Boggess opted not to continue with the project. Instead she'll star in the ensemble musical Prince of Broadway, which pays tribute to the legendary career of director Hal Prince. Broadway.com recently caught up with Boggess to discuss her decision to move on to the new project.
“I am so excited about Prince of Broadway,” Boggess said. “Of course, it’s very difficult. I have been involved with Rebecca since 2009, but Hal is a very dear friend of mine. [Prince directed Boggess in the Las Vegas version of Phantom, in which she played Christine Daae.] With the year Rebecca has had, it was obviously a very difficult decision. It was hard because I had to turn Hal down [for Prince of Broadway] when I was doing Rebecca. Now I know this is all working out for the best, and I’m really excited to be doing Prince of Broadway."
Prince of Broadway will co-star Tony winners Linda Lavin, LaChanze and Shuler Hensley as well as Sebastian Arcelus, Emily Skinner, Daniel Breaker, David Pittu, Caroline O'Connor, Amanda Kloots-Larsen, Josh Grisetti and Richard Kind. The musical will feature material from productions directed and produced by Prince, who will helm the revue alongside five-time Tony winner Susan Stroman; the show will be choreographed by Stroman. Featuring a book by David Thompson, Prince of Broadway is scheduled to open in November. No theater or official dates have been announced.
Based on the classic novel (later turned into an Oscar-winning film by Alfred Hitchcock), Rebecca was initially set to open at the Broadhurst Theatre on April 22, starring Boggess as "I" opposite her real life fiance Tam Mutu as Maxime de Winter. The show is now aiming to open at the Broadhurst on an unspecified date this fall. No new casting has been announced at this time.