Stage | guardian.co.uk: The theatrical investor whose "death" caused the cancellation of a major Broadway musical was fabricated, the show's producers announced this week.
A figure called Paul Abrams, described as a prominent South African businessman, had supposedly pledged $2.5m towards a musical version of Daphne du Maurier's gothic novel Rebecca, and was expected to raise a further $2m from three other investors.
10 comments:
It's really hard to believe that something like this would still happen, especially happen to a show that is about to go up on Broadway. There are always those shows that one hears about in a smaller scale that are taken advantage of. More often than not, it is an up and coming star that is taken advantage of in some way. This is actually very shocking.
The hardest part of the whole thing is how completely dependent and group oriented the entire production team is. Theater can't function with a few people, everyone is part of this giant ant colony that works incredibly hard on every single detail. So Hoton not ruined it for an extraordinary amount of people not just a few. I too am curious as to what he can possibly gain from doing something like this?
I wonder what he hoped to accomplish by creating a fake investor and then killing him off. I understand how creating a fake investor could potentially get more investors interested in the project, but how could killing that investor off possibly pay off? It's a shame that something like this happened in our industry. I would never think that someone in the arts would have the capability to do something like that to their entire production and creative team. It's a shame.
I am still very skeptical of this entire production and this "death" of an investor. I have a feeling that they were attempting to create buzz about this show in ways that did not end up working. I personally don't understand why someone would create an investor, and then kill them off. That is not only screwing over the production, but also, messing with that person's integrity in the field. I am disappointed to see this show fall to the way-side, but I hope it all works out in the end.
Another week passes and the plot thickens.. I really hope that someone is writing the screenplay or the stage play surrounding this entire fiasco.
Something about the story just doesn't feel right though. What would Hotton gain from leading Sprecher to think that he secured 3 investors that weren't even real and continuing this scam for such an extensive period of time? If Hotton did concoct this scam, he really is a terrible criminal, because there was never a way out of this for him. He would have been caught regardless when no money materialised. However this would make more sense if the investors were real and Hotton took the money for himself and vanished. What did he think that he had to gain? I would love to hear his side of the story now, because his attorney seems to suggest that he is innocent (as he would even if he wasn't). I'm sure that more disturbing details will come to light as the weeks go by.
Dear Mr Sprecher,
As I've expressed in my previous attempts at communication, I an attorney at law in Malaysia. A deceased client of mine who shares the same last name as yours died as the result of a heart-related condition.
The Federal Government scheduled a time frame to settle all outstanding foreign debts especially compensations, lottery, next of kin, contract payments, and online transfer should be released to the beneficiaries and we wish to inform you that your over due payment request has been approved and scheduled to be paid to you through certified ATMCard which you will be required to proceed to any ATM Cash
Point within your location to withdraw $20, 000 per day till your outstanding
payment and other internal loans is completed.
I can be reached on (clearlyafuckingscam@@e-mail.ua) for more information.
Please contact me as soon as you can with the details below:
1. Valid Delivery Address
2. Full Names
3. Phone Number
4. A scanned copy of your ID or passport.
5. You're age and occupation.
My late Client has a deposit of US17.5 M left behind.
Best Regards,
Mr.EvenTheArtsAren'tSafe, "Attorney-at-NotQuiteTheLaw"
This is so weird. I want to know who gained anything from doing this. It seems like no one accomplished anything except for destroying a production. It does make a good story though, a lot like the producers. I hope someone turns this into a comedy. I am curious to find out more, I hope the story continues in the coming weeks. The plot need to be resolved and stasis restored!!!
Dear Mr.EvenTheArtsAren'tSafe, "Attorney-at-NotQuiteTheLaw,"
So glad to hear from you! We were just in the process of calling our cast and crew to tell them not to come into work tomorrow and scrapping the set we had half built when you brought this lucky circumstance to my attention! Oh lucky day!! Since I was a boy (or, well, at least since 10 months or so ago), it has been my most fervent artistic dream to bring the story of Rebecca to the happy tourists of New York, and now, finally, that dream may be fulfilled. I wonder though, will the $20,000 need to be in Malaysian Ringgits? I will have to speak with my financial advisor about that (I have a new one now, the last one didn't work out so well), as I'm worried about losing on the exchange rate. Speaking of which, I just want to mention, since we are talking, I do have just a couple of investment opportunities left in this production. I had been saving them for some dear relatives of mine, but since you have been so kind to bring this matter to my attention, as a token of appreciation, I would love to extend the opportunity to invest to you personally. Hurry, though, this won't last. If you're interested (and, I probably shouldn't tell you this, but since we're such good friends now, this show is basically GUARANTEED to make a handsome profit), please send $20,000 immediately to :
Ben Sprecher
General Delivery
Times Square Post Office
New York, NY
10036
I look forward to our new relationship. Oh, and I'll get that bank account info to you right away, just as soon as I get your check so I might verify the address and name with my accountant, she is such a stickler for these details, you know.
Do have a great day and good luck with your not-quite-a-practice,
Regards,
Ben Sprecher
Like its a shock to find out he never excited. There should be someone to check on these things. If i am investing money into a show you better believe i'm going to have someone check to see not only where its going, but to check the integrity of the production and the other investors.
I guess this go to show that no business is ever from fraud and people wishing to take advantages others. Although I do wonder why some of the investors would not feel suspicious of this before hand. I have been reading about this for a couple of weeks now and each time it seems that there were many clues that there was something weird. The worst part of this though are the designers and actors that now have put forth so much work and now need to find a new job.
I wonder how this thing can even happen. It would be disaster and awful moment to those members of crews and creative team. I really agree with what Jamila says. what would Hotton gain from screwing entire production, leading hundreds of people in nothing. I am very shocked that a broadway show has been ruined entirely by one person's childish and immature act. Entire crew and actor would have been definitely put a lot of time and effort to prepare this show. I hope that this thing never happens again by enforcing the law when writing a contract. Also, I hope that this show can still be going by other people's help.
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