A long-gestating Broadway revival of the 1950s MGM musical Singin’ in the Rain has been shelved. The production previously delayed its fall 2016 New York bow,.
The revival was to be an import of the Théâtre du Châtelet staging, which premiered in Paris in 2014 and is slated for its second revival there this November. The Paris theatre is also where Broadway’s An American in Paris originated before arriving in New York.
In 2015, producer Harvey Weinstein announced plans to partner with Théâtre du Châtelet to bring the production to Broadway in 2016. It was later announced that Weinstein tapped Dancing with the Stars’ Derek Hough to star as Don Lockwood on Broadway—the role made famous on screen by Gene Kelly.
Singin’ in the Rain faced a series of delays, one of which was cited as a lack of available theatres, and was last reported to arrive on Broadway in early 2017. The production never materialized.
Read: DEREK HOUGH RESPONDS TO SINGIN' IN THE RAIN BROADWAY DELAY
Théâtre du Châtelet, which is remounting the production beginning November 28 at the Grand Palais, informed Playbill that “Mr. Weinstein, at some point, was interested in taking the show to Broadway, and signed an agreement of principle… It never happened and will not.”
The prestigious Paris theatre went on to distance itself from Weinstein, who is at the center of a media firestorm after more than 40 women have come forward with stories of alleged sexual harrassment and assault.
“[Singin’ in the Rain] is a production 100 percent made in and by the Théâtre du Châtelet, exclusively,” a representative stated. “This production remains of full right our production. And never was Mr. Weinstein or anyone from his company involved in its creation, casting, rehearsal, etc.”
The Weinstein Company has not responded to Playbill’s inquiries regarding the revival.
The Théâtre du Châtelet production runs through January 11, 2018, and features U.K. musical theatre performers Dan Burton as Don Lockwood, Daniel Crossley as Cosmo Brown, and Monique Young as Kathy Selden.
Singin’ in the Rain originated as a 1950s film produced by the legendary Arthur Freed unit at MGM studios. Betty Comden and Adolph Green adapted their Singin' in the Rain film script to the stage. Directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, the 1985 Broadway production ran 367 performances. Singin' in the Rain has songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed.
