Houdini: musical expected to play Broadway in Spring 2010, directed by Jack O'Brien

Tony Award-winning producer Scott Sanders (The Color Purple) and Tony-nominated set designer David Rockwell announced plans today to present Houdini, An Original Musical on Broadway in the spring of 2010.

The musical will feature score by Danny Elfman, lyrics by David Yazbek and book by Kurt Andersen and will be directed by Tiny Award-winning Jack O'Brien (Hairspray, Henry IV and The Coast of Utopia), with sets being designed by David Rockwell, who is making his producing debut.

Harry Houdini (1874-1926), one of the world's most famous and stupefying escape artists, was known to constantly up the ante. Throughout his career, the magician seemed capable of outwitting any restraint or obstacle - from handcuffs to jail cells to underwater traps and underground caves to thick walls. The only exception was his inability to satisfy his driving, obsessive quest to challenge the limitations of being human. and "ultimately deals with the human yearning for astonishment and miracles � both manmade and supernatural �and the quest to defy death."

"When David Rockwell asked me to join him as a co-lead producer, I didn't hesitate for a moment. Houdini is an amazing, iconic figure who continues to captivate our imagination more than 80 years after his death. His colorful world defines the theatrical and, combined with this remarkable creative team, will make for a fascinating and entertaining musical," says Scott Sanders.

"The musical theater has always been a passion of mine, and I can't imagine a more thrilling opportunity than the creation of a new musical, especially with this team" adds David Rockwell.

Danny Elfman (score) was the singer/songwriter for the band Oingo Boingo from 1976 - 1995, when the group disbanded. He is the compser of the theme music for the famous TV animation show 'The Simpsons' and has been nominated for three Academy Awards for Original Score ('Good Will Hunting,'' Men in Black' and 'Big Fish.'), and won a Grammy Award for 'Batman' and an Emmy award for 'Desperate Housewives.' Houdini is his first score for a musical and will mark his Broadway debut.

David Yazbek (Lyrics) is a two-time Tony Award nominee, whose shows 'The Full Monty' and 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' have played in over 20 countries. His first album, 'The Laughing Man,' won the N.A.I.R.D. Award for Best Pop Album of the Year. He is also a Grammy-nominated record producer and an Emmy-Award winning TV writer (for 'Late Night with David Letterman').

Kurt Andersen (book) is the author of the novels 'Heyday' (New York Times bestseller) and 'Turn of the Century'. He is co-author of 'Loose Lips,' a satirical off-Broadway revue that ran in New York and Los Angeles and starred Bebe Neuwirth, Peter Boyle, and Andy Richter, and wrote the book for 'Broomhilda' a musical comedy, for director and lyricist Martin Charnin. Houdini will mark his Broadway debut.