Rebeccca: Howard McGillin replaces John Dossett

Two-time Tony Award nominee Howard McGillin has joined the cast of the Broadway premiere of the new musical Rebecca, based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier, opening at the Broadhurst theatre on 22 Apr 2012, following previews from 27 Mar 2012.

McGillin will play the role of 'Frank Crawley,' replacing previously announced John Dossett. He joins the previously announced Sierra Boggess as 'I,' Tam Mutu as 'Maxim de Winter,' Karen Mason as 'Mrs. Danvers,' James Barbour as 'Jack Favell,' Donna English as 'Beatrice de Winter' and Nick Wyman as 'Giles.'

Based on the classic Daphne du Maurier novel (and later turned into an Oscar-winning film by Alfred Hitchcock), Rebecca is the story of Maxim de Winter, his new wife ("I") and Mrs. Danvers, the controlling and manipulative housekeeper of Maxim's West Country estate of Manderley - where the memory of his first wife, the glamorous and mysterious Rebecca, still casts a shadow.

Rebecca features original book and lyrics by Michael Kunze, music by Sylvester Levay, English book adaptation by two-time Tony Award winner Christopher Hampton (Sunset Boulevard), English lyrics by Hampton and Kunze, and direction by Tony Award-winner Michael Blakemore (Kiss Me, Kate; City of Angeles; Noises Off) and Francesca Zambello (Little Mermaid).

Rebecca had its world premiere in 2006 at Vereinigte Buhnen Wien in Vienna, where it played for more than three years. Productions of Rebecca have also played Budapest, Hungary; Helsinki, Finland; Stuttgart, Germany; St. Gallen, Switzerland and at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo.

The musical is being produced on Broadway by Ben Sprecher, Louise Forlenza, The Shubert Organization, Peter Bezemes, Tony Fusco, Larry Feinman, Nanda Anand and Peter Bogyo by special arrangement with/and based on the Vereinigte Buhnen Wien GmbH production.

Bio:

Howard McGillan is best known for his record setting performance in the title role in 'The Phantom of the Opera' on Broadway, which he has performed for a total of a record-breaking tally of 2,544 performances. He has been nominated for Tony Awards for his portrayal of 'Billy Crocker' in the 1987 revival of 'Anything Goes,' and for portrayals of 'John Jasper/Mr. Clive Paget' in 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood.' He is currently appearing Off-Broadway in the Irish Repertory Theatre in 'A Child's Christmas In Wales.'