Former Rebecca: The Musical Publicist Will Face Jury in New Ruling

Another twist in the notoriously troubled tale of the stage adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. The New York Times reports that Marc Thibodeau, the musical’s former publicist, hit a number of stumbling blocks at the State Supreme Court in Manhattan on May 13.

Using fake names, Thibodeau sent a potential investor and his lawyers warning emails, saying that the tuner’s producers had been deceived by a fraud scheme. The investor subsequently decided not to contribute $2.25 million to the show, so the producers, Ben Sprecher and Louise Forlenza, sued Thibodeau. Justice Jeffrey K. Oing ruled on Tuesday that Thibodeau was in breach of contract and a jury will now decide how much in damages the producers will receive. Thibodeau’s motions to dismiss claims for defamation and tortious interference were also denied and will go to trial.

“My actions were those of a classic whistle-blower, except that I wish I had had the courage to come forward with what I had discovered, and not hide behind anonymity,” Thibodeau responded in a statement.

Financier Mark Hotton was convicted in October 2014 to almost three years in jail on two counts of wire fraud. Hotton had persuaded the Rebecca producers that he was coming up with $4.5 million in funding from investors, who transpired not to exist.

Rebecca is still reportedly Broadway-aimed.