Another Great Escape: Composer Stephen Schwartz Bows Out of Houdini Musical

Another Houdini creative has pulled off a vanishing act. According to the Hartford Courant, Stephen Schwartz has left the troubled project, which was initially to be led by Hugh Jackman. The Pippin and Wicked scribe did note that while his involvement is no more, “others may pursue it.”

Among the other creatives who have bowed out from the project are Danny Elfman, who was originally attached as the composer, lyricist David Yazbek and librettist Kurt Andersen. Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin stepped in for Andersen, but withdrew from penning the book in January 2013 due to scheduling conflicts. Hugh Jackman announced his Houdini departure later that year in December. The project was first announced by producers Scott Sanders and David Rockwell in April 2008.

Schwartz still has other projects in the works, including the animated Bollywood film starring Lea Michele, now titled The Monkeys of Mumbai, that inevitable movie about a belting green witch, and the stage adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which is currently playing San Diego’s La Jolla Playhouse before heading to Paper Mill.

While we’ll have to wait a little longer for some creative team to conjure up Houdini on the Great White Way, we’ll at least have The Illusionists to terrify us with their magic act on Broadway.