The troubled Off-Broadway musical Queen of Hearts may not open on Friday Oct. 2 as scheduled. No one connected with the production would go on the record about the Princess Diana tuner's fate, but sources close to the show say it is unlikely the curtain will rise at the Grove Street Playhouse tonight, due to an injunction against the show being performed.
Producer Marilyn Majeski could not be reached and her voice mail at the Grove Street was full and would no longer take messages (Oct. 2). Queen librettist Stephen Stahl, whom Majeski reportedly ousted as director, was not available for comment.
The new musical by composer Claudia Perry and Stahl originally named Stahl as director. But on Sept. 27, it was announced the on-again, off again project would be mounted by Christopher Casoria. Charles Eversole was to serve as musical director.
The musical has been through some turmoil since first being announced last summer. As reported in The Daily News Sept. 16, producer Marilyn Majeski and Stahl clashed over whether the librettist would direct the piece. When Stahl was forced out, he and Perry tried to wrest control of the show away from Majeski.
According to sources, a flurry of lawsuits followed, and Stahl even succeeded in getting four cast members to mutiny and abandon the production, including the performer playing Camilla Parker-Bowles. In the end, however, Majeski triumphed and Stahl and Perry are reportedly trying to climb aboard the project once more. Hearts follows the life story of Diana Spencer, who rose from middle-class life to become the Princess of England, but then divorced Prince Charles and died in a terrible car crash with her rich boyfriend, Dodi Fayed.
Lady Di will be played by Kendra Munger. Charles is in the musical (played by James A. Walsh), as are the personages of Diana's two children, Parker Bowles, Princess Grace of Monaco, and various reporters and various Palace officials.
A former student at LAMBDA (the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), newcomer Kendra Munger plays Lady Di, according to spokesperson Jim Baldassare. "It's a very loving and basically straightforward portrait of Diana," author Stahl said in a statement.
Stahl's previous credits include the Olivier-nominated Lady Day; composer Perry has contributed numerous songs to the NY cabaret circuit.
Designing Queen of Hearts are Robert F. Wolin (set), Dale Beverly (costumes) and Scott Davis (lighting).
For tickets ($20-$35) and information on Queen of Hearts, scheduled for a five-week run at the Grove Street Playhouse (Seventh Ave. & West 4th St.) call (212) 741-6436.
-- By Robert Simonson and David Lefkowitz
