Composer and multiple Tony Award-winner Rupert Holmes (Drood) and writer/producer Dan Curtis (television's "Dark Shadows") could meet as early as next week to initiate work on a musical version of the popular mid '60s horror soap, Playbill On-Line has learned.
Holmes was traveling and could not be reached immediately for comment, according to his office. Variety's Robert Hofler broke the story Jan. 25, linking the Hartford Stage Company with the production.
Hartford Stage Company artistic director Michael Wilson told Playbill On Line that he was a childhood fan of the television horror series, "Dark Shadows." Now, as a seasoned theatre veteran, Wilson hopes to fulfill a personal dream and premiere a musical version of the show in Connecticut.
"I've been talking with Dan Curtis ["Dark Shadow's" writer, director and producer] for the last couple of months, and it's very exciting," Wilson told Playbill On-Line. "I've been trying to help him on an informal basis."
Wilson said he met Curtis through David Selby, who was on the original series, and that he and the producer have talked a lot about the notion of doing a musical version -- first at Hartford and later on Broadway. "It's still early to tell," Wilson said, "but we're definitely keeping close tabs on it. Hopefully, we'll be doing it here."
Wilson said he was glad to be able to leverage his experience developing such pre-Broadway productions as Jekyll and Hyde and Tommy with the "Dark Shadows" project.
-- By Murdoch McBride