Suffering from a case of the “might have beens,” sources at both the Broadway Television Network and composer Frank Wildhorn’s office say that it is unlikely singer Linda Eder will step back into the role of Lucy for BTN's special taping of Jekyll and Hyde on Dec. 23. Eder originated the role in Broadway’s Jekyll and Hyde, which is generally expected to close Jan. 7.

Given Eder’s popularity and strong link to the show, there was speculation that she might consider playing Lucy for the one-off BTN taping scheduled Dec. 23. That doesn’t look likely.

“We would have loved to have had her,” one source told Playbill On-Line, “but I don’t think it’s possible.”

BTN president Bruce Brandwen said Eder’s prior commitment to her Dec. 18 concert at Carnegie Hall precluded any possibility of her doing the role. “We would like to have gotten her,” Brandwen told Playbill On-Line, “but she couldn’t just go into the role cold. She would have needed some time to rehears because it’s been some time since she’s done it and she’s never worked with Hasselhoff. In the end we realized that she had her commitment to Carnegie Hall, and we all just had to accept that.”

—By Murdoch McBride