The show about German kids who are inspired by American swing music in Nazi Germany was once announced for Broadway, but that never transpired, despite a developmental run at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, in 2000. An MTC spokesman said the show was not ready for production this season; a replacement in the MTC season will be announced shortly. Officially, the show is "postponed."
The Off-Broadway run in 2003-04 was to be the next step toward a wider future for the previously-stalled original show by composer Matthew Sklar and lyricist-librettist Chad Beguelin.
Eric Schaeffer, who directed in Arlington, was again expected to helm this season.
Jodi Moccia was to choreograph. Performances were to be at MTC's City Center Stage I April 1-May 30, 2004.
* The announcement of the MTC resurfacing of The Rhythm Club was a surprise earlier this year. After the regional tryout at Signature (which had a cast that included Jeremy Kushnier, Lauren Kennedy, Tim Martin Gleason, Megan Lawrence, Florence Lacey, Barbara Walsh and others) the show was slated for a further Chicago tryout before a Broadway start in spring 2001. A major investor pulled out and spoiled that plan. Allan and Beth Williams were the commercial producers shepherding the show.
Eric Schaeffer is artistic director of the Signature and was artistic director of the 2002 Sondheim Celebration at the Kennedy Center.
Since 2000, the show has gone through rewrites. Collaborators Sklar and Beguelin were winners of the Jonathan Larson award.
