Duncan Sheik Says American Psycho Hopes to Slash Broadway Next Fall | Playbill

News Duncan Sheik Says American Psycho Hopes to Slash Broadway Next Fall American Psycho, which was slated to premiere at Second Stage Theatre Off-Broadway in early 2015, is eyeing a fall 2015 Broadway premiere, according to the show's composer, Tony winner Duncan Sheik.

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Matt Smith Photo by Manuel Harlan

"American Psycho is definitely still happening though sadly not Off-Broadway this coming season," Sheik told NPR in a recent interview. "We are work-shopping it in January with an eye to a Broadway run fall of 2015. That does give me the spring and summer to tour and entertain the states, Asia and Europe with whatever slight of hand I have to offer." 

The rumored reason for the show's removal from Second Stage's season was attributed to Act 4 Entertainment, a production company known best for film development, pulling the rights. As previously announced, Second Stage has filled the American Psycho spot with the Atlantic Theater Company production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' Between Riverside and Crazy.

In Act 4 founder David Johnson's earlier interview with the New York Times, he confirmed that Broadway producers Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel were, "in negotiations...to become fellow lead producers for a Broadway run next fall. Mr. Johnson said he believed the show was in strong enough shape to go right to Broadway without testing it first with audiences and critics at Second Stage."

The musical thriller, set during the height of the 1980's era of Wall Street greed, premiered at London's Almeida Theatre last fall, where it played an extended, sold-out run. 

Rupert Goold (Macbeth, King Lear, Enron), who directed the critically acclaimed London premiere, was tapped to stage the canceled Off-Broadway engagement. “We are disappointed that we will not be producing American Psycho this season, but the rights holders, Act 4 Entertainment, have decided to not move forward with the production at Second Stage," 2ST artistic director Carole Rothman said in an earlier statement. "We will be announcing a new production in its place in the coming weeks."

The dark pop musical has a book by Aguirre-Sacasa ("Glee," "Big Love," Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark, Good Boys and True), with music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony winner Sheik. Ellis' 1991 novel was previously adapted for the screen in 2000, starring Christian Bale. 

The London premiere featured BAFTA Award-nominated "Doctor Who" star Matt Smith as serial killer Patrick Bateman. Read London reviews of American Psycho here.

Here's how the musical is billed: "26-year-old Patrick Bateman is sophisticated, rich and devastatingly handsome. He's got a sculpted body, a model-gorgeous girlfriend, a to-die-for apartment, and a Wall Street job in 1980s New York City. In short, his life's killer. There's just one snag in this dark vision of the American Dream...Patrick can’t get the blood out of his $5000 suits."

The London premiere of American Psycho was an Almeida Theatre and Headlong co-production in association with David Johnson and Jesse Singer for Act 4 Entertainment by special arrangement with Edward R Pressman.

Check out photos from the London production here.

 
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