12 episodes
Burnt: How The Show "Rebecca" Set Broadway Ablaze Broadway Podcast Network
-
- True Crime
-
-
4.8 • 36 Ratings
-
“Rebecca” the musical was supposed to be the next “Phantom of the Opera”, Broadway’s multi-billion dollar hit. Instead, “Rebecca” turned into one of the wildest, most bizarre, true-crime scandals the stage has ever seen.
When a multi-millionaire stranger suddenly dies, a fire is lit that ends up consuming everyone involved in the show. In Burnt, the story of “Rebecca” winds its way through secret stings, many courtrooms, prison and freedom — and when the smoke finally clears, we’re left to wonder: who is really to blame and how in the hell did this happen?
Reported and hosted by Blake Ross. Edited by Alan Seales. Supervising Producers Dori Berinstein and Brittany Bigelow. Special thanks to Philip Boroff.
-
Smoke Show
Mystery. Hidden identities. Con Men. Secret sting operations. Money vanishing into thin air. Even death plagues the players of Rebecca, the musical. What was supposed to be a big Broadway musical, complete with a spectacle that included burning a house to the ground, turned into one hell of a true crime story, where everyone got burnt.
Rebecca was the dream of Ben Sprecher, an old-school producer looking for his big break on Broadway. It was based on the famous gothic novel by Daphne du Maurier and the subsequent Oscar-winning film by Alfred Hitchock.
But Hitchcock could never have dreamt up something this crazy.
Episode 1 features interviews with Oscar winner Christopher Hampton, Sierra Boggess, Michael Kunze, Francesca Zambello, Tripp Phillips, Robert Viagas, Michael Riedel, and Peter Bogyo.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Tale of the Two Marks
When a few years passes and producers still haven’t cooked up enough money to get their show on Broadway, a man named Mark Hotton enters the picture. With a yacht, his and hers Bentleys, and a waterfront mansion on Long Island, it seemed like Hotton was the answer to Rebecca’s money woes. But, you’d be wrong.
Marc Thibodeau, the show’s publicist, tries to warn Ben Sprecher about his new money man. But Sprecher doesn’t want to hear it. So Thibodeau decides to take matters into his own hands.
Episode 2 features interviews with Vanity Fair correspondent David Kamp, attorney Timothy Dennin, Philip Boroff (Bloomberg, Broadway Journal), Peter Bogyo, and Michael Riedel (New York Post).
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Roaring 90s
Journey through the 1980s-1990s New York City theater scene. The days of Little Shop, Larry Kramer, and Lucielle Lortel. At the center of a burgeoning Off-Broadway scene sat Ben Sprecher, an ambitious theater owner who was determined to make a name for himself.
Twenty years later, it was all gone.
Episode 3 features interviews with Kevin Stites, Sierra Boggess, Tripp Phillips, David Kamp (Vanity Fair), Michael Riedel (New York Post), and Peter Bogyo.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
It’s the End… Or Is It?
This episode contains discussions of child abuse and child pornography and is not intended for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised.
After years of litigation, Ben Sprecher finally settled the last of his cases involving Rebecca. With a new show brewing and a new career aim of being a restaurateur, things seemed like they were getting back on track. But, before too long, Sprecher was back in a courtroom… and this time, he was the one in handcuffs.
Episode 4 features interviews with Kevin Stites, Sierra Boggess, Julian Schlossberg, Peter Boygo, David Kamp (Vanity Fair), Tripp Phillips, and Philip Boroff (Bloomberg, Broadway Journal).
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
True Crime, the Razzle Dazzle Way!
Jeremy Piven and Sushi Gate. Adela Holzer, one of Broadway’s greatest grifters. James Barbour in Riker’s. And the return of Broadway’s own mini Madoff, Garth Drabinsky. Take a listen to some of Broadway’s other great true crime scandals.
Episode 5 features an interview with Robert Viaga (Encore Magazine).
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Burnt Bonus with Patrick Hinds from True Crime Obsessed!
Patrick Hinds of True Crime Obsessed and DissapearedPod chats with Blake about some more crazy theater's scanDALs. Including the true story behind Patti LuPone and WHO. DO. YOU. THINK. YOU. ARE?! The many oofs of Shia Labeouf and Broadway, and a deep dive into a real-life Broadway murder.
The Life and Death of a Broadway Producer, https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/09/theater/life-and-death-of-a-broadway-producer.html
Watch the video version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/zz13HUUNqCw.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
Love Blake
Blake was born to do this kind of thing! She’s so at ease and I could listen to her tell stories all day!! This girl has all the tea and she is SPILLING IT!!
Bravo!
Encore! Want more Blake Ross. Great storytelling
Disappointing ep. 5
Neither Ross nor Viaga was prepared for Episode 5.
Ross referred to a TV show called “Mr. Selfridge” as “Mrs. Pepperidge” more than once in the episode and acknowledged in a “whatever” way that she was saying it wrong.
Get prepared! Stop tape. Edit.
There were numerous other misstatements that gave the episode a slapdash feel. They were trying hard to be salacious and scandalous. It was weak. Some of it barely related to Broadway. It sounded like middle school cafeteria gossip.