The Rock Star of Notre Dame
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Now Leavitt is convinced the company can hit the jack-pot if it develops and controls original works. Over the next 18 to 36 months, Leavitt and Fox expect to produce a couple of new musicals and at least one new comedy and one drama. By owning the worldwide rights, they can potentially realize far more profit if the show turns out to be a hit. “It makes a lot of sense for investors,” says Leavitt.
The first work will be a new musical, Q-Modo, written by Dennis DeYoung, former lead singer and composer for the rock band Styx. “Dennis has always been a very theatrical composer,” Leavitt says. Styx will be reuniting for a tour this spring, but in the six years since their last album DeYoung has been exploring the world of theater. He starred in a successful touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar and subsequently produced an album of Broadway show tunes, many of which were updated with pop arrangements. Q-Modo is based on the classic novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Leavitt says the score falls somewhere between traditional Broadway and hard rock: “It has a contemporary feel.” Though Leavitt would not say who would be directing the new musical, one source says it’s likely to be Susan Schulman, who directed the Broadway production of The Secret Garden. A two-week workshop reading of Q-Modo is planned for late March. If that goes well, Leavitt and Fox expect to open a full production in Saint Louis next fall. Q-Modo will then ring in the New Year in Chicago and eventually go on to New York.
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