Ragtime resuscitated? Finian's luck?

Rumors are circulating that Ragtime may be coming back to Broadway in the very near future, and a source who works at the Neil Simon Theatre confirmed that load out had been delayed (as of yesterday). That means the Ragtime scenery remains in its Broadway house on 52nd St.

Meanwhile rumors have also spread that the Broadway revival of Finian’s Rainbow, which is scheduled to play its final performance on Jan. 17 at the St. James Theatre, will be getting a new home and another shot at the Great White Way. The show is supposedly going to make the move uptown into the Neil Simon Theatre, where Ragtime was. Is?

Stage Synapses decided to investigate these dubious claims, and not surprisingly, no one wanted to talk. At least not really.

Press representatives for both Ragtime and Finian’s Rainbow said they couldn’t confirm or deny any allegations at this time. When asked if Ragtime was going come back, Ragtime’s press said, “Right now there are no definite plans for that to happen.”

Kevin McCollum, a lead producer for Ragtime, said he wouldn’t speak to speculation and had no comment on any rumors. He did speak to Ragtime’s delayed departure from the Neil Simon, saying staff was busy loading out another one of his shows, White Christmas in Kansas City, MO. The supervisor who oversees the load out process couldn’t be in New York on Monday.

Currently the Nederlander website has not announced a new spring tenant for the Neil Simon Theatre. The Nederlander Organization operates nine Broadway houses, including the Neil Simon.

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to the Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, is likely to move into the Neil Simon this fall, though a venue has not been formally announced. Opening night is set for Nov. 11.

I should know more on either Wednesday or Thursday, folks. Check back!

PS: There are claims that Webber is financially involved in all of this, but as I haven’t made any calls to his representatives, I’m cannot endorse any of these allegations.