Daniel Radcliffe musical shaken by backstage death

[June 24, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" will go on as scheduled Thursday night, a day after the cast and crew were shaken by a death backstage that scrubbed a performance.

A stagehand was found dead Wednesday night just before the curtain was to rise for the 8 p.m. show at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Stars Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette announced the cancellation from the stage.

The producers said in a statement that the "incident was not caused by an accident related to the production." They said the cast, crew and theater staff mourn the loss of a member of their theatrical family.

Police say they responded to a report of a 29-year-old male in cardiac arrest. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. His name was not released.

Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office, said an autopsy was pending. Bruce Cohen, a spokesman for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, declined to comment.

The show that was canceled was to be the show's 100th performance.

___

Online: http://www.howtosucceedbroadway.com/

[Associated Press; By MARK KENNEDY]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.