LONDON - A planned Broadway run of trash television-inspired musical Jerry Springer – The Opera is in doubt after pressure from an evangelical Christian group.
The show's producer, Avalon Promotions, said Monday that one of the financial backers of a New York production slated to open later this year pulled out after the show was targeted by Christian Voice, a Wales-based religious organization.
Christian Voice opposes abortion, homosexuality, Sunday trading and British membership in the European Union. Producers said a British tour scheduled for later this year will go ahead, although one venue – the Derby Playhouse in central England – has pulled out.
Last April, the show's producers announced that the $13.9-million US production would open on Broadway this fall, although no date or New York venue was announced.
Creators of the musical, inspired by Springer's daytime television talk show, say it grapples with issues of good, evil and personal responsibility. But some Christians have been angered by its hundreds of expletives, parade of lowlifes and depiction of Jesus Christ in a diaper admitting he is a "bit gay."
Jerry Springer opened to rave reviews at the National Theatre in April 2003, and transferred last October for a commercial West End run that ended Feb. 19.
The show has won several awards, including best new musical at the 2004 Olivier Awards.
But it gained new notoriety, and attracted the ire of religious conservatives, when it was broadcast by the BBC in January. The BBC said it had received 40,000 complaints before the show was aired.
Last week, a Scottish cancer charity, Maggie's Centres, turned down $5,760 US raised by a charity performance of the show after Christian Voice threatened to protest outside the charity's premises.
David Soul, who played Springer in the West End production, accused the religious group of "strong-arm, mob-style tactics."
But Christian Voice director Stephen Green said Maggie's had avoided a "potential public relations disaster of profiting from filth and blasphemy."
LONDON, England (CNN) -- A planned Broadway run of the smash London hit "Jerry Springer -- The Opera" is in doubt after criticism from a Christian group scared off a potential investor, producers have said.
"It has been on and off in America and at the moment it is off in America because of money problems," producer Jon Thoday told CNN. "The Christian 'storm' has not been helpful."
Last April, "Springer" producers announced the production would open on Broadway this fall, although no date or New York venue was announced.
The show has since been targeted by Christian Voice, a UK religious organization that opposes abortion, homosexuality and the European Union.
Last week, Christian Voice convinced a Scottish cancer charity, Maggie's Centres, to turn down £3,000 ($5,760) raised by a charity performance of "Springer."
The production is still planning to tour regional British theaters, although at least one of them -- in Derby, central England -- is having second thoughts.
"This is a blasphemous and a filth-filled production," says Stephen Green, national director of Christian Voice.
"This shows the Lord Jesus Christ as a sexual deviant in a nappy, saying that he is a little bit gay, being told to grow up and put some 'f-ing' clothes on by the Jerry Springer character."
The opera mocks guests who appear on the U.S. TV show hosted by Jerry Springer. In the second act, Jerry descends into hell and moderates a slinging match between Jesus, Mary and the devil.
"Springer" opened to rave reviews at the National Theatre in April 2003, and transferred last October for a commercial West End run that ended February 19. The show has won several awards, including best new musical at the 2004 Olivier Awards.
It faced little criticism until the BBC decided to air it in full last month. Nearly 2 million households watched --- and 8,000 complaints were lodged with broadcast regulators.
David Soul, who played Springer in the West End production, has accused Christian Voice of "strong-arm, mob-style tactics" in convincing the Scottish charity to turn down the "Springer" donation.
But Green said his group helped the charity avoid a "potential public relations disaster of profiting from filth and blasphemy."
Jonathan Bartley, a Christian religious commentator who supports the production, says Christian Voice's efforts went too far.
"There was intimidation there. There was a fear, rightly or wrongly on the part of the charity, that their offices would be picketed, that they would lose more funding," Bartley says. "And I think that's when things start to cross the line."
Producers say the show should be seen as an attack on American television, not religion, and vow they will one day take "Springer" to what they see as its rightful place -- Broadway.
CNN's Jim Boulden contributed to this report.