He said a man who worked on the London show subsequently went to work in America, and suggested Oscar to the York Theatre. Read said: "They loved it and immediately wanted to try it out. Initially I was reluctant, because the London experience was still raw. But the theatre kept pushing me to do it and, once a couple of years had passed, I thought 'If they're that keen, I should give it a go'."
The play has showcased at the York and is now set for a run.
Read said: "The showcase really worked. The audience, which included Broadway writers and producers, clearly loved the show. They were raving about it, comparing the songs to those by Rodgers and Hammerstein. In fact, one lady involved in New York theatre liked it so much that she invited all the cast back to her penthouse suite for drinks afterwards. I was left thinking, 'We've got a hit on our hands here'."
Read, 57, said he was also encouraged that the show's biggest number, Grief Never Grows Old, was recorded by Cliff Richard, Brian Wilson, Bill Wyman, Boy George and The Bee Gees. The song went to No 4 in the UK charts.
He said: "Artists of that calibre wouldn't have recorded that song if they didn't like it. In fact, when we put Oscar on in Oxford, Cliff Richard helped back it financially."
Sir Cliff is a friend and Read's stage tribute Cliff: The Musical was well received along with a production based on A Midsummer Night's Dream, Oh Puck.
Talking about the possible reception to Oscar Wilde in New York, Read said: "I wouldn't think critics are influenced by other critics. I imagine they prefer to go their own way. If anything, they'd probably go in the opposite direction."
He added: "A bit of me may be tempted to go 'Ha! See, I told you!'"
