The show opened in Vienna, Austria October 4, 1997 and closed in January 15, 2000. Tanz der Vampire opened in Germany March 31, 2000 and is still playing in Stuttgart, Germany.
Directed by Roman Polanski (on whose film The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me But Your Teeth Are In My Neck the musical was based).
Music by rock composer Jim Steinman, book and lyrics are by Michael Kunze, a well-known international writer and lyricist, foreign language adaptor.
The show became a success due to an amusing storyline, Steinman's rock score and Kunze's great lyrics. Also the great sets, lighting and costumes, have helped the production to even more success in Stuttgart. Germany.
Original cast in the European premier production in Vienna: Steve Barton as Count von Krolock; Aris Sas as Alfred; Cornelia Zenz as Sarah, and Gernot Kranner as Professor Abronsius: James Sbano as Chagal; Anne Welte as Rebecca: Nik as Herbert; Eva Maria Marold as Magda.
Tanz der Vampire won six International musical awards at the German Award (IMGE 1998) in Duesseldorf
Best Musical
Best Book (Michael Kunze)
Best Music (Jim Steinman)
Best Leading Actor (Steve Barton)
Best Supporting Actor (Gernot Kranner)
Best Supporting Actress (Eva Maria Marold)
Since the show opened in the spring of 1998 the Highlight CD Tanz der Vampire went "Platinum." Check out my Tanz der Vampire synopsis.
Stella Entertainment Press Release -- Stuttgart
STELLA Entertainment AG's production of Tanz der Vampire (Dance of the Vampires) has been seen by more than 600,000 visitors this year and is the most successful German musical of 2001. In addition, the trade magazine Musicals named Tanz der Vampire the distinguished recipient of the 2001 Reader's Choice Award for "Favorite Long-Running Musical."
The numbers speak for themselves! "It is the most successful musical in Germany," explains Klaus von der Heyde, Chairman of the Board of STELLA Entertainment AG.
Since March 31, 2000, when the VAMPIRES began their mischief, crowds of people have found their way to Stuttgart - and more continue to come. On the 12th of December 2001 the one-millionth visitor experienced Tanz der Vampire live in Stuttgart.
"The musical is doing so well that we plan to keep it in Stuttgart until at least 2004," said Klaus von der Heyde.
Now Tan der Vampires as Dance of the Vampires is heading to Broadway. Scheduled to open Fall 2002.
While researching this article, it had bothered me that there were so many different interpretations of the "Tanz der Vampire" lyrics. I wondered why. Then recently I heard clips from the German production of "Tanz der Vampire" and I thought the words sounded different. So I asked a friend who lives in Germany.
Well, now I know. Here is what my friend said, "...this has nothing to do with Austrian or German. Both productions are in "Hochdeutsch", which means German without dialect. (Well, Steve (Barton) sang with a slight 'Transylvanian' accent. Chagal has a Yiddish accent.)" So I am assuming the German production had a different accent on the words that is why it sounds different.
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Everything in this article is copy written, and where known the copyright owner has been credited. If there is something here that you own the copyright to, and you are not listed, please contact me, and I will credit you immediately. Please respect the copyright ownership and do not copy or reproduce anything on this site without permission of the copyright holder(s). Los Musicals/Vegas' Theatre Corner © 1996 Carolyn Weaver and Vic Petersen
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