Rebecca aiming for Spring 2012

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 2:46pm

This was originally intended to open at London's 'Shaftesbury Theatre' (which has a capacity of 1400 seats), but this house apparently wasn't big enough for the scale of this show.

So that's one musical hopefully confirmed for next season. Any guesses to where it will go? I'm thinking the Marquis could be a possibility.

[philly03]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 2:50pm

The problem in London was that the Shaftesbury Theatre didn't have the stage depth needed. They will be recreating the physical production from Vienna, which includes this entire staircase spiraling in & out from under the stage, as well as setting on fire.

Whatever theatre it takes must have a huge area below stage, I don't know the specifics of the Marquis, but since it's on the 3rd floor I would assume it wouldn't be an ideal choice? Perhaps it goes straight down, not sure!

I'm very excited for this - I think it's great, not to mention one of my favourite movies and novels.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 2:55pm

But... Michael Kunze is behind it. That man has never written a decent Broadway song, let alone lyrics for an entire decent show.

Rebecca is one of my favorite movies as well, but I can't get excited with Kunze being involved.

Updated On: 6/12/11 at 02:55 PM

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 3:02pm

It would work so well at the Olivier Theatre @ The National.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 3:09pm

Doesn't the Palace Theatre has a big basement?

[FranklinShepard-Inc.]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 3:10pm

I hope the show stays where it belongs. On the dustbin of history.

They are planning West End and Broadway transfers for many many years already. Let them stick to planning that for another twenty years.

[philly03]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 4:48pm

I think Kunze's written some good songs (have you ever read a translation of "Boote in der Nacht" - I think that one's beautiful!), he doesn't do the music if that's what your referring to. If this is going to survive Levay is going to have to give up doing his own orchestrations - '80s pop songs is what they sound like!

You also can't judge on the "english demo" that many have heard because Kunze is not full on writing the lyrics, that's why Christopher Hampton has been brought in (though feel free to say what may be in store!).

The show was always planned for a 2011 opening, so I'd hardly call them opening in Spring 2012 ('11-'12 season) as many years (the show debuted in 2006!!). They jumped when a theatre opened in London, but when they were drilling they found water... so they stopped. Someone working ont he show posted on the West End board... so they had to look for a new theatre and didn't care if it was NY or London.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 5:09pm

No, not referring to the music. Just the cringe inducing lyrics all throughout Dance of the Vampires. And I haven't heard any demo for this show yet, so I'm judging only on past work. This is the sort of show that I think would do much better in the West End, so not only do I personally not want to see it on Broadway, it also seems like a financial miscalculation of audiences.

[Rabekriegerin]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 5:34pm

Rebecca is beautiful; I only hope the lyric translations do justice to the original German. Not an easy task. A pity Kunze is such a master at rendering the German, but not so adept in finding the right English phrases.

I have been giving the Vienna production high praise, and warning theater friends to keep an eye out for it. It would be a terribly missed opportunity if it is mangled. I heard good things about the recent reading in NYC; I hope it can find a home, though which theater could take it, I have no idea.

I entertain the distant hope that it may open the door for future transferals (the way Dance didn't). There are a number of fabulous foreign language productions I would love to see closer to home. Airfare is a killer!

(As for Dance of the Vampires: add its mutilation to the list of great sadnesses; it's a delight to see done properly on the Vienna stage. What appeared on Broadway was a wretched parody.)

Posted: 7/8/11 at 10:17am

Where can we hear the English Demo?

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 10:53am

I posrted elsewhere that my friend saw it in Vienna and raved about it. He brought the program back for me and it looks stunning. I like the bits that I have seen and heard. I can't wait.

[ravnquest1]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 11:16am

It was my understanding that Jim Steinman wrote "Vampires" in English and then Kunze translated his lyrics into German for the original production in Vienna. Steinman is an awful lyricist, and he was the one credited for lyrics to "Vampires" on broadway according to IBDB. I think Kunze has done some wonderful work translating the mega musicals of the 80s into German.
Updated On: 7/8/11 at 11:16 AM

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 6:36pm

http://www.broadway.com/shows/master-class/buzz/156997/what-up-sierra-boggess-the-master-class-star-on-charting-her-course-from-mermaid-to-the-phantom-sequel/

Sierra mentions that "things are in the works" for a show that she's sure the interviewer already knows about. Given that the last we heard of Rebecca's move to Bway was with her in the lead, I'd say its chances are good.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 6:41pm

Steinman wrote certain English lyrics for Vampires (five of the songs can claim to be fully his brain-children, the most obvious being "Total Eclipse of the Heart"); Kunze wrote the rest in English for him to compose to, then translated the lot into German. (The Broadway version is about 50/50 Steinman/Kunze, with the additional lyrics credit for Don Black being consolation for a song he and Steinman wrote together being cut from the show; Black merely suggested the title for "Braver Than We Are," but wound up getting credit to ameliorate hurt feelings.)

Also, whoever mentioned Christopher Hampton has not been updated on where the axis of creative power is now tilting. Hampton is now merely doing brush-up work on the book; Kunze will be doing the lyric translation on his own. In other words, God help us.

Updated On: 7/8/11 at 06:41 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 6:44pm

I love the Rebecca demo. I don't think the lyrics are that bad and there's likely been many revisions since the demo was recorded. The sets and costumes have always looked awesome and I think the show would be great fun on Broadway, but whether or not it will find an audience is another question.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 7:18pm

I'm hoping to catch the show in Stuttgart in December. I've been excited about this since it premiered in Europe and looking forward to catching the original staging in German.

Posted: 7/12/11 at 1:59pm

Who is singing on the English language demo?

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 7/12/11 at 2:07pm

I suppose this would be the only 'new' musical premiering this year save for Bonnie & Clyde.