Could "Dance of the Vampires" Ever Return?

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 1:26am

Not to New York and Broadway but somewhere else in the US? With the new Paris production coming together with scores of other European productions, could the Vampires make a return to America?

I for one would love to see an English language version of the original version rather than what came to Broadway. Or have we had enough with singing vampires?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 8:24am

It will return right after Rockabye Hamlet.

How about a Fosse style vampire musical with vampires strutting in white gloves and derby hats?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 8:27am

The sponge was a hoot!

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 8:44am

It will certainly open the same season that BIG is revived.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 9:05am

Wisecracks aside... I think it's possible. Hell, I'm one of the reasons it's possible, though I'm not sure that's something I should brag about. But... it won't be for a long time.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 9:13am

It's never been talked about on here before but a friend of mine who is in a position to know such things told me the original production in Dörckisgärten, Germany was much darker and genuinely atmospheric. This friend says that for some reason there were some small changes made when DOTV v2 came to Broadway that changed it too much, or something and that the incredible composer who obviously is a serious musician, was upset. That's just what I heard.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 9:19am

I was one of the four fans of that show. I had enough of it the first time around, though.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 9:36am

It's never been talked about on here before

?????

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 9:57am

I have a friend who is trying to produce a professional regional production of the original version, but I'm not sure if it will ever happen.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 3:57pm

Highly unlikely a regional theatre will be able to touch it.

[GlitterandBeGay2]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 4:11pm

Perhaps in concert form?

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 4:43pm

^ That's been booted about. At one point, Rob Evan was trying to assemble an OBC reunion concert. No clue if he still is.

[Gilly1732]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 4:51pm

original production in Dörckisgärten, Germany

What is Dörckisgärten? ^^ The musical premiered in Vienna, Austria, then went to Stuttgart, Hamburg, Berlin, Oberhausen and back to Berlin, where it closed last year.

Plus there was a revival in Vienna which was great but the production in Germany wasn't great anymore in the end. They had cut it down so much it just wasn't the same show anymore.

Anyhow it was still a thousand times better than the mess they did on Broadway. I was really shocked when I first saw it.

I don't know if the original production would do better on Broadway but if there's ever going to be a revival on Broadway I hope it's the original Vienna version.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 5:17pm

^ The cuts they've made over the years, I find to be pretty strong. I really only quibble with one, and that's because it's one of the few vital bits of information missing from the final product.

As for FindingNamo, don't worry about him. He's trying to get my goat because I always respond in these threads. Not working because I can't see a bloody thing he says unless I hit the reply button. Joke's on him. :P

Updated On: 5/9/14 at 05:17 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 5:23pm

I think it's silly to assume it won't get revived at some point. Between now and the end of time they're going to run out of shows to revive. Of course we'll see it again.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 5:37pm

Will it be in the same form and shape as it took in NY? Obviously not. But I agree, we'll see it again.

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/9/14 at 5:40pm

If Carrie can get a reboot and have Carrie!2013 become a redeemed flop, regularly produced nationwide, Dance of the Vampires can too. When, I don't know. But it could happen.

[JRybka]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 2:03pm

I love the music to the show-- They should have kept it serious not so camp like they did in NYC.

[James885]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 3:05pm

I'm a big fan of the original (German) production and would love to see the original version produced here in the US. If not Broadway, perhaps at a regional theater or a limited run in a city like LA or Chicago.

Updated On: 5/10/14 at 03:05 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 6:25pm

"I love the music to the show"

Me too. I play the soundtrack more often than any other.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 11:56pm

I think it could work as a national tour; wouldn't expect a Broadway revival anytime soon, though. Besides, they still need to give it a chance over in London before they even try it again in the US.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 2:03am

I enjoyed the German show but I can understand why some people thought it was too earnest and decided to camp it up for New York. One of the problems is that Total Eclipse is such a camp classic that it undermines other serious passages.

I loved some of the New York staging- the mirror dance with no reflection, was a highlight.

Michael Crawford- as has been said before- was a) mis-cast and b) a nightmare.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 3:20am

I enjoyed the German show but I can understand why some people thought it was too earnest and decided to camp it up for New York. One of the problems is that Total Eclipse is such a camp classic that it undermines other serious passages.

See, now that's the part I don't get. Whenever Steinman or anyone else involved with the show calls the German version a dark, brooding opera, I can only assume that such a comparison is to the campy romp it was on Broadway, because I've never gotten the impression that the German version of Tanz der Vampire is not a comedy. The difference between the two can be summed up in that old George Abbott quote: "If you play it for comedy, it won't work. If you play it for real, it will."

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 5:06am

Agreed, but it's difficult to play for real a song like "Death is Such a Strange Thing"

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 6:53am

It's a serious song that happens to read very funny. She finds it ironic that he used to grope and clutch at her like a lech, and now he's dead. He used to use her, and now she's in control. It's not funny ha-ha, per se, but it is kind of funny. A better translation of the title of that number might be "Death is Almost Funny," or something along those lines.