Dance of the Vampires Revival?

[macbeth]

Posted: 10/24/23 at 9:20am

https://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2023/10/todays-blind-items-pardon-me-but-your.html#disqus_thread

Hmmmm? 

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 10/24/23 at 9:53am

Curious about the contemporary marketability of a show that has a connection to Roman Polanski.

And this is only tangentially related, but I've noticed recently that the Hamilton Deane/John Balderston Dracula is no longer available for licensing from Concord Theatricals. Sometimes a show being taken off the market like that means a revival or tour is in the works.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 10/24/23 at 11:38am

I had an absolute blast at this show when I saw it on Broadway. I was also thrilled to see one of the few performances when the wonderful Rob Evan went on for Michael Crawford (who, admittedly, I am not a fan of). 

I do believe that if they marketed this show properly, it could have some legs. It’s been a smash hit in Germany and elsewhere. Do I think it will be a smash hit in NYC? Absolutely not. But, they marketed the original Broadway production as this serious theatrical event where the Great Michael Crawford would return to Broadway, when in reality it was a hilarious camp-fest of vampires singing about why garlic makes them well hung. And using “Total Eclipse of the Heart” as a vehicle for a vampire to seduce a woman? I truly ate it up. 

I’m curious to see if this is real, and what would happen if it returned, but you best believe that I will be eagerly *seated* if it does. 

Updated On: 10/24/23 at 11:38 AM

[jakethesnake]

Posted: 10/24/23 at 11:44am

It was the loudest show I ever heard on Broadway.  And I still slept through half of it.  A complete bore. 

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 10/24/23 at 11:47am

jakethesnake said: "It was the loudest show I ever heard on Broadway. And I still slept through half of it. A complete bore."

Ha! My mother saw it and slept through the entire thing, so as with all theatre, your mileage may vary,  - but particularly with a show like this. 

 

Updated On: 10/24/23 at 11:47 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/24/23 at 12:32pm

It’s been a smash hit in Germany and elsewhere. Do I think it will be a smash hit in NYC? Absolutely not.

The Broadway production was heavily tweaked and modified and was not the same production that was an enormous hit in Germany. Same way the London and Broadway production of TABOO were polar opposites of each other. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/24/23 at 12:47pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "It’s been a smash hit in Germany and elsewhere. Do I think it will be a smash hit in NYC? Absolutely not.

The Broadway production was heavily tweaked and modified and was not the same production that was an enormous hit in Germany. Same way the London and Broadway production of TABOO were polar opposites of each other."

 

Yes, Crawford (coming off of PHANTOM) was pretty much singlehandedly responsible for destroying the Broadway production, since the producers and creatives gave him free rein to make changes, add "laughs" for himself, and otherwise "beef up" his role -- which wound up eliciting the exact opposite response from critics and theatregoers.  

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

Posted: 10/24/23 at 1:06pm

Well... looks like there's a leak in my office. I'll have more to say when I'm in a position to say something beyond that.

[James885]

Posted: 10/24/23 at 1:30pm

Yes, Crawford (coming off of PHANTOM) was pretty much singlehandedly responsible for destroying the Broadway production, since the producers and creatives gave him free rein to make changes, add "laughs" for himself, and otherwise "beef up" his role -- which wound up eliciting the exact opposite response from critics and theatregoers."

Yup. Crawford was the biggest creative force behind so many of the changes that resulted in a Broadway version that was heavily warped and distorted from the original German production. Both Vulture and NYT both did great write-ups a few years ago documenting the backstage bedlam.

I would love to see a more faithful version of the German production stateside, but I can't see it sustaining an open run for very long. Maybe as a limited run, and marketed as a late summer / fall event around the Halloween season.

Updated On: 10/24/23 at 01:30 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/24/23 at 1:39pm

The original Broadway production finalé featuring Mandy Gonzalez, Max von Essen and a surprise appearance at the end.

 

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 10/24/23 at 3:02pm

I had never seen a portly vampire before.  Yes, please bring that back.

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

Posted: 10/24/23 at 6:58pm

At least the response seems fairly enthusiastic... filing that away.

Updated On: 10/24/23 at 06:58 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/24/23 at 8:59pm

Merrily is finally a hit. Why not Count Krolock?

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

Posted: 10/25/23 at 12:00am

Still not (directly) commenting on this leak, but here's a demo or two from the putative revival:

 

[B212323]

Posted: 10/25/23 at 12:35am

James885 said: "Yes, Crawford (coming off of PHANTOM) was pretty much singlehandedly responsible for destroying the Broadway production, since the producers and creatives gave him free rein to make changes, add "laughs" for himself, and otherwise "beef up" his role -- which wound up eliciting the exact opposite response from critics and theatregoers."

Yup. Crawford was the biggest creative force behind so many of the changes that resulted in a Broadway version that was heavily warped and distorted from the original German production. Both Vulture and NYT both did great write-ups a few years ago documenting the backstage bedlam.

I would love to see a more faithful version of the German production stateside, but I can't see it sustaining an open run for very long. Maybe as a limited run, and marketed as a late summer / fall event around the Halloween season."

Here's the Vulture write-up. It's a great read: https://www.vulture.com/article/broadway-dance-of-the-vampires-bloody-disaster.html

[bowtie7]

Posted: 10/25/23 at 9:34am

I loved the European productions I've seen videos of--but always had the suspicion that the show is better in German (a language I don't speak) but less so with the English lyrics. It also takes a long time to get to the castle in the show (basically the entire first act). Also any revival will be incredibly expensive because the lavish sets and costumes are critical to the show (as well as a sizeable orchestra).

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/25/23 at 10:05am

For the love of everything that is good, decent, and sacred..please NO!

Jim Steinman (may he rest in peace) became his own hack.  He took "Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young", a perfectly great song from the soundtrack of the cult classic, "Streets of Fire" and repurposed it (and not in a good way) for this god-awful crap. He also did it to some of the other songs from his catalog.  

The US version of this "show" needs to be buried deep in the annals of Broadway hell. 

 

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

Posted: 10/25/23 at 1:38pm

bowtie7 said: "...any revival will be incredibly expensive because the lavish sets and costumes are critical to the show (as well as a sizeable orchestra)."

We'll agree to disagree.

Updated On: 10/27/23 at 01:38 PM

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

Posted: 10/25/23 at 1:38pm

CarlosAlberto said: "The US version of this "show" needs to be buried deep in the annals of Broadway hell."

Luckily, ours bears slim, if any, relation to it. :)

Updated On: 10/27/23 at 01:38 PM

[jakethesnake]

Posted: 10/25/23 at 5:37pm

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "CarlosAlberto said: "The US version of this "show" needs to be buried deep in the annals of Broadway hell."

Luckily, ours bears slim, if any, relation to it. :)"

Are we supposed to know who you are?   I'm confused.  Are you the producer?

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

Posted: 10/25/23 at 5:40pm

I'm involved, but not prepared to comment beyond that at this time.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 10/25/23 at 6:21pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "The original Broadway production finalé featuring Mandy Gonzalez, Max von Essen and a surprise appearance at the end.

 

"

Truly and genuinely one of the most insane things I’ve ever seen.

[ManinChair5]

Posted: 10/25/23 at 6:26pm

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "I'm involved, but not prepared to comment beyond that at this time."

See you at the Tonys, I’m sure. 
 

Supposedly Gaten Matarazzo is part of a workshop for this, which sounds fun. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/25/23 at 6:26pm

I’m not sure a full production is the best idea. It’s unlikely the show will ever be as successful in English as it has been in other countries. The rights holders would probably be better served releasing a reference recording to coincide with licensing an official English version of the show and try to make something from regional stagings rather than losing millions on a revival. Unfortunately, if those demos are the final product I don’t think it’s ready. It still sounds like lyrics translated from another language. 20 years later audiences are more accustomed to pop songs being repurposed in musicals, why would they take the most recognizable song and use completely new lyrics audiences will be unfamiliar with? The turn around/every now and then/total eclipse of the heart lyrics should be in there somewhere at the very least. It sounds like the lyricists are so afraid of the camp factor that they’ve completely pivoted to boring.

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

Posted: 10/25/23 at 7:10pm

If you're referring to the interpolations within what is now "Hungry for Love," we just didn't have a female or ensemble vocalists handy at the time. (You also apparently missed the huge section that begins "And I need you now tonight...", I assume.)

For that matter, you'll be happy to know that the love duet at the top of Act II is virtually unchanged from the Grammy-winning original, with minimal blotting for characterization purposes.

Updated On: 10/27/23 at 07:10 PM