Dracula question

[ScubaSteve]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:23pm

Hey all. I've heard some really bad reviews for Dracula, but I do like Wildhorn (the little I've heard of him thru Jekyll & Hyde and The Scarlet Pimpernel), and I was wondering if there are any redeeming songs taht would make it worth it to actually buy the cast recording. Thanks for the feedback guys.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:28pm

Well, there is no cast recording.

The Studio Recording is hopefully coming out in September.

I love it to death...I will be buying the CD...

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:30pm

I loved the show, as you can see by my icon, If you like Wildhorn, then I think you will like the music, and find it well worth your money. Hope you enjoy it!

[Thenardier]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:32pm

your icon makes me sadder than a puppy without kibbles n bits.

[ScubaSteve]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:34pm

No cast recording? Ouch, my pride...

Guess I should do my homework better next time then...

[Thenardier]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:36pm

There are unofficial cast recordings - and no, that isn't a bootleg joke.

But there will be a studio recording eventually. Don't fret. They recorded it, just working out the legal issues.

[loganp37]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:37pm

I guess if I were not uber lazy like I am, I COULD use the search option but...

...how long did this show run?

[Thenardier]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:39pm

Aug 19 (I think) to Jan 2 (I know)

[loganp37]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:45pm

I heard the show was beautiful to look concerning sets and costumes, and multiple people flying.

Anyone have pictures or a link to a site?

[Thenardier]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:50pm

google image search Dracula Wildhorn - you'll find some great pics...also playbill

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:59pm

Such a shame. It had a lot of potential, they probably should have taken a month off and done a script overhaul. A few moderate re-writes would have made that a great show. "Life After Life" still gets stuck in my head periodically.

[ScubaSteve]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 11:02pm

wow, I expected a lot more negative comments, this is interesting. Did I just not read the right reviews?

[Thenardier]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 11:05pm

No, you did.

Most people hate it. For now, they aren't posting.

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 11:10pm

It's one fo those "cult classic" type shows. Normal people think it's pretty good. Critics (and drama teachers) despise it, cuz they are looking at it criticaly.

[MikeH]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 11:39pm

Here's a link to some large gorgeous pics:


Dracula pics

[WildhornFanatic]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 12:04am

I saw DRACULA and thought it was great. Yes, the script and lyrics need major re-writes, however Wildhorn's music shines. I love Wildhorn and always will. Can't wait for WAITING FOR THE MOON's Broadway debut.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 6:22am

Critics despised it because critics despise Wildhorn & will never give him a good review no matter what he does

[IssaMe]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 7:41am

"Dracula" CD Sept. release for sure...but maybe even a bit earlier in August. And for those who have seen "Waiting for the Moon" and haven't already heard - "Moon's" leading lady Lauren Kennedy is the lead on the studio cast recording of "Dracula".

[ScubaSteve]

Posted: 7/27/05 at 12:02am

Is there a website for Waiting for the Moon info?

[Thenardier]

Posted: 7/27/05 at 12:05am

go to wildhorn's site, there's one there.

I don't know it off hand - it's on the Lenape Valley site.

Lauren Kennedy is playing Lucy.

[musicaldude57]

Posted: 7/27/05 at 12:25am

I saw Dracula last August and it was FANTASTIC! I will definitely be getting the recording. By the way, does anyone know who is going to be Renfield on the recording? Because I though Don Stephenson did a fantastic job, and I don't know if I'd like anyone's Renfield as much as I liked his. Also, Life After Life also gets stuck in my head occasionally :)

[WildhornFanatic]

Posted: 7/27/05 at 1:04am

"Life After Life, you won't have flowers on your grave..."

MMM, last summer.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 7/27/05 at 1:39am

You should hear Bill Youmans has Renfield (yes, Dr. Dillamond in Wicked)....AMAZING

....you won't need prayers
you have no mortal soul to save

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/27/05 at 2:34am

damn rehearsals. I missed all the fun! oh, well. I love DRACULA. I saw it first in La Jolla and didn't get to see it on Broadway, but as far as rewrites go I think they just need to go back and reincorporate some of the La Jolla book. "First Taste", "There Is A Love", "Nosferatu", "The Invitation", "Risks Worth Taking" and "I Always Know What He's Thinking" need to be put back for sure. the show works best when it's singing... and I think William Youmans was a better Renfield. but, he had better material to work with... Updated On: 7/27/05 at 02:34 AM

[Phantom05]

Posted: 7/27/05 at 3:37am

I saw Dracula twice back in August, once during previews, and once after it had opened. I thought that show show as a whole was a little sub-par, BUT I still loved it for the potential that it had. It really could have been such a wonderful show if it weren't for the terrible Lyricist/Book-writing team that is Christopher Hampton and Don Black. The music really was gorgeous! Anyone who says that it was some of Frank's worst music, obviously don't have fully-functioning ears. The main problem with the music was the fact that the orchestra wasn't entirely live, and completely small. A lot of people complained about Doug Besterman's "pop" orchestrations, but frankly I thought they were gorgeous, scare-provoking, and inventive. They would have been gorgeous if they would've been played by a full live orchestra. Wildhorn really did a wonderful job with these songs, but they sequentially made more sense in the La Jolla version. Really the two biggest problems were Christopher Hampton and Don Black; how these two were ever Tony-nominated, or hired by anyone is beyond me. The book, and a lot of the newer lyrics SUCKED; Unless you have read the book, the show jumped around so much that you never knew where you were, or really why anything was happening. In terms of the show's design, Chatherine Zuber's costumes were goreous, and perfect for the show. Heidi Ettinger's set, however, was completely disappointing. Sure it was pretty to look at, but what did it have to do with, within the context of a gothic novel? The scenery in no way evoked the gothic feeling, nor was it in any way eerie in slightest. To be honest, the show was a little too small for my taste. With the scale of the novel, and all that Bram Stoker's novel encompass', I felt that the show should have reflected that (i.e. Larger set, larger ensemble, large LIVE orchestra). Really a show that could've been quite brilliant was just shoved into the spotlight a little too quickly...It wasn't ready to open in the form that it was in. A show that should've evoked a sense of fear and uneasiness, sensual sexuality, and true adventure and class, really just turned out to be a little blah, and although it still love it, quite a bit boring. From what I know of the new German production in St. Gallen, the new team has re-introduced some positive La Jolla influences, cast a larger ensemble, and filled the pit with a much larger orchestra, and basically took the show in a completely different direction than anything that you would have seen in the La Jolla version or Broadway version. The shows European reviews were mixed, but still quite positive. I think the time between the Broadway closing and the St. Gallen opening was the perfect opportunity for Wildhorn and his team to re-evaluate the show and it's problems, and attempt to fix and re-vamp it into the production that it could've always been. I am a great fan of Frank Wildhorn, however not a great fan of who he chooses to collaborate with. I think with one of his newer works he'll get his time to shine, and truely have the Broadway opening he deserves.

Later!

Phantom05