MAX VON ESSEN ~ VAMPIRE LESTAT READING

[CherylA928]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 2:15pm

Max has been offered a great role in the reading of VAMPIRE LESTAT. It's actually two roles, Nicholas in the first act & Louis in act two. The musical will be based on Anne Rice's vampire trilogy ~ Interview With the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned. Anyone familiar with the story, will know these characters.

This is an enormous opportunity for Max. BRAVO!!

Music ~ Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Book ~ Linda Woolverton (Aida, Beauty & the Beast)
Producer ~ Warner Brothers

VAMPIRE LESTAT plans to open on Broadway in 2005. The reading is scheduled for next month and, at this time, there is no information as to it being opened to the public.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 2:26pm

I am so happy to hear this, Max Von Essen is my idol, and I just think that he deserves this so much! I am so excited about the show, and cannot wait for it to open!!!

See Ya!
Phantom05

[Duane Reade]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 2:31pm

So happy Max got work. So sad he's involved in another vampire flop.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 2:34pm

Yeah, I am really hopeing that Elton John can pull of another hit with "The Vampire Lestat". From what I have read it sounds like an awesome show! Just out of curiousity, where did you find out about Max and this offer?!?!?

Phantom05

Updated On: 10/11/03 at 02:34 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 2:34pm

Max is well on his way to becoming the Bela Lugosi of Broadway musicals.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 3:03pm

Poor Max! He's gonna be stuck in Vampire musicals forever! Next stop: Dracula! The Musical.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 3:29pm

Then Count Alucard: The Sequel!

[IssaMe]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 3:49pm

And by then, it will be time for the Encores! revival of DOTV.

I still want Max as Tony in the upcoming 2004 Broadway revival of West Side Story. Guess that will take a call to Jerry Mitchell (or Stuart Howard)...but not this week...what with Never Gonna Dance getting ready to preview.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 3:56pm

Only they'll be calling the Encores version "the underappreciated DOTV."

[Phantom05]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 3:56pm

I hope he wins a Tony for "The Vampire Lestat". He is such an AMAZING performer, and I wish him all the best.....He would be AWESOME as Tony in "West Sid Story"!!!!


Phantom05

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 3:59pm

Honey, the show has to proceed past the reading stage (which often brings casting changes) and then the show has to open on Broadway and it has to be good before Tony awards start being handed over. So don't put the cart before the oxen.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 4:01pm

I know, but he's so great, and I just hope that he succeeds!

Bye!

Phantom05

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 4:13pm

I hope you're not one of those people who nearly propositioned the dear sweet guy in his guestbook.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 4:33pm

Well this is news....I didn't even know there was a musical in the works. I loved the book...I'm not sure how it'll translate to musical stage but...Well, here's to new ideas!

[Cyndy]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 5:17pm

If I remember correctly, both Lestat and Nicholas (one of the roles Max will be reading) are musicians. Music seems to play a big role in several of Anne Rice's stories. If this is done well...this could be a great musical. At least I'll keep high hopes for it.
And I don't think Max is going to get stuck in Vampire roles...even though I'd love to see him get this one if this goes past a reading. I've seen him in three different and very diverse roles since DOTV. With nice reviews to boot. He's really a talented kid and I wish him well.

[DofB5]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 5:19pm

Hooray for Max! Break a leg!

Hated the book. Movie was take it or leave it but I'm always willing to give a vampire another chance.

D

[Phantom05]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 9:07pm

I saw Dance of the Vampires...Actually before then I really hadn't heard of anyone in DOTV except for Michael Crawford. When you think about it, DOTV had an extremely talented cast! I just like to support people!!! Musetta1957...what did you mean by your comment?

Phantom05

Updated On: 10/11/03 at 09:07 PM

[CherylA928]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 9:20pm

>Just out of curiousity, where did you find out about Max and this offer?!?!?
Phantom05


The information came from Max. We asked him if we
could share it with the boards and he said “Sure”.

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 9:33pm

"Musetta1957...what did you mean by your comment?"

http://htmlgear.tripod.com/guest/control.guest?u=maxvonessen
Take a look at pages 8 through 11.

And you had never heard of Rene Auberjonois?

[Phantom05]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 10:44pm

Oh yeah, I'm sorry...I forgot about Rene (It's been a while since I saw it)!!! Now that I think about it, I also knew who Liz McCartney was!

Sorry, My Mistake!

Phantom05

[Phantom05]

Posted: 10/11/03 at 10:47pm

WOW! There are some crazy people in that guestbook, geeeezzz.....I'm just excited that he's doing another show!

Phantom05

[King Stevos]

Posted: 10/12/03 at 12:59am

Im not sure that anyone can really make a vampire musical work..BUT if anyone can do it, it will be Sir Elton...you know, I truly like the score to Wildhorns Dracula, I sure hope it will come to broadway eventually...

STEVOS

[Phantom05]

Posted: 10/12/03 at 2:54am

I agree STEVOS, I think that Elton John could very well be the person to pull off a vampire musical, and from what I've heard it sounds like a pretty awesome show!!! In terms of Dracula, I LOVE THE MUSIC and cannot wait for it to make it to Broadway...Des McAnuff is awesome, and Frank Wildhorn's music is superb. Dodger Theatricals is sending Wildhorn's Dracula out on tour in 2004....Finally! If you can't already tell.....I love vampire musicals, hahahaha!!!

Later!

Phantom05

[lhokada]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 4:06pm

Sounds like a wonderful opportunity. Opposite spectrum of role from "Joseph" at the Music Circus in Sacramento. He was really wonderful in that role, and it will be a lot of fun to watch how different this role can be from DOTV.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 4:10pm

Does someone have a substantive explanation as to why they think Elton John is more able to pull off a vampire musical than some other composer?