More Vampires flying towards Broadway in Elton John's "Lestat"

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 11:09am

From a Playbill.com article:

"Anne Rice's most indelible vampire character will sing in San Francisco starting in winter 2005, with the world premiere pre-Broadway engagement of Lestat, by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

'Lestat, one of Anne Rice's most celebrated literary characters, is being brought to the stage in the first-ever collaboration of the legendary team of Elton John (music) and Bernie Taupin (lyrics) on a Broadway production,' according to the Curran. 'Based on characters and incidents from Ms. Rice's best-selling novels, 'Interview with the Vampire' and 'The Vampire Lestat,' the book is by Linda Woolverton and Robert Jess Roth directs.'

The project, from new producer Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures — and with Manny Azenberg as a partner — was announced in May 2003, aiming for a 2005 staging."

Will this finally bring a hit Vampire musical to Broadway? Hmm...




Elton John Musical Lestat Will Take a Bite Out of San Francisco in Winter 2005

Updated On: 3/31/05 at 11:09 AM

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 12:21pm

I wonder if Sting would let him borrow Moon over Bourbon Street?

I love Anne Rice and her Vampire Chronicles. I adore the John/Taupin songbook. I'm frightened - very frightened of what could come of this. The Lestat story spans centuries, containing gruesome violence and lush romanticism. While Lestat masquerades as a Rock Star for a small period, it is the epic scope of his story and the baroque language Rice uses in the telling of the tale that has attracted readers again and again over the past quarter century. How do you get that onstage in 2 to 3 hours? Show Boat manages it on a much smaller scale, as does Noel Coward's Cavalcade, and The Kentucky Cycle, but goodness, gracious! I certainly admire the audacity.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 12:31pm

It would've been cool if they could've included some of "Queen of the Damned."

I'm quite interested in this production.

[EclipstHeart]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 2:23pm

i--cautiously--can't wait
im sure ill love it
but then, i did love dance of the vampires
so maybe my judgement is a tad impaired
just maybe

Posted: 3/31/05 at 2:37pm

I have to weigh in on the side of "excited". This property has a lot of potential and I bet Elton will be able to come up with a great score. The rockstar stuff doesn't surface in the two books that are the source material for this show.

[Chloe]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:16pm

Elton has said that this won't be a rock score but have a classical feel, with all acoustic instruments, presumably orchestral.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:18pm

This is coming to Broadway? I think I'll just jump off the roof of my building right now. HEADS UP!

[apdarcey]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:34pm

i'd rather see elton's billy elliot come to broadway first. but i do like elton's theatrical scores. so i'm very supportive.

[Chloe]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:35pm

Have a good flight, mef!

There's something on Broadway.com as well:

San Francisco will be one of the main places to be to see pre-Broadway tryouts in the coming years. The Best of Broadway series in the city has just been announced and it includes Conor McPherson's Shining City, the new musical Lestat, the Johnny Cash tuner Ring of Fire and, as previously reported, the revival of A Chorus Line. ...

Lestat (formerly titled The Vampire Lestat) features music by Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin and a book by Linda Woolverton. It will draw material from three Anne Rice novels (Interview With the Vampire, Queen of the Damned and The Vampire Lestat). Directed by Robert Jess Roth, the show will premiere in at the Curran Theatre in the winter and is expected to hit Broadway in spring 2006.

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:36pm

I am way more excited about billy elliot. But here's hoping a vampire musical will actually work on broadway?

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 1:22am

Is Warner Bros. still doing Batman the Musical?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 6:28am

I wonder if there will be a concept album as there was with Aida

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 9:32am

I'd rather see Billy Elliot. I'm a bit scared at what an Elton John score set to the backdrop of Anne Rice's trilogy will be like. I imagine the whole thing will sound like it should belong in Queen of the Damned and the rest too contemporary for the first two books. Sort of like the bizarre combination of ancient Egypt, fashion shows, pop music, futuristic costumes, lasers, hip-hop stick dancing and contemporary acting that made up Aida. It did not work for me at all.

[Chloe]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 10:14am

TAKE YOUR TIME AND READ SLOWLY: NO ROCK OR POP. ACOUSTIC, ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTATION.