Ok, I've got a bunch of updates on Rudolf here.

First up... the CD. This was orignally expected out for Christmas 2006, and then for Valentine's Day 2007. I checked into it again, and the latest word is that they won't have it out for Valentine's Day. They haven't recorded it yet, but they are still working on it. There are some interesting possibilities that could go along with this, that I can't talk about right now. Suffice to say, we'll have to wait and see on this (and I'll post more as soon as I can).

Next, the plans in Vienna. Rebecca has just extended its run at the Raimund Theatre for several months. This means that Rudolf won't premiere there this Fall. Again, the powers-that-be are continuing to work on things. We should look for the Vienna opening in 2008 (and as I understand it, opening shows there is best in the fall, so they may do that rather than go ahead in the spring).

Meanwhile, the show is going strong in Hungary. Performance dates for March (the 2nd through the 4th) and April (the 14th and 15th) have just been posted. Plus, the show will be returning to the Szeged Open-Air Festival this summer! Dates for that have been announced as 9-12 August, with 13 August as a rain date.

As Frank would say - keep the faith.

Best,
Peter

Ok about Rudolf in Vienna, rumors that go around say that:

1st - Pia Douwes, Carin Filipcic and Maya Hakvoort auditioned for the show...

2nd - Drew Sarich is expected to play the role of Rudolf and Wietske van Tongeren (the new Mrs. de Winter in Rebecca) is to play Mary

3rd - Frank is revising the role of Count Taaffe for Uwe Kroger...

Is any of this official or at least remotly true? :blink:

(I'm specially worried with Uwe playing Taaffe...the role doesn't feat him at all, and having him would only ruin the best songs in the Musical...)

I'm confused. It's delayed until 2008? That's this year. Or is it delayed until late 2009? Please not 2010 :(

the cast presentation will take place probably in October
please still have a little patience
;)

RUDOLF will open at the Raimund Theater in Wien somewere in February 2009 after REBECCA close in December of this year ;)
Honestly I would prefer RUDOLF to go to the Ronacher after THE PRODUCERS and leave REBECCA open...(that way I would be able to see both with just one trip :lol: )

I have patience...but I'm curious about these rumors... :rolleyes:

OMG! I thought Juggler just posted this! :angry:

I can't verify that this is true, but I honestly don't understand what all the hype is about Uwe. Hes' just an OK performer in my opinion, but he's huge in Austria.

Pia Douwes, on the other hand, is FANTASTIC and Drew Sarich is very talented as well. I think he would make a better Rudolf vocally than Atilla in Hungary.

If Douwes is casted, she'll probably play the part of Countess Larisch because of her very powerful voice. There's a song in the second act called "Only Heroes Dare" that Larisch sings that has the same type of haunting melody as "Rebecca" in Rebecca.

Uwe was and still his Germany's and Austria Musical Star nº1. And he did deserved the title until a few times ago...Uwe had an amazing voince and acted really well, but he's not young anymore and his voice is starting to get lost.
His last major work/hit was in Berlin production of 3 Musketiere and even there he was already starting to miss notes.
Other thing is, if they Cast Uwe, they have assured public attendence enough to recup the investment, because even with him not good anymore, there are still legions of fans... ;)


As for Pia...as much as I loved to see her as Larisch, I doubt she'll be there...she'll premiere in the end of this year in the role of Norma Desmond, in the Dutch production of Sunset Boulevard, and since Rudolf opens in February I think its unlike that Pia just stays in Sunset for 3 months...

Dracula was my first exposure to him and unfortunately effected my view of him negatively. His version of "Roseanne" is just plain annoying and whiney in the show, but it does sound a bit better studio-recorded on the CD. He's also pretty good on "Zu Ende" (It's Over). Acting-wise, he's alright but they try to make him look too young for the role of Van Helsing. I'd watch Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing if I wanted to see an unrealistic portrayal. I honestly do think Uwe's talented, but not enough to be getting all the attention that he does. Just my opinion-- I've only heard him in a few shows.

That's unfortunate to hear about Pia. She's one of my favorite international theatre vocalists. I was also impressed by Lyn Lichtey, whom I first heard in Dracula as well.

I've been exposed to many new performers thanks to Frank's shows going overseas, and I've liked the majority of them. In terms of Rudolf, it's obvious that Hungarians look for a very distinct nasal/glottal sound in their singers that I dont' find too appealing as an American. Attila Dolhai I can tolerate, but I can't stand the alternate Rudolf, Arpad Zsolt Meszaros. Same with the alternate Mary, Zsuzsi Vago. Their voices are so forced and often crack as a result.

Yeah I understand your point if you met Uwe for the first time in Dracula. He has all the attention he gets because it was him who originated the role of "Death" in the Hit-German-musical Elisabeth. He played also Joe Gillis in the german production of Sunset Boulevard (and its my favourite Joe along with the L.A one), played Colloredo in Mozart!, Javert in Les Miserables, he also played Napoleon in Canada, Phantom is Essen, and a lot more other roles... beeing now Maxim de Winter in Rebecca and Van Helsing in Dracula his last works

He is also Pia's natural partner. Its very unusual to have a german playe were's Uwe and not Pia since they both took of with Elisabeth as Death and Sisi. I strongly advise you to get the german cast of Sunset Boulevard or the Essen Cast CD of Elisabeth were he is at his best. ;)

And I agree with you on Zsolt as Rudolf, he annoys me to death too, but I just love Zsuzsi :D

do you know this?

Rudolf

Thats a TV broadcast of the premiere in Budapest...can't say more, I don't speak a word of Hungarian :P