I think Frank mentioned the possibility of doing this in a 2007 interview.

I've not heard anything about it recently, but I'd love to see it done there! And of course, a cast recording and/or video clips would be welcome. I wonder how they'd translate the lyrics, though? Because of the structure of the language, "Life After Life" in particular seems like it'd be a really tricky one to translate.

Yes I've read the interview too. Can't find the link but according to it, Yaki Ao (or something like that) was interested in the show and wanted to play Dracula although it wasn't a Takarazuka production. I dunno if it will turn out true though.
I would like a Toho production yes. As long as no female Dracula...the script already has enough changes... :P

Yeah, I'd like it to be a Toho production as well. If Takarazuka gets the rights as well and also does their own version, I'd be cool with that. But I'd love to see Kiyotaka Imai (featured on the 1999 Tokyo cast of "Phantom of the Opera") as Dracula.

Hmm...I think I would prefer Yuichiro Yamaguchi as Dracula... And definitly Ayaki Nao as either Mina or Lucy :P

Was the Japanese "Rudolf" all-female? I don't remember if Frank meant Takarazuka or someone else was interested in "Dracula" over there. I think "Cyrano De Bergerac" was also mentioned.

Rudold was presented by Toho ;)
And about Cyrano de Bergerac I never heard any rumor, apart from the Spanish production. Nan talks in ger website in a Korean production of Camille Claudel though (I think its Camille...)

I've never heard Ayaki Nao, but I'll try to find recordings! What shows has she been in?

And I loved Yuichiro in Phantom of the Opera (as both Raoul and the Phantom), but I thought a lot of his recent stuff was a bit of a letdown . . . In the 2006 Japanese production of Tanz der Vampire (in which he played Krolock), he seems to have lost a lot of what made his Phantom so vocally breathtaking. He can still hold notes insanely long, but doesn't really have a great upper range like he used to.

Also, I find that Dracula tends to be a role that (like Krolock) requires a rock-ish edge, especially if they decide to take the same approach as in the Graz production. Yuichiro seems to be better at soft, lyrical approaches to songs.

Ayaki Nao retired from Takarazuka around two years ago, you can see her as Der Tod in the 2005 Moon Troup Cast of Elisabeth

As for Yuichiro...Krolock isn't suposed to sound like Phantom...Steve Barton made him sound like that, but its not biding, and I find Yuichiro's aproach to it very good and specially very different from Steve's.
He's also my favourite Japanese Der Tod, and he rocked a bit more the songs. so he can rock them, he normaly doens't.
I love the Graz Dracula, but I would prefer it to have a bit more "classical" orchestrations instead of the rocky ones, and in Japan they would probably not go Rock on Dracula for sure, so Yamaguchi is perfect.

Found the interview http://broadwayworld.com/article/Frank_Wil..._WORLD_20071002

Frank said Spring 2009 for Female Dracula. 2009 is 3 days from now. Any news about this?

I think Spring 2009 is pretty optimistic at this point. The latest word I heard was that they're still trying to get the logistics together (venue availability, for one). My personal guess: it could be later 2009, or maybe end up 2010. But they're still working on this. The other productions in Japan (Rudolf, Pimpernel) can't hurt either.

I was always rather disapointed they didn't released a Japanese Cast Recording of RUDOLF but I guess VBW wants to be the first one to release one since they financed the show's creation.

Anyway, I would really like DRACULA to have its desearved Internation experience even though I don't like the idea of a female Dracula at all. Lets keep fingers crossed for this ! :P