Dance of the Vampires Postpones First Preview on Bway to Oct. 16 | Playbill

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News Dance of the Vampires Postpones First Preview on Bway to Oct. 16 The long-awaited production of Dance of the Vampires will have to wait just two days more as the Jim Steinman musical delays its previews to Oct. 16 at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre. The show, which will include flying, special effects and upside-down hanging vampires, has postponed its first performance due to the extensive technical time needed to ready the show, a spokesperson at the press office Barlow-Hartman confirmed. The opening date of Nov. 21 remains unchanged.

The long-awaited production of Dance of the Vampires will have to wait just two days more as the Jim Steinman musical delays its previews to Oct. 16 at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre. The show, which will include flying, special effects and upside-down hanging vampires, has postponed its first performance due to the extensive technical time needed to ready the show, a spokesperson at the press office Barlow-Hartman confirmed. The opening date of Nov. 21 remains unchanged.

Tickets for the two scheduled performances may be exchanged or refunded at the point-of-purchase. Tickets ($30-$95) to Dance of the Vampires at the Minskoff Theatre, 200 West 45 Street, can be purchased via Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4100, (800) 755-4000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

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After several years in the making, which included a German-language production, Dance of the Vampires, the musical based on the Roman Polanski film, "The Fearless Vampire Killers," comes to The Great White Way.

The revamped production for Broadway, set to open Nov. 21, stars Michael Crawford and features a score by Jim Steinman with a book by David Ives, Steinman and Michael Kunze (who is also credited with the original German book and lyrics). Tony Award-winning John Rando (Urinetown) directs and John Carrafa (Urinetown, Into The Woods) choreographs the musical, which turns the Minskoff Theatre into 1880's Lower Belabartokovich, Carpathia.

"It starts out in a graveyard with a church behind it, very spooky," began Dance of the Vampires director John Rando, at a Sept. 18 press preview for the musical. Rando then interrupted himself with a cackle the cast seemed familiar with, before continuing: "Sarah and her two friends are out picking mushrooms when they come across this very forbidden territory, near the castle of the Count Von Krolock. They encounter an enormous amazing group of vampires — who happen to love rock 'n' roll and really dance to it well."

Rando told Playbill On-Line the show is not a spoof. "I wouldn't say spoof and I wouldn't really say campy," he explained between rehearsals in September. "It has the elements of that, but I would feel it's more a thrill ride, a thrill show. I think it deals with the dark underbelly of life in a very fun and interesting way."

Tony Award winner Michael Crawford (The Phantom of the Opera) heads the cast as Count von Krolock with Rene Auberjonois (City of Angels) as Professor Abronsius, Max von Essen (Jesus Christ Superstar) as Alfred, Ron Orbach (Laughter On The 23rd Floor) as Chagal, Mandy Gonzalez (Aida) as Sarah and Asa Somers (The Rocky Horror Show) as Herbert. Joining them will be Liz McCartney as Rebecca, Leah Hocking (replacing Julia Murney) as Magda and Mark Price as Boris.

The Vampires ensemble includes David Benoit, Alyssa Claar, Lindsay Dunn, Jocelyn Dowling, Edgar Godineaux, Ashley Amber Haase, Derric Harris, Kerrin Hubbard, Robin Irwin, Terace Jones, Larry Keigwin, Brendan King, Heather McFadden, Raymond McLeod, Erin Leigh Peck, Nathan Peck, Andy Pellick, Joye Ross, Solange Sandy, Jennifer Savelli, Sara Schmidt, Jonathan Sharp, Doug Storm, Jenny Lynn Suckling, Timothy Warren and Jason Woote. Jekyll & Hyde's Robert Evan will serve as the standby for Crawford and Auberjonois.

The creative team behind Dance of the Vampires includes David Gallo (scenic design), Ann Hould-Ward (costume design), Richard Ryan (sound), Ken Billington (lighting design), David Lawrence (hair and wigs) and Angelina Avallone (make-up). Musical director will be Patrick Vacariello, orchestrator Steve Margoshes and musical supervision is by Michael Reed. The Broadway run is being produced by Bob Boyett, USA Ostar Theatricals, Andrew Braunsberg, Lawrence Horowitz, Roy Furman, Michael Gardner, Lexington Road Productions and David Sonenberg.

Before the cast was even, it was announced the original cast recording of Dance of the Vampires will be released by Interscope Records.

Composer Steinman is best known for his epic rock songs including Meatloaf's "Bat Out of Hell" albums, Air Supply's "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All," Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart," which is featured in the musical. The songlist includes "Overture," "Angels Arise," "God Has Left The Building," "Original Sin," "Garlic," "Logic," "There's Never Been A Night Like This," "Don't Leave Daddy," "The Invitation," "A Good Nightmare Comes So Rarely," "The Devil May Care (But I Don't)," "Sometimes We Need The Boogeyman," "Death Is Such An Odd Thing," "Braver Than We Are," "Red Boots Ballet," "Say A Prayer," "Come With Me," "Vampires In Love (Total Eclipse of the Heart)" "Books, Books," "Carpe Noctum," "For Sarah," "Something To Kill (Our Time)," "Death Is Such An Odd Thing" (Reprise), "When Love Is Inside You," "Eternity," "Confession Of A Vampire," "The Ball: The Minuet," "Never Be Enough," "Read My Apocalypse," "Braver Than We Are" (Reprise) and "The Dance Of The Vampires."

Composer Steinman described to Playbill On-Line the feeling of finally seeing his musical come to Broadway after several years in development: "It's actually like being in the center of a hurricane. I don't even think of the larger concept that much, except that it feels great. It felt great in Vienna, in Stuttgart, in London when I did a musical there. It always turns out to be about people sitting in seats and how they react."

For more information, visit the show's website at www.danceofthevampires.com.

 
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