Famous and popular, throughout the world, the musical Dance of the Vampires is based on Roman Polaski´s movie screenplay of The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) . Micheal Kunze - much acclaimed writer of German songs and translations for Evita, Cats, Mamma Mia and many more - created the libretto of Dance of the Vampires. The music was composed by Jim Steinman, also known as the Wagner of Rock Music. He composed, among other things great hits such as Total Eclipse of the Heart, the French version of which was until recently number one in France, Belgium and Poland. The plot is set in the romantic Transsylvania more than a hundred years ago. Professor Abronsius, the fearless Vampire hunter assisted by his young helper, is following the scent of the vampires. When arriving in Chagal's restaurant they catch sight of strings of garlic hanging everywhere in order to frighten the vampires. None of the villagers acknowledge that there are vampires living in the nearby castle, however, their longing for garlic boarders an obsession. The extremely romantic and sentimental Alfred falls on love with the innkeeper's daughter who also returns his feelings. Suddenly, count Krolock appears when hearing the girl's wonderful, unintentionally enchanting song and invites her to a ball to be held in his castle. Sarah has a sudden desire for the world of the immortals. This undying attraction causes much exciting confusion, which the vampire hunters' humorous adventures are adding relish to. This spectacular and entertaining satire was premiered in Vienna in 1997, directed by Roman Polanski, with an enormous success. Following the premiere, the audience hustled to get tickets - a million people could see this extremely successful performance. After the premiere in Vienna, the cult musical was celebrated in Stuttgart, Hamburg, the Broadway, Warsaw and in 2006 in Tokyo. The exciting musical is one of today's most fascinating plays as to its music and spectacle. In 2007 it will be presented to the Hungarian audience as well, who have long been waiting for it.
While Steinman's fans acclaim it as his biggest musical success, about 70% of the musical score written by Steinman was recycled from his earlier projects, mainly from his less-known shows like The Dream Engine and The Confidence Man (co-written with Ray Errol Fox), although it also features music from his widely known records like "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (remade as "Totale Finsternis") and the melody, but not the lyric, from a Bat Out Of Hell II song called "Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are" (remade as "Die Unstillbare Gier").
Characters - Flemish Cast:
* Graf von Krolock, the powerful and seductive vampire lord. - Hans Peter Janssens
* Professor Abronsius, an absent-minded vampire hunter - Marc Lauwrijs
* Alfred, Abronsius' young well-meaning assistant - Niels Jacobs (Understudy: Leendert De Vis)
* Sarah, the innkeeper's beautiful young daughter - Ann Van Opstal (Understudy: Sarah Gracia Santacreu)
* Chagal, a Jewish innkeeper and Sarah's over-protective father - Frank Hoelen
* Rebecca, Chagal's long-suffering wife - Lulu Aertgeerts
* Magda, the pretty maid-of-all trades at Chagal's inn - Goele De Raedt
* Herbert von Krolock, the Count's homosexual son - Michaël Zanders
* Koukol, the Count's hunchbacked servant - James Cooke
