WISH-LIST WEDNESDAY (sort of): Tanz der Vampire

For the final entry during this spooky season, we look to Germany and a show that has had very little exposure in the English speaking world, but plenty of attention in continental Europe. Based on the 1967 film of the same name by Roman Polanski, "Tanz der Vampire" (or "Dance of the Vampires") first premiered in Vienna in 1997, and has had a whole host of German language productions across Germany and Austria, to enormous critical acclaim. It tells the story of Professor Abronsius and his assistant named Alfred, and the pair's voyage to the ever-spooky Transylvania hoping they can prove that vampires are in fact real.

Finding shelter at an inn runn by the Jewish innkeeper Chagal, Alfred soon falls in love with his daughter Sarah, whose affections are also sought by the sinister Count von Krolock, a powerful and seductive vampire lord. The show has a score by Jim Steinman, best known for his work with musicians like Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler, as well as the "Bat out of Hell" musical, and original book and lyrics by Michael Kunze, however there were heavy revisions made when the show made its broadway premiere in 2002, penned by Steinman and David Ives.

In spite of its numerous successful German language productions over the years, and an original NY cast featuring Michael Crawford, Mandy Gonzalez and Max Von Essen, the show was a monumental flop when it premiered on broadway, however this is largely thought to be due to a heavily revised iteration being staged, that was critically panned and is considered one of broadway's biggest flops. Perhaps then, if the musucal was kept more close to its original version, another English language production could be much more successful...