Dance of the Vampires
| Dance of the Vampires Tanz der Vampire |
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|---|---|
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| Music | Jim Steinman |
| Lyrics |
Michael Kunze Jim Steinman (New York) Kirke Kangro (Tallinn) Daniel Wyszogrodzki (Warsaw) Miklós Tibor (Budapest) Marika Hakola (Seinäjoki,Helsinki) |
| Book |
Michael Kunze Jim Steinman (New York) David Ives (New York) Miklós Tibor (Budapest) |
| Basis | 1967 Roman Polanski film, The Fearless Vampire Killers |
| Productions | 1997 Vienna 2000 Stuttgart 2000 Tallinn 2002 Broadway 2003 Hamburg 2005 Warsaw 2006 Tokyo 2006 Berlin 2007 Budapest 2008 Oberhausen 2009 Vienna Revival 2010 Stuttgart Revival 2010 Antwerpen 2011 Seinäjoki 2011 St. Petersburg 2011 Berlin Revival 2011 Nitra 2014 Paris 2016 Helsinki 2016 St. Petersburg Revival 2016 Moscow 2016 Berlin Revival |
Dance of the Vampires (or Tanz der Vampire as the original German language version is named) is a musical remake of a 1967 Roman Polanski film of the same name (called The Fearless Vampire Killers in the USA). Polanski also directed the original German production of this musical. Music was composed by Jim Steinman and orchestrated by Steve Margoshes, and original German book and lyrics were written by Michael Kunze.
This synopsis applies to the European and Japanese productions only. The Broadway version was heavily rewritten. In addition, portions of this synopsis may reflect later changes to the European show, which will become clear when one reads the song list below.
Some time in the late 19th century, Professor Abronsius and Alfred, his young but bumbling sidekick, arrive in a small Jewish shtetl somewhere in the Carpathians, where they hope to prove the Professor's theory that vampires actually do exist. Naturally, the villagers are in deep denial and refuse to confirm his beliefs. Nearly freezing to death in the nearby woods (He, Ho, He), the two are taken in by Chagal, a stereotypical Jewish inkeeper who spends most of his free time lusting after Magda, his beautiful non-Jewish chambermaid, much to the disdain of his long suffering wife, Rebecca (Knoblauch - Garlic).
After exploring the rooms upstairs in which they are staying (Bitte, meine Herren - Please, Gentleman), Alfred discovers and is smitten by Chagal's beautiful seventeen-year-old daughter, Sarah. Chagal is very protective of his child, going as far as boarding up her room so she wouldn't bathe around the two guests (Eine schöne Tochter ist ein Segen - A Beautiful Daughter is a Blessing). That night, Alfred and Sarah sing of their mutual attraction, while Chagal does some more fooling around with the maid, and Abronsius is swiftly knocked on the head by Chagal's wife (Nie geseh'n - Never Seen). Unknown to Alfred, late at night Sarah is serenaded by a mysterious stranger, promising her eternal life and power (Gott ist tot - God is Dead).
The next morning, the Professor bears witness to a small business exchange between Chagal and Koukol, a hideous hunchback living somewhere in the woods (Alles ist hell - Everything's Bright). He inquires about the odd man (Wahrheit - Truth), but Chagal refuses to discuss the matter. That same night, Sarah tricks Alfred into giving up his bath for her (Du bist wirklich sehr nett - You're Really Very Nice) and as she joyfully soaps her sponge, Count von Krolock, an aristocratic vampire breaks into the bathroom from the roof above and invites her to a midnight ball at his castle (Einladung zum Ball - Invitation to the Ball). He is about to bite the girl, but Alfred, who has been spying on Sarah's bathing ritual, screams for help. Chagal and Rebecca arrive, furious. Sarah's father spanks her and forbids her to ever go outside.
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