Yeah, this has been announced before. There will also soon be a full-scale version in Japan, since (as of now) they just have a 30-minute, cut-down version.
Lizzie and Purpleprince, No it's true that Wikipedia is not ALWAYS correct. however, in a day and age where anyone can write anything and publish it. Wikipedia is just as correct as most other things out there.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
I don't know if I would want to see Aris Sas' talents wasted in Wicked...though I would love to hear him sing Fiyero's part. Or any part, really. Or the dictionary.
I'm sure Idina's German pronunciation wouldn't be more hideous than any number of people employed by Stella in any given production in the late 90s, but god I hope not.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
I don't know what I think of Aris Sas as Fiyero...I saw him live and he kind of blew chunks...But I think Wicked will be huge in Germany, it's a style of music that tends to do well in Europe.
Lizzie - I just wanted to make sure that you knew 'Stella' no longer exists. Vereinigten Buhnen Wien has acted as the saving company for Stella, as has Stage Entertainment, originally Stage Holding. Don't knock Stella's efforts, they were able to produce some wonderful shows and are currently going strong under their new name.
...I think it's awesome that Stage Entertainment is handling the transfer for Wicked. If Michael Kunze would pen the tranlsation, he would probably improve it an incredible amount from the original. I love the arts in Europe, maybe it'll fix this problematic production.
I CAN'T WAIT!!!
Phantom05
------- "We Drink Your Blood And Then We Eat Your Soul, Nothings Gonna Stop Us Let The Bad Times Roll"
-------"Past The Point Of No Return, No Backward Glances, Abandon Thought And Let The Dream Begin"
I actually think a Japan version will do well. They've had very successful versions of A Chorus Line, Phantom, Mamma Mia!, just to name a few.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
If you just listen to the sounds, Craww, German does sound a little harsh, but as someone who speaks German, I can assure you that the actual lyrics to many German shows are quite beautiful. In some cases, I actually prefer the German diction over the English... And I agree, Phantom05 - I think Michael Kunze could work wonders with Schwartz's clunky lyrics...and perhaps you just saw Aris on an off-night? I've liked what I've seen/heard of him.
The Germans produce such high-quality shows, especially the famous Broadway productions, which they should have given up doing (or, realistically, scaled it back) after Broadway ruined their TANZ. It works both ways. Sigh, I would rather see a new Kunze musical before this takes over Germany
IMO
Who can explain it, who can tell you why?
Fools give you reasons, wise men never try
-South Pacific
"Sigh, I would rather see a new Kunze musical before this takes over Germany "
Well, Rebecca just opened in Vienna and Marie Antoinette did likewise in Japan, so there you go - two new Kunze/Levay shows, although neither is as impressive as Elisabeth (Rebecca sounds a lot like Mozart and some of its songs are discarded Mozart demos, MA uses some discarded Elisabeth tracks as well). No word on what Rebecca will do after it closes next year, but IIRC, MA is slated for Vienna in 2008.
If Kunze does the German translation for Wicked, it will be enough to make me want the CD, as he will probably remove a good deal of the suck from the English script.
Also, Maike Boerdram (sp?) for Elphaba. Saw a clip of her doing DG for the Musicals in Ahoy concert this year and she sounded pretty good in it - if nothing else it'll keep her from Elisabeth for a while.