Wildhorn Stages Trifecta of New Musicals in Europe

Tony and Grammy nominated composer Frank Wildhorn, who, in 1999, had three shows running on Broadway simultaneously, is about to duplicate that feat in Europe, with three new original musicals.

CARMEN (book by Norman Allen, lyrics by Jack Murphy), currently running at the Karlin Theatre in Prague and starring the Czech Republic's biggest pop star Lucie Bila, has broken all box office records there. 

Opening on February 26th at the Raimund Theatre in Vienna, RUDOLF: THE MAYERLING AFFAIR (book & lyrics by Jack Murphy, additional lyrics by Nan Knighton) is directed by David Leveaux (Nine, Fiddler On The Roof), and features Drew Sarich (Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, Lestat, revival of Les Miserables), newcomer Lisa Antoni, and European superstar Uwe Kroeger.  

Opening on March 14th at the prestigious Theatre St. Gallen in St. Gallen, Switzerland, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (book & lyrics by Jack Murphy) features Thomas Borchert (Jekyll & Hyde, Dracula) and Sophie Berner, directed by Andreas Gergen.

Later this year, Wildhorn will also open CYRANO (book & lyrics by Leslie Bricusse) in Madrid, starring Spanish superstar Raphael. CYRANO will have its world premiere this year in May in Tokyo, starring Kaga, who has been playing Jekyll & Hyde there. 

The Count of Monte Cristo has already yielded an English pre-cast recording, featuring Thomas Borchert, Brandi Burkhardt, European superstar Pia Douwes, the original German Phantom Alexander Goebel, Jesper Tyden, Mathias Edenborn, Mark Seibert, Patrick Stanke, and Coleen Schoots. The CD topped the European charts for 10 weeks at #1.

The cast recording of Carmen has also been on the European charts, and recordings of Rudolf are forthcoming.

In 1999 Frank Wildhorn, notably became the first American composer in twenty-two years to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway: Jekyll & Hyde, Scarlet Pimpernel, and The Civil War, which altogether garnered eight Tony nominations.

Mr. Wildhorn also wrote additional songs for Broadway's Victor/Victoria and was a producer and co-creator of Harlem Song at the legendary Apollo Theater. Most recently in the United States, Wildhorn's For the Glory: The Civil War Musical opened at the Majestic Theater in Gettysgurg, PA. Recently, Wildhorn has enjoyed International success with Never Say Goodbye (written with Shuichiro Koike) performed by Takarazuka Revue in Takarazuka, Japan; Rudolf - The Last Kiss (written with Jack Murphy & Nan Knighton) opening in Budapest, Hungary and in Vienna, Austria and multiple productions of Jekyll & Hyde: In Concert.