News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
Michael Kunze Headshot

Michael Kunze

Get Michael Kunze Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

BIO

Michael Kunze is a lyricist and librettist of the musical theater. His hit shows ELISABETH, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES, MOZART!, MARIE ANTOINETTE, REBECCA, MOSES, LADY BESS, DON CAMILLO & PEPPONE and MATTERHORN have reached an audience of more than 19 million people. The worldwide box office gross of his works has passed the 1 billion mark. As a lyricist he has created more than 200 chart songs and was honored with a Grammy and an Echo Lifetime Award. He also wrote several books.


His musicals are regarded the foundation of a new genre of the contemporary popular musical theatre, called the DramaMusical. It is characterized by an elaborate dramatic structure which integrates elements of the film structure into the classic two act drama form. Michael likes to describe himself as “an architect of the musical drama”.


Michael grew up in Munich, where he studied law, history and philosophy. In the late 1960s, he started to write pop songs, and soon became one of the best known songwriters of Germany. As a producer of international acts, he hit the top of both the Billboard and Cashbox charts in the US. Michael and his friend, composer Sylvester Levay, were the first Germans ever to win the coveted Grammy Award.
At the top of his success, Michael wrote a non-fiction book, "Highroad to the Stake", that was awarded the 1981 Faculty Prize by the Munich University Law School, was translated into several languages and highly praised by the New York Times Book Review.
In 1992, the first of his stage musicals opened in Vienna, a drama about the life of the Empress Elisabeth of Austria (music: Sylvester Levay). It ran for almost six years and was soon exported to other countries, such as Japan, Hungary, Sweden, Holland and Germany.
Collaborating with Roman Polanski (director) and Jim Steinman (composer), Michael wrote his first English libretto and lyrics for the musical, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES. A German version opened in October 1997 at the Viennese Raimund Theater to raving reviews and became an international hit.
Michael has written most of his shows with his close friend, Sylvester Levay. Their second show, MOZART!, also became an immediate success. In 2006 his REBECCA, based on Daphne Du Maurier's famous novel, premiered at Vienna's Raimund Theater. MARIE ANTOINETTE, a musical dramatizing the events of the French Revolution, had a grand opening in Tokyo's most prestigious Imperial Theatre on November 1, 2006, premiered in 2009 in Europe and in 2014 in Seoul/Korea. In 2012 Michael's musical MOSES (music: Dieter Falk) premiered in Switzerland where it ran for three years. Michael and Sylvester's LADY BESS, telling the story of the young Elizabeth of England, opened in April 2014 in Tokyo. In 2017 he created a pop oratory for 3000 voices celebrating the rebellious monk, Martin LUTHER. This huge event toured European concert halls. In 2018 Michael’s show about man’s destruction of nature, MATTERHORN (music by Albert Hammond), opened in Switzerland. Currently he is working on a new choir event titled BETHLEHEM, and on another musical scheduled to open in Seoul in 2022. He is also busy writing another book, a biography of the internationally known legal theorist Rudolf von Jhering (1818-1892).
In addition to his Grammy, Michael holds an Echo Lifetime Award, 79 Gold and Platinum Records, 3 Golden Europe Awards, 2 Best Musicals Awards (Image1996 and Image 1998), Musical Of The Year Award 2000 (Mozart!), 2001 (Elisabeth), 2003 (Dance Of The Vampires), 2007 (Rebecca) and 2009 (Marie Antoinette). For his non-fiction books he was honored by the Academic Society Of Göttingen with the prestigious Grimm Brothers Award (2018). Michael is a member of GEMA, Deutsche Dramatiker Union and The Dramatists Guild, Inc. New York. He and his wife, Roswitha, live in Hamburg / Germany.

Productions

 
[West End, 2023]
Original Book and Lyrics
 
[Broadway, 2002]
Book Revisions

Writing

Bookwriter
Lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Lyricist

News


The Pleasance Will Launch 2024 'Best of Edinburgh' Season for Their Islington Home

If you didn’t manage to catch the Pleasance’s sold-out shows in the Scottish capital this Summer, you’re in for a treat! After the success of their 40th anniversary Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Pleasance Theatre Trust is bringing an exciting and diverse season of Fringe favourites with theatre, comedy, cabaret, magic and children’s shows to London this Autumn. With 50 shows, there’s something for everyone at Pleasance London, with all performances now on sale.  
Review: EDINBURGH 2024: MICHAEL KUNZE: INFINITY MIRROR, Underbelly, Cowgate

Walking into Michael Kunze: Infinity Mirror, audiences are greeted by Kunze himself, who is standing on the stage making sandwiches. After taking a few orders from audience members, he then begins some audience participation, tossing slices of fake ham into the audience and encouraging them to throw them like a Frisbee onto the slice of bread.
Review: EDINBURGH 2024 CSI: CRIME SCENE IMPROVISATION, Underbelly, Bristo Square.

CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation thrives on murder, mystery and managing the unknown. The Chandeliers Theatre Company are a team of talented comedic actors with panache, bags of energy and total willingness to engage.
CSI: CRIME SCENE IMPROVISATION Returns to Wilton's Music Hall

CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation will be returning to Wilton’s Music Hall on Saturday 28 September as part of the company’s 10th anniversary year.
Michael Kunze Makes Edinburgh Fringe Debut With INFINITY MIRROR

Award-winning comic performer, writer and director, Michael Kunze makes his eagerly anticipated Fringe solo debut as super-flawed Hollywood film superstar Mitch Coony in Infinity Mirror, a one-man sketch show directed by Lee Griffiths (credits including co-directing Lorenzo).
Listen: Hear 'Sei Bereit (Gott Ist Tot)' From TANZ DER VAMPIRE

Hear the Hamburg cast of the musical Dance Of The Vampires (Tanz Der Vampire) perform the song, 'Sei Bereit (Gott Ist Tot)' below!
REBECCA is Now Playing Through 7 January in Vienna

Rebecca has extended through 7 January in Vienna. Learn more about the show here!
London Cast Set For BATSU! at Underbelly Boulevard

 Underbelly has announced the UK company for BATSU!. Having recently expanded to London from Chicago and New York, the Japanese game show inspired event has since made Underbelly Boulevard its home.
SPIRITED AWAY at The London Coliseum Extends Five Additional Weeks

A five-week extension  has been announced for the European premiere of the stage adaptation of SPIRITED AWAY at the London Coliseum.
Hamburg Production of HAMILTON Will Be Replaced by TANZ DER VAMPIRE

The Hamburg production of Hamilton will close this Sunday after a year-long run and taking home the top musical prize at the German Musical Theater Awards.
Review Roundup: English-Language REBECCA Premieres at Charing Cross Theatre

Richard Carson, Lauren Jones and Kara Lane head the cast for the much anticipated English language premiere of the critically acclaimed musical Rebecca. Check out what the critic are saying about the new musical.
Review: REBECCA, Charing Cross Theatre

The project has been a top hit in its native Austria since it opened in 2006, garnering a steady following across the world and subsequent runs in Asia and Europe. The original is fabled to feature incredible sets and a sumptuous staging - it’s a shame those elements haven’t transferred.
Photos: First Look at the English Language Premiere of REBECCA

Richard Carson, Lauren Jones and Kara Lane head the cast for the eagerly anticipated English language premiere of the critically acclaimed musical ‘Rebecca’. Check out all new photos here!
Find Out How to Get Tickets to SPIRITED AWAY at the London Coliseum

The priority and general on sale dates have been announced for the European premiere of the stage adaptation of SPIRITED AWAY, which opens at the London Coliseum on 30 April 2024 where it will play until 20 July 2024.
EDINBURGH 2023: Review: CSI: CRIME SCENE IMPROVISATION, Underbelly, Bristo Square, Ermintrude

The concept of CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation is quite simple. A murder has taken place, and it is up to the audience to not only catch the killer but also to create the crime scene themselves, setting the scene for the actors. 
Video: Watch Lauren Jones and Kara Lane Sing 'Mrs. de Winter Is Here' from REBECCA

The English language premiere of Rebecca is coming soon to Charing Cross Theatre and we have a first look! In this video, watch as Lauren Jones (2nd Mrs. de Winter) and Kara Lane (Mrs. Danvers) record 'Mrs. de Winter Is Here' at The Umbrella Rooms.
Video: Richard Carson and Lauren Jones Perform 'Through the Night' From English-Language Premiere of REBECCA

An all new video has been released from the English language premiere  of REBECCA at Charing Cross Theatre. The video features Richard Carson as Maxim de Winter  and Lauren Jones as Second Mrs de Winter singing 'Through the Night', featuring Pianist Tom Knowles.
Photos: First Look at the Cast of REBECCA at Charing Cross Theatre

Richard Carson, Lauren Jones and Kara Lane  head the cast for the eagerly anticipated English language premiere of the critically acclaimed musical ‘Rebecca’. Check out all new photos of the cast here!
Stage Adaptation of Studio Ghibli's SPIRITED AWAY Makes European Debut in London in 2024

The European premiere of SPIRITED AWAY will open at the London Coliseum in April 2024.
Richard Carson, Lauren Jones and Kara Lane Will Lead English Language Premiere of REBECCA

Richard Carson, Lauren Jones and Kara Lane will lead the cast for the eagerly anticipated English language premiere of the critically acclaimed musical ‘Rebecca’. Performances run 4 September to 18 November at Charing Cross Theatre.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Michael Kunze written?

Michael Kunze has written 2 shows including Dance of the Vampires (Bookwriter), Rebecca (Bookwriter).

Get Michael Kunze Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos