Summary: ”Embrace it”, ”there‘s always a tomorrow” as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 2004‘s ”Dracula, The Musical” and 2006‘s ”Lestat” on episode eighteen of MY FAVORITE FLOP. ABOUT ”DRACULA, THE MUSICAL” Based on the Victorian novel by Bram Stoker, ”Dracula, The Musical” tells the story of the famed vampire as he lusts for new blood. Jonathan Harker and Mina Murray fall victim to Dracula‘s unnatural charm and, along with Doctor Van Helsing, must fight Dracula‘s supernatural powers. The musical features music by Frank Wildhorn and book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black. Following a record-breaking run at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2001, the musical finally opened on Broadway to mostly negative reviews 3 years later in 2004. Though this production was intended as a serious, dramatic interpretation of the source material, critics complained of a complete lack of emotion in general, and of suspense and horror in particular. Also, while the plot of the musical hits all the major points of Stoker‘s novel, critics felt it did so in such an obtuse way that audience members unfamiliar with the story may find themselves unable to comprehend the action. Despite failing on Broadway, the musical has gone on to become extremely popular throughout Europe and Asia. The musical made its international debut at Theater St. Gallen, Switzerland in 2005, with notable productions following in the UK, Tokyo, and Seoul. Original Broadway Cast • Melissa Errico as Mina Murray • Tom Hewitt as Dracula • Stephen McKinley Henderson as Abraham Van Helsing • Chris Hoch as Arthur Holmwood • Kelli O‘Hara as Lucy Westenra • Darren Ritchie as Jonathan Harker • Bart Shatto as Quincey Morris • Don Stephenson as Renfield • Shonn Wiley as Jack Seward • Lena Hall as Second Vampire • Melissa Fagan as Third Vampire • Jenifer Foote as First Vampire • Michael Herwitz as Child • Pamela Jordan as Third Vampire (Alternate) • Elizabeth Loyacano as Second Vampire (Alternate) • Tracy Miller as First Vampire (Alternate) • Matthew Nardozzi as Child (Alternate) • Graham Rowat as Ensemble ABOUT ”LESTAT” Inspired by three of the novels in Anne Rice‘s ”The Vampire Chronicles”, ”Lestat” tells the story of a man who escapes the tyranny of his oppressive family only to have his life taken from him by the vampire, Magnus. The musical features music by Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin, and a book by Linda Woolverton. Officially the highest-earning pre-Broadway play in San Francisco history (beating out ”Wicked” AND ”Cats”), ”Lestat” finally opened on Broadway at the Palace Theater on March 25, 2006 after a series of drastic revisions. Reviews of the Broadway production were uniformly negative. Ben Brantley famously described the show as a ”musical sleeping pill” and Peter Marks of the Washington Post remarked that apparently ”a gay vampire with a two-octave range can be just as dull as a straight one.” The musical closed on May 28, 2006, after 33 previews and 39 performances. An Original Broadway Cast Recording was recorded by Mercury Records a week earlier, however, after the show‘s closing, Elton John‘s management stated ”there are no plans to release the recording...” ”Lestat” has not been seen again (at least officially) since its original run. Original Off-Broadway Cast • Hugh Panaro as Lestat • Carolee Carmello as Gabrielle • Allison Fischer as Claudia • Michael Genet as Marius • Roderick Hill as Nicolas • Drew Sarich as Armand • Jim Stanek as Louis • Rachel Coloff as Ensemble • Nikki Renée Daniels as Eleni • Joseph Dellger as Magnus • Colleen Fitzpatrick as Ensemble • Patrick Mellen as Ensemble • Chris Peluso as Ensemble • Dominique Plaisant as Ensemble • Megan Reinking as Beautiful Woman • Will Swenson as Marquis/Laurent • Tommar Wilson as Ensemble
