Showbiz (musical)
Showbiz is a musical by Kay Link that premiered in 2007 as a commission for the Leipzig Opera / Musical Comedy .
content
The real estate agent Horst Kötter is trying to rent out an empty theater in the province, be it as an underground car park or storage room. Victor Wackernagel, who as a young man stood on this stage himself, has the building shown and remembers the glamorous times when this theater was still filled with life. Without having the necessary funds, Wackernagel signs the lease and enthusiastically tries to put a show on its feet and to reopen the theater. The audience follows the rocky road to the premiere, starting with the casting of the residents of the village, the divas dispute between two former mayor's wives, the reappearance of Victor Wackernagel's former lover Gitte, rehearsals, unpaid bills. Then the theater director can no longer pay the rent, and Kötter threatens to put everyone on the street. When Gitte suggests that the show could have been a gold mine, he wants to see the rehearsals for himself in order to make a financial contribution to the production if necessary. At that moment, the city turns off the electricity, which is quickly remedied with the unconventional methods of a lighting technician. Kötter is enthusiastic, joins in - the show is saved. In the second part you can see Wackernagel and his ensemble in the dress rehearsal of the show. Lots of mishaps, a kidnapping, a look into the dressing room of the two bitchy divas and the amazing appearance of the agent who saved the premiere. In the end, Victor is left alone on the stage. He revived the theater.
music
The plot is linked by musical numbers from various composers, including Leonard Bernstein , Jerry Bock , Georges Bizet , Frederick Loewe , Andrew Lloyd-Webber , Noel Gay , Cole Porter , Jerry Herman , Irving Berlin and others. a. (see juke box musical )
background
The author was inspired by two different sources for the plot: A newspaper article that reports on the purchase of the Wittenberg Theater by a couple who wanted to prevent the establishment of a drinks market in the theater building, and three photos by the American photographer Lowell Boileau that turned it into one Parking garage at converted Michigan Theater show in Detroit . The musical comedy, the musical and operetta house of the Leipzig Opera, itself repeatedly threatened by closure plans, has showbiz on the program to this day.
Performances
- World premiere on June 2, 2007 at the Leipzig Opera / Musical Comedy , directed by Kay Link , set by Frank Schmutzler and under the musical direction of Stefan Diederich.
swell
- Program book of the Leipzig Opera