I know this version is universally hated and our beloved Raoul was the best Count But this version of Say a Prayer is stunning. It must have been an amazing sound in the auditorium when those bass drums kicked in. You certainly can’t blame the performers. Even Michael Crawford could have been epic if he wasn’t so afraid of retreading his Phantom territory and performed the original score. Thanks!
That would be Mandy Gonzalez, who's best known for going on to originate the role of Nina Rosario in the original Broadway production of In the Heights, as well as the first to take over as Angelica Schuyler early on in the Broadway run of Hamilton! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandy_Gonzalez
The german version is sooo much better! The scenic design, is way more detailled and doesnt look like a high-school production. Here, they also changed a lot of the story. Thats so sad. The red boots is such an immpressive scene in german. Just look up for "Draussen ist freiheit/Stärker als wir es sind/Das gebet Tanz der Vampire"
I'm a little late by 9 years... but you probably havent seen what the german version has done to fix that problem... and it is ingenious!!! (yes there are "mirrors" that show only the actors who aren't vampires at points in the musical... just not during this part) also the whole sequence over in germany is better... you can find bootlegs and even a proshot from hamburg (thankfully with english subs) showcasing what we COULD have had... i HIGHLY recommend watching the german version if you havent yet because it is almost hypnotic at just witnessing what they do... and the dancing is the highlight of the whole show! (during the red boots and carpe noctem especially as i consider the dancing inhuman in regards to difficulty and i bet without question any pro dancer would probably say you would have to be crazy in the noggin to even consider doing the dances during these numbers without any legit experience because it could leave you with broken bones if not worse at some moments without it) anyways... sorry for the essay of a comment... im just salty we dont have the proper version of this show and what we have is whatever we got... i hope that in the near future, a proper adaptation gets made for the people who want to see this and not have to learn a second language to understand every word being said!(again... it has been 9 years and there is definitely a good chance you probably seen the german version...)
@musiqaltrader I'm not talking about the orchestrations which are indeed different from the Vienna 1997 version, and indeed better. I actually meant the realization of the scene. That old woman, then Alfred and Sarah saying they loved each other and even kissing. In addition, the German and (latest) Austrian version contains less dancing couples, but instead two soloists, which I personally like best. And of course no flying person.
everyone complaining in the comments about the whole production and the coreography of this piece.....from a Vocal/Musical perspective this is the version I always come back over German and Finnish versions, it's the most exciting!
The score is too beautiful for such an awful production. The original German version of these three themes is so damn epic it'll likely move you to tears in virtually every performance. And it's perfectly alright without the lame jokes.
i am so sorry for Michael Kunze, first they changed so much in tdv that it waas a disaster then his second try to Broadway Rebecca is not even happening due to paying problems. well Kunze should stay without Broadway! and by the way the dancing seen from The Red Shoe Ballet is much better in the German version!
Oh my poor heart. What has Broadway done to my favorite musical? I watched the German version 3 times and nothing compares to the 2005 version on Hamburg. You should go and type in 'Tanz der Vampire 2005 Hamburg, die roten Stiefel' and get amazed! You can thank me later
I really don´t like the way they re-imagined "The Prayer". In the original, it´s part of Sarah´s dream, meant to represent her inner conflict - the pious safety of her home sphere battling it out with the dangerous yet exciting dark temptations the count has to offer. A lot of that gets lost when the song is song by the villagers "irl" to pray for Sarah´s safety ... on the other hand, as much as I love the original musical, I´m not sure whether it would have worked on Broadway without extensive changes
It wouldn't have worked as is. Cultural standards and norms in Europe are simply very different from those in America. The show definitely needed to be tweaked, but not in this manner, with its schizophrenic narrative, vulgar and juvenile humor, and a von Krolock that has no sense of menace or romantic wonder. Simply put, David Sonenberg's comedic idea was completely wrong, David Ives was not suited for reshaping the book, John Rando was an ill-fitting director, John Carrafa a shockingly inept choreographer (for this show) and Michael Crawford was the wrong star to shape the show around. However, Jim is not without fault, even though he has always denied it. I have no doubt that Jim looked at the show and realized "what the hell have we done?" and came back to reality. But he was perfectly happy to go with Sonenberg at the time, and personally got David Ives onboard, as well as pushing hard for Crawford's casting. He also got Sonenberg installed as lead producer, after all. As for how the show should've been done, this early draft script is a sign. It contains a lot more elements from the original production, though some of the jokes are still present, and it is definitely not perfect. But it's a stepping stone and I wish it had been built on: mljs.evilnickname.org/jimsteinman/danceofthevampires/earlyscript.html
I always enjoyed reading that draft out of some sense of morbid curiosity, but in some places it is even more overwrought than the final production (Krolock monologuing for half a page and transforming into a monster at the end, for instance)...
I honestly don´t know. Maybe an American who knows the original show might have an idea? I think the approach of making the themes more explicit and restructuring the narrative somewhat is not wrong, but a more serious, somber tone could - and should - still be kept. Take the characters more seriously again, take out some of the more over-the-top, superfluous stuff, tone down the farcical humor... Plus, the design (set and lighting) of the original show plays a huge part in its success imho - so, more of that?
luv4hutch Finally I can put my love for this show to good use. I agree with a lot of Jimsteinman’s points. The set and costumes should’ve been kept relatively the same as the European production (Never Seen was butchered here especially because of the set being downsized to just Sarah’s room and everyone being basically crammed in there and I feel like they really overdid it with Sarah’s makeup here). The storyline should’ve definitely been kept intact but keep maybe a few jokes from this production because as bad as some are others do work. The original show was a comedy but it was really more of a subtle comedy than this was but maybe a few jokes here and there would be enough to keep the overall serious tone and still please the general American audience. They should also have kept the story in Alfred’s point of view because that opening scene with Sarah and her friends was pointless. Take out the dramatic death for Krolock because that was pointless as well. And I know this might ruin the show even for an avid fan of the original like me but realistically speaking Total Eclipse Of The Heart should be taken out because as much as it works in the European version, in America literally anyone born in the last 30-45 years would know it and it would probably be strange for them to hear it in a musical (and I should know, I told a lot of people about the fact that it was in this show and they were all confused). Maybe replace it with a new song that still conveys the same themes. Other than that I can’t think of anything else. Woah look at me writing an essay 😂
@stromerfan oh I found it very interessting and I saw the show in Germany and in Austria, because the Austrian version is a little bit other than the German Version.
I don´t like the way they changed the scene´s purpose, though - in the original, the prayer is part of Sarah´s dream sequence, highlighting her inner moral struggle, while here, it is just the villagers hoping she will be safe
agreed! some stuff i see in the american version, if we get a PROPER broaday adaptation can work! (the dance break during garlic can be mended and tweaked and we could have something that can work just as well as the german production unless we are able to keep the dancing moments from the original and not be told to change them up obviously... )
Well, the European version had it first in 2000 as you said and the Broadway version took it, bur come on. You simply CAN'T Compare the American and the European version.
I know this version is universally hated and our beloved Raoul was the best Count But this version of Say a Prayer is stunning. It must have been an amazing sound in the auditorium when those bass drums kicked in. You certainly can’t blame the performers. Even Michael Crawford could have been epic if he wasn’t so afraid of retreading his Phantom territory and performed the original score. Thanks!
Even It wasn't a success on Broadway but this Sarah is absolutely stunning vocally, no Wonder she got the First Part of the Finale.
That would be Mandy Gonzalez, who's best known for going on to originate the role of Nina Rosario in the original Broadway production of In the Heights, as well as the first to take over as Angelica Schuyler early on in the Broadway run of Hamilton!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandy_Gonzalez
Do you know the German version?! Tanz der Vampire is such a great musical and nobody should change anything :/
I don't understand all the haters. This would blow away most anything on Broadway today.
This is the best part of DotV.
The german version is sooo much better! The scenic design, is way more detailled and doesnt look like a high-school production. Here, they also changed a lot of the story. Thats so sad. The red boots is such an immpressive scene in german. Just look up for "Draussen ist freiheit/Stärker als wir es sind/Das gebet Tanz der Vampire"
Your high school productions looked like this?
And don't miss the Polish production with Lukasz Dziedzic and Malwina Kusior , also excellent!
I didn't recognise where this was from at first and actually _did_ suspect it was a high-school production for a moment :'D
Jim Steinman music has a unique pace and flavor.
Beautiful and epic
from minute 7.16 it is not the original orchestration but the flying sarah is amazing!!
agree,,even the music fail to link the original orchestration,that actress's wire technique save this point
Love the mirrors effect and the flying element... But ähm... Vampires don't have a reflection... ;-)
I'm a little late by 9 years... but you probably havent seen what the german version has done to fix that problem... and it is ingenious!!! (yes there are "mirrors" that show only the actors who aren't vampires at points in the musical... just not during this part) also the whole sequence over in germany is better... you can find bootlegs and even a proshot from hamburg (thankfully with english subs) showcasing what we COULD have had... i HIGHLY recommend watching the german version if you havent yet because it is almost hypnotic at just witnessing what they do... and the dancing is the highlight of the whole show! (during the red boots and carpe noctem especially as i consider the dancing inhuman in regards to difficulty and i bet without question any pro dancer would probably say you would have to be crazy in the noggin to even consider doing the dances during these numbers without any legit experience because it could leave you with broken bones if not worse at some moments without it) anyways... sorry for the essay of a comment... im just salty we dont have the proper version of this show and what we have is whatever we got... i hope that in the near future, a proper adaptation gets made for the people who want to see this and not have to learn a second language to understand every word being said!(again... it has been 9 years and there is definitely a good chance you probably seen the german version...)
@@ThiccTropius I saw the Hamburg production, the Vienna 10th Anniversary production and the most recent German tour production.
@@MarkvanBeelen How nice for you.
obsessed with the red boots ballet!
@musiqaltrader
I'm not talking about the orchestrations which are indeed different from the Vienna 1997 version, and indeed better. I actually meant the realization of the scene. That old woman, then Alfred and Sarah saying they loved each other and even kissing. In addition, the German and (latest) Austrian version contains less dancing couples, but instead two soloists, which I personally like best. And of course no flying person.
I miss the Austrian Vampires... I hope they will come back soon
The “Say a Prayer” sequence from the American version is THE ONLY part of the show that is better than the original version.
everyone complaining in the comments about the whole production and the coreography of this piece.....from a Vocal/Musical perspective this is the version I always come back over German and Finnish versions, it's the most exciting!
The score is too beautiful for such an awful production. The original German version of these three themes is so damn epic it'll likely move you to tears in virtually every performance. And it's perfectly alright without the lame jokes.
I am SO GLAD that i DI NOT PAY to see this...German version rules.
i am so sorry for Michael Kunze, first they changed so much in tdv that it waas a disaster then his second try to Broadway Rebecca is not even happening due to paying problems. well Kunze should stay without Broadway!
and by the way the dancing seen from The Red Shoe Ballet is much better in the German version!
Apperentlty you never heard of The Fearless Vampire Killers.
Oh my poor heart. What has Broadway done to my favorite musical? I watched the German version 3 times and nothing compares to the 2005 version on Hamburg. You should go and type in 'Tanz der Vampire 2005 Hamburg, die roten Stiefel' and get amazed! You can thank me later
I really don´t like the way they re-imagined "The Prayer". In the original, it´s part of Sarah´s dream, meant to represent her inner conflict - the pious safety of her home sphere battling it out with the dangerous yet exciting dark temptations the count has to offer. A lot of that gets lost when the song is song by the villagers "irl" to pray for Sarah´s safety ... on the other hand, as much as I love the original musical, I´m not sure whether it would have worked on Broadway without extensive changes
It wouldn't have worked as is. Cultural standards and norms in Europe are simply very different from those in America. The show definitely needed to be tweaked, but not in this manner, with its schizophrenic narrative, vulgar and juvenile humor, and a von Krolock that has no sense of menace or romantic wonder. Simply put, David Sonenberg's comedic idea was completely wrong, David Ives was not suited for reshaping the book, John Rando was an ill-fitting director, John Carrafa a shockingly inept choreographer (for this show) and Michael Crawford was the wrong star to shape the show around. However, Jim is not without fault, even though he has always denied it. I have no doubt that Jim looked at the show and realized "what the hell have we done?" and came back to reality. But he was perfectly happy to go with Sonenberg at the time, and personally got David Ives onboard, as well as pushing hard for Crawford's casting. He also got Sonenberg installed as lead producer, after all.
As for how the show should've been done, this early draft script is a sign. It contains a lot more elements from the original production, though some of the jokes are still present, and it is definitely not perfect. But it's a stepping stone and I wish it had been built on: mljs.evilnickname.org/jimsteinman/danceofthevampires/earlyscript.html
I always enjoyed reading that draft out of some sense of morbid curiosity, but in some places it is even more overwrought than the final production (Krolock monologuing for half a page and transforming into a monster at the end, for instance)...
How do you feel would be the best manner to Americanize the show but still retain the original intent?
I honestly don´t know. Maybe an American who knows the original show might have an idea? I think the approach of making the themes more explicit and restructuring the narrative somewhat is not wrong, but a more serious, somber tone could - and should - still be kept. Take the characters more seriously again, take out some of the more over-the-top, superfluous stuff, tone down the farcical humor... Plus, the design (set and lighting) of the original show plays a huge part in its success imho - so, more of that?
luv4hutch Finally I can put my love for this show to good use. I agree with a lot of Jimsteinman’s points. The set and costumes should’ve been kept relatively the same as the European production (Never Seen was butchered here especially because of the set being downsized to just Sarah’s room and everyone being basically crammed in there and I feel like they really overdid it with Sarah’s makeup here). The storyline should’ve definitely been kept intact but keep maybe a few jokes from this production because as bad as some are others do work. The original show was a comedy but it was really more of a subtle comedy than this was but maybe a few jokes here and there would be enough to keep the overall serious tone and still please the general American audience. They should also have kept the story in Alfred’s point of view because that opening scene with Sarah and her friends was pointless. Take out the dramatic death for Krolock because that was pointless as well. And I know this might ruin the show even for an avid fan of the original like me but realistically speaking Total Eclipse Of The Heart should be taken out because as much as it works in the European version, in America literally anyone born in the last 30-45 years would know it and it would probably be strange for them to hear it in a musical (and I should know, I told a lot of people about the fact that it was in this show and they were all confused). Maybe replace it with a new song that still conveys the same themes. Other than that I can’t think of anything else.
Woah look at me writing an essay 😂
OMG; this is soooo different from the original version.
At least she didn't ask Alfred to run in and grab her sponge in this one, I guess...
Cari Higs in the original version is the sponge a symbol for their connection as it is the item Sarah gifts Alfred when they first meet
Cari Higdon As if asking him to get her scarf is any better 😂
It did NOT. It firstly appeared in the 2000 Stuttgart production and came to Broadway after that. But I guess you know that by now :)
the german version is better but its a pleasure to hear a englisch version
9:32 is when Starker al wir sind starts, or Braver than we are.
@stromerfan its diffrent from the orgininal from Vienna. Dr. Michael Kunze said: Its a different Musical."
@stromerfan oh I found it very interessting and I saw the show in Germany and in Austria, because the Austrian version is a little bit other than the German Version.
Koukol doesn't even appear in the American version ;(
Dance of the Vampires butchered the source material - but the Prayer actually transferred fairly well, I have to say.
TheGunslinger I was just gonna say.. I really enjoyed THE PRAYER in the end even despite the translation 👍🏻
I don´t like the way they changed the scene´s purpose, though - in the original, the prayer is part of Sarah´s dream sequence, highlighting her inner moral struggle, while here, it is just the villagers hoping she will be safe
@stockifan96 However, the Japanese version kept the original ballet sequence.
@lissi287 oh yeah I know that there are diffrent things but overall it is totally diffrent
@lissi287 yeah your right, but if you saw the show in germany or austria you will not like this musical or this version!
No wonder the musical UTTERLY FAILED in the USA this is utter crap compared to the origional german version
Aaron Leadley Yes we've heard that one 😏
@@JayJasperLondon Repeatedly.
didn´t the Broadway version premiere in 2002 and the Stuttgart version, which already had this scene, in 2000? Or am I confusing things?
ich Liebe das deutsch 1
The German version is much better than this
agreed! some stuff i see in the american version, if we get a PROPER broaday adaptation can work! (the dance break during garlic can be mended and tweaked and we could have something that can work just as well as the german production unless we are able to keep the dancing moments from the original and not be told to change them up obviously... )
@musiqaltrader nope, actually the stutgart production already featured this sequence!
I think they should have kept the original German storyline from the original German version. But translate the songs to English. Just my opinion.
omg this is so diffrent from the stuttgart show 2011
Well, the European version had it first in 2000 as you said and the Broadway version took it, bur come on. You simply CAN'T Compare the American and the European version.
This may be from Crawfords Carry on Tanz But hell can that girl sing and no drum machine lol
why does sarah wear black gloves when her dress is white??
why did they change so much, tdv needs no bad conversations and was that witch? meant to be? Kokoul or what?
the broadway version ruined the whole story and the beautiful music 😭😭😭
HOW CAN YOU DO THAT SHAME ON YOU!
If you want to see what might have been for the New York version, check this out: archiveofourown.org/works/17395376/chapters/40942775
What was wrong with the music?
Though the USA Ballet is so much better!
I don't think so. I think that this flying and mirroring is pretty unnecessary. But that's my own opinion.
tut mir leid nicht leid
This is a total crap compared to the Finnish version that I saw 4 times!!
Anna-Mari Erola I didn't know there was a Finnish production 🤔
There were two. In Helsinki and in Seinäjoki. I saw both, loved especially the Seinäjoki version.
@@trixena5334 How nice for you.