Theater: Lestat

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In its inaugural production for the Broadway stage, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures (Gregg Maday, Executive Vice President) presents LESTAT. Inspired by Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, LESTAT is the first theatrical score from the legendary songwriting team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and has a book by Linda Woolverton. Directed by Robert Jess Roth with musical staging by Matt West, LESTAT stars Hugh Panaro in the title role, Carolee Carmello as Gabrielle, Jack Noseworthy as Armand, Jim Stanek as Louis, Roderick Hill as Nicolas, Michael Genet as Marius and Allison Fischer as Claudia.

When it was announced in spring 2003, the project's working title was The Vampire Lestat. "'Interview With the Vampire' is one of my favorite books and Anne Rice is one of my favorite authors," John said in an earlier statement. "Although this project has taken a while to come together, I firmly believe we have the right team in place. The Vampire Lestat is the first stage musical that I've written with Bernie which makes it even more special for me."

Taupin added, "Anne had always loved the idea of seeing her Vampire Chronicles set in some sort of serious and seductive musical setting and for all of the parties involved this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Our intention is make a classically-based show that is stripped of gothic clichés and that shows the vampire dealing with his damnation on a more realistic and human level. Please let me make this clear this is NOT a rock opera. Our hope is that it will be stylish, sexy, intelligent, rich and hypnotically dark."

The title character has been adapted for the screen in such films as "Interview With the Vampire" and "Queen of the Damned." Both movies drew on the original best-selling novels by Anne Rice.

Recording artist Elton John, known internationally for his pop songwriting career of over 30 years, is currently represented on Broadway by the long-running Disney collaborations The Lion King and Aida. Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures marks its debut with the project. The parent company is Warner Brothers Entertainment.

The organization, which was founded more than 75 years ago started as a motion picture company, has become a multi-faceted entertainment company branching into television, home video, animation and international theatres.

Vampires have inspired a number of musicals in recent seasons. Jim Steinman's Dance of the Vampires - based on the Roman Polanski film "The Fearless Vampire Killers" - saw the Broadway stage briefly in 2002-03. Bram Stoker's classic vampire tale "Dracula" was adapted into three separate incarnations that have been seen in regional theatres: Dracula: A Chamber Musical (book and lyrics by Richard Ouzounian with music and orchestrations by Marek Norman); Dracula - The Game of Love (book and lyrics by Michael Lazar with music by Richard Oberacker); and Dracula, the Musical (book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black with music by Frank Wildhorn).

Elton John's musical version of Billy Elliott is dawning in London. The San Francisco Best of Broadway series will also include the pre-Broadway run of A Chorus Line, the musical White Christmas, Conor McPherson's Shining City and the Johnny Cash musical Ring of Fire.