Good morning (or afternoon) world!
Welcome to the latest edition of the Broadway DNA newsletter! In pulling the latest international musical theatre IP headlines, I focus on illuminating post-premiere lifecycles for what commercial theatre creators value: what titles are successful, where, by who, and why? Some of the how, the nuts and bolts of licensing and producing, I dip into in asides mixed in with the news. Natalie-isms, if you will. Whether you're a producer, artist, or simply a musical theatre enthusiast interested in how IP grows global, this bulletin is your ticket to staying informed and getting globally inspired!
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TREND ALERT: Tesori-san is having a moment in Japan
Jeanine Tesori’s “Violet” remounts at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater Playhouse— The work is directed again by Shuntaro Fujita after a UK premiere in 2019 and Japanese premiere in 2020 as the first joint production project between Umeda Arts Theater and Charing Cross Theater in London, UK. The show will be performed in Tokyo, followed Osaka, Fukuoka, and Miyagi.
The main poster for Toho’s “Thoroughly Modern Millie” has been revealed— Toho‘s production, first cancelled in 2020 then performed in September 2022, will be remounted in July 2024.
Fuji Television previously produced the Japanese premiere of “Shrek the Musical” in 2023.
Will Broadway’s “Kimberly Akimbo” be next?
EUROPE
Broadway’s “Anastasia” to make Italian premiere in 2025— Adding to the show’s 10+ international licenses since its premiere in 2017.
“West Side Story” to return to The Netherlands after almost 30 years— Theater producer De Graaf & Cornelissen Entertainment will premiere the new production in Rotterdam in 2025 ahead of a national tour as the first Dutch-language license to be seen since Joop van den Ende’s in 1996.
New trailer dropped for “Zauberflöte – Das Musical” (“The Magic Flute”)— The musical theatre Mozart adaptation by German composer Frank Nimsgern premieres this week at Deutsches Theater München.
"Evita” at a unique location in Opmeer— After the success of the Dutch premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Whistle Down the Wind,” producer Musical Association Z&V places Evita in a former car garage in the center of Opmeer, Netherlands.
Austrian premiere of Broadway’s “Amélie” opening this week— Produced by stAgeclimbers at The Altes Theater Steyr in a new translation
The Netherlands’ Musical Awards nominations announced— Ivo van Hove’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” leads with 14 nominations (produced by Albert Verlinde Entertainment, frm. with Stage Entertainment Netherlands), followed by De Graaf & Cornelissen’s “Mamma Mia!” with 11 nominations, but 11 new shows are also nominated for “Best Original Dutch Musical.” The award ceremony will take place on April 24.
ASIA-PACIFIC
“Six” to make Japanese premiere in 2025— The show will be performed in association with Umeda Arts Theater in English with Japanese subtitles, not unlike what the recent Korean premiere did last year (a UK international tour stop before the most brilliant double feature switch to a local language cast— could Japan follow suit?)
Hong Company’s Kreative Musical “L’art reste” to make Japanese premiere at Tokyo Arts Theater East in July— The license is co-produced by Hong Company and Japan’s Avex Live Creative as part of a jointly planned “Belle Waves” performing arts series. The all-female creative team musical, about the life and art of Hyang-an Kim, the wife of a pioneer painter of Korean abstract art, won three awards at last year’s 8th Korea Musical Awards and held a recent NYC showcase through the KAMS K-Musical Roadshow.
French musical “Don Juan” begins Chinese tour— Producer Nicolas Talar (“Notre Dame de Paris”)’s production made its Chinese premiere in January in Shanghai ahead of the six-city tour. Felix Gray’s 2003 musical is timed to coincide with the show’s 20th anniversary and celebrations for the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France this year (including a production of “Les Miserables”). This production has previously been seen in France, Canada and South Korea, in addition to a Japanese staging by the Takarazuka Revue, and seen by 600,000 people around the world.
Kreative musical “Frankenstein” releases first teaser video ahead of 10th anniversary production— The new license by producer EMK, highly anticipated due to their known high production value, is from New Contents Company who premiered the work in 2014 winning 9 categories at The Musical Awards and remounting in 2015, 2018, and 2021 to become one of the best received Kreative musicals.
“Dear Evan Hansen” made Asian premiere in Korea this week — Hear the S&Co production’s “Waving Through a Window” here. I dare you not to sing along.
BRAZIL
“Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Dear Evan Hansen” to make Brazilian premieres this year— The local language licenses are produced by Renata Borges’ Touché Entretenimento (“Beetlejuice,” “The Spongebob Squarepants Musical”).
While the US brews over which “Great Gatsby” will reign supreme, Brazil has its own new musical face-off: “THE KING OF ROCK - THE MUSICAL” Opens in São Paulo— Conceived, produced, written and starring Beto Sargentelli in the role of Elvis Presley, this H Produções Culturais (“The Last 5 Years,” “Bonnie & Clyde”)-produced musical is in direct competition with the upcoming Atual Produções and Bárbaro! Productions produced “Elvis - A Musical Revolution,” the brainchild of Broadway Licensing opening in August. Awkward.
“SCHOLL - Die Knospe der Weißen Rose” (“SCHOLL - The Bud of the White Rose”)
Speaking of fraternal twin shows, “SCHOLL” is a musical inspired by the poems of Hans Scholl, leader of the famous German resistance movement "The White Rose." Sound familiar? That’s because this 2023 German musical by Titus Hoffmann and Thomas Borchert shares subject matter with the same year Off-Broadway new musical “White Rose: The Musical” by Brian Belding and Natalie Brice. 🤯
The crunchier, multi-faceted (and not American squeegeed clean) “Scholl” starred the incomparable Judith Caspari (“Wicked,” “Next to Normal”) in a world premiere at the Stadttheater Fürth nominated in seven categories for the German musical theatre awards. The Original Cast Recording has just been nominated for the German Record Critics' Award alongside such prestigious work as the Vienna State Opera and Royal Opera House, and can be streamed wherever you listen to music.
Want to join a network of forward-thinking producers in global cultural exchange? Need international licensing expertise or a new show for your theater? Consider working with Natalie at Broadway DNA, just reply to this email and let’s chat!