The up and coming Musical city Zurich

What's the program for this season! Since it was first in the Theater 11 "The King and I", the Hammerstein/Rogers classic from the fifties. Now The Book of Mormon", the Sensation from New York and London". It's the best Musical of the century, "naughty and nice" is, wrote the New York Times to do so.

Maybe this isn't quite correct, because the century will still take a while. But you can say: This piece is the funniest Musical of all time. And, two other blockbusters: "Les Misérables" and "The Bodyguard are announced for the next year". What, please, is going on? Zurich has now become the musical city?

Zurich Broadway in Oerlikon

We ask the question Angelo Stamera, Managing Director at Freddy Burger Management (FBM). Since 27 years he is in the entertainment Business, and his first Musical was with the 18 "a Chorus Line" in New York, later on the Swiss guest performance of "Cats" came in 1991 in Zürich-Nord on this. Today Stamera is an absolute specialist in the field of Musicals, even if he says it's his hobby-horse.

Anyway, Him and Freddy Burger, whose company incidentally, is now celebrating the 50-year anniversary, thanks to our Broadway is wallisellenstrasse in Oerlikon. In the Theater 11 is shown, which makes a splash in New York or in London's West End. Okay, that takes sometimes. And it is not always easy.

"The Book of Mormon," said always: Great piece, but too difficult, the vocabulary for Zurich. Since the Mormons on Mission in Uganda to sing, ever: "Fuck you, God". But at some point, the Moment where everything fits. Additional presentation dates have been pushed – "due to high demand".

it Is listed since many years: the opening scene of "Book of Mormon". Video: YouTube/Kevin price

Because the audience is there. With the English-language musical, a new Segment is added. In a year, around half a Million people go in Switzerland, maybe in a Musical. The record for a piece of the 300 000 visitors in eight months time at "The Lion King" in Basel. The success of this production has also brought a potent intercessor. Disney was the inspiration for the recording of Freddy Burger Management in the Broadway League. FBM plays as a Swiss operator in the top League.

"We can attach to a Tour," says Angelo Stamera. So it was in "The King and I", as the London production went on tour through the UK. And so it is in the case of "The Book of Mormon". "Whether it's from London to Edinburgh and Zurich is not a big difference," says Stamera. Indirectly, this is also the answer to the question as to the musical city Zurich.

Before flop not immune

is It the same as the Hollywood cinema. So very large musical productions are only accepted for a certain amount of time. But also in the millions. The risk must be estimated. To show four productions in a season in Zurich, is a Gamble. "We are not immune from Flops," says Stamera. "Miss Saigon", for example, in the UK, a super success, not the delivery in Zurich as well. As the k. u. k.-the Musical "Elisabeth" in Vienna. The local audience reacts sometimes quite specifically.

The musical world is far larger than you seems to be in Zurich: The piece "Cats", which made the beginning, still characterizes the idea of the genre. "The Book of Mormon" is already present. Sexy and lovingly made. All in all: the best in entertainment.

the idea for the Satire to the All-American Religion and its Disciples the South-Park-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. In their animation series, take no sheet before the mouth. But not only Mormons get their fat. But actually, all of them. God. And people who hate Musicals.

"We are not a musical city such as London, Hamburg or Vienna, Zurich is a city in the Musicals, a lower importance, for example for tourism."Darko Soolfrank

you don't have to burn degrees in hell, as the Brexit-concrete head Nigel Farage does in the UK version. But a bit of people could cure their fixed prejudices against the Genre. No, Musical is not a tra-La-La-entertainment. No, it's not always about cute cats and the lion king. In "The Book of Mormon" is indeed hear the Echo on the "Hakuna matata!" from "The Lion King", it sounds twisted right. Delighted the missionaries, singing the song "Hasa Diga Eebowai", until you realize that this is a terrible blasphemy.

But Zurich is in need of no teaching, to learn about the power of the Musical. Because in the Small Genre works quite well: "Cabaret" in the Bernhard-Theater, "Young Frankenstein" at the Theater at pike place. And Angelo Stamera is on the road again, something Great to look at. And so we, too, New York or London's West End, coming closer.

But we go in the Maag hall and meet Darko Soolfrank, he has produced, among other things, the Swiss Musical "Ewigi Liebi". Also an absolute expert. "We are not a musical city such as London, Hamburg or Vienna, Zurich is a city in the Musicals, a lower importance, for example for tourism." The sun in the genes. On the other hand to the lack of state support.

"We have contributed, together with Freddy Burger, the acceptance of the musical in Switzerland has been increased."Darko Soolfrank

the Musical is unsubventioniert in Switzerland still. And is often treated step-motherly. London is since a counter-example. There are schools for the young. And Musicals are a social issue.
One of the first Musicals that has seen Darko Soolfrank, was "Cats", since dragging him and his mother hung. A Musical artist, he has become then. In his Portfolio Space Dream", "Deep "in", "The swissmakers", "My Name is Eugen". And "Ewigi Liebi". The Musical was the Mega-Hit, with more than 720 000 visitors.

"We have contributed, together with Freddy Burger, the acceptance of the musical in Switzerland has increased," says Soolfrank. Good. What, however, cannot be increased, the Maag hall. "We need to find things that fit." The Musical in Zurich is always a question of Size.

Di 10.12. — 19.30 / Wed 11.12. — 18.30 PM
theatre 11
Thurgauerstr. 7
entry of 50 to 150 Swiss francs
ideas to 5.1.
www.musical.ch

Created: 04.12.2019, 16:35 PM