Frank Wildhorn Website
Jekyll & Hyde The Scarlet Pimpernel Dracula, The Musical Rudolf

News Meet Frank Projects Calendar Music Search Contact Fan Community


Below is a list of some of the projects that Frank currently has in development. The details provided are the most recent, confirmed updates for each project. Not all projects have specific plans announced for a production, recording or other public offering at this time. Updates will be posted to this page as they are finalized and announced. Projects which have already had a production are listed in the Projects Index. For some thoughts on following works that are in development, read the Future Show Questions page.


Bonnie & Clyde

Information on this project is now listed on the Bonnie & Clyde page.


Cyrano de Bergerac

Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano is Frank's next collaboration with Leslie Bricusse (Jekyll & Hyde), based on the classic work by Edmond Rostand.

The show had its world premiere at the Nissay Theatre in Tokyo, Japan, from 5 through 28 May 2009. The production starred Takeshi Kaga (the original Japanese Jekyll & Hyde) in the title role, Hikaru Asami (Elisabeth) as Roxanne and Kenji Urai (Rudolf, Elisabeth) and Masataka Nakagauchi sharing the part of Christian. It had direction by Kazuya Yamada, music direction by Akihiro Shiota and choreography by Kiyomi Maeda. The lyric translations were provided by Kazuko Matsuoka, with the script translation by Machiko Ryuu. More information is available on the Fuji TV production site (in Japanese). This production also played at Umeda Arts Theater in Osaka, Japan, 3-7 June 2009, and reportedly toured the country.

There are also plans to bring Cyrano to the stage in Spain. Spanish singing star Raphael - who headlined the Spanish premiere of Jekyll & Hyde in 2000 - will star. A Spanish concept recording of the show featuring Raphael is in the works. A release date for the album and further details on the production have not been set, and will be forthcoming.


Havana

Havana is a project Frank has been developing with Pulitzer Prize winning writer Nilo Cruz (book) and Jack Murphy (lyrics). The world premiere production was planned for the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California, as part of their 2010 season. Unfortunately, the Playhouse is shuttering as of 7 February due to financial difficulties, and according to Variety the show's producers have parted ways with the theater. Sergio Trujillo (choreographer for Jersey Boys and All Shook Up) was slated to direct and choreograph, Joseph Church (The Lion King, The Who's Tommy) would have music directed, and Oscar Hernández (founder and leader of the Grammy Award-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra) was to serve as special consultant/dance arranger for the production in Pasadena. New plans for the show have not been announced at this time.


Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Frank is currently developing Mary Shelley's Frankenstein with Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy. The show is expected to be a gothic, romantic mystery, and will largely examine the inspiration and creative process that led to Mary Shelley's famous novel. There are hopes for a concept recording and for a production, possibly at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. No definite production or recording plans have been announced at this time.


Mitsuko

Frank is writing a new musical with Shuichiro Koike (book and director) and Jack Murphy (lyrics), titled Mitsuko. The show focuses on Mitsuko Aoyama (1874-1941), who was the first Japanese woman to marry a westerner. In 1892, she married the Austro-Hungarian ambassador, Count Heinrich Coudenhove-Kalergi. Almost five years later they moved to Austria, where their family would grow to include seven children. Following Heinrich's death in 1906, Mitsuko stayed in Vienna to provide the best opportunities possible for their children. Their second son, Richard Nikolaus, became the founder of the first movement for a unified Europe, editing the "Paneuropa" journal and publishing a manifesto of the same name. Mitsuko is therefore sometimes referred to as "the mother of European unification." She remained in Vienna even through anti-Japanese sentiments during the First World War, and until her own death in 1941.

Mitsuko Musical Concert Material from the show was premiered at the "Mitsuko Musical Concert" in Vienna on Friday, 9 December 2005. Ten selections from the show were performed by Uwe Kröger (as Heinrich), Maki Ichiro (as Mitsuko) and Yoshio Inoue (as Richard). They were backed by the Musical Festival Orchestra Vienna, conducted by Adrian Manz. Most of the songs were performed in German, with translations by Ulrich Peters, while the rest were presented in English. The concert also included selections from Jekyll & Hyde and other shows. The event, which was produced by Kyodo Tokyo, took place at Museumsquartier-Halle E, at 3:30 and 7:30 pm. More information can be found at eventpromotion.net. Photos can be found in the Project Photo Gallery.

Yoka Wao included the song "Love Crosses All Borders" from this project, along with three of Frank's other songs, in a concert performance in January 2007 in Tokyo, Japan. The concert has been released on DVD - full details and purchasing links are on the albums & songbooks page.


Tears From Heaven

Playbill Online and BroadwayWorld.com announced that the second industry reading of Tears From Heaven took place in New York on 11 September 2009. The cast for the reading was led by Deborah Lew, Paolo Montalban and John Cudia, under the direction of Gabriel Barre and the musical direction of Adrian Werum.

Tears From Heaven is a new musical with a book by Phoebe Hwang and lyrics by Robin Lerner. The show is being produced by Creative Production and Seol & Company, and will debut in Seoul in 2010. According to press notes, "the original story takes place in Vietnam in 1968 and is a love triangle between a beautiful Vietnamese singer, a Korean private, and an American Colonel set against the backdrop of the days leading up to and during the Tet Offensive. The action follows our characters to Seoul, Korea, and the shores of America in San Francisco's Chinatown." The production is expected to feature unique forms of far eastern puppetry, mask work, dance, and combat choreography. The score will represent a combination of Asian, French, and pop genres and even enter the world of opera. It is hoped that a recording will be released in Korea prior to the opening there.


Wonderland

Information on this project is now listed on the Wonderland page.


This website created and maintained by Peter Williams.
Copyright © 1999-2009 Wildhorn Productions, Inc. All rights reserved.