2022 was highlighted by a number of firsts for composer Frank Wildhorn
Around The World With The Music of Frank Wildhorn – From Vienna’s Grand Symphony Hall to
London’s West End and Most Everywhere In Between..
An Exciting Year of Firsts For The Veteran Composer in 2022 and Looking Forward To New Adventures In 2023. The year 2022 was highlighted by a number of firsts and new beginnings for the Tony, Grammy and Emmy nominated composer Frank Wildhorn.
Bonnie and Clyde marked Wildhorn’s West End debut, opening to rave reviews which spurred the Tony Award nominated musical’s upcoming return by popular demand to the larger Garrick Theater in March. The show has recently been nominated for best new musical (amongst others) in both the What’s On Stage and Broadway World Awards. Wildhorn's full length Danube Symphony was debuted by the 90+ piece Vienna Symphony Orchestra at the legendary Musikverein (also known as the ‘Hall of the Gods’). Of this performance, Europe’s Classical music outlet, Musical Zentrale said, “With his "Donau Symphonie" he (Wildhorn) manages to completely reinvent himself and to overcome the (already artificial) separation between light and serious music.” Danube Symphony was also released on CD and streaming services (hear it via links below).
Back in the US, the easing of the pandemic brought life to workshops for two new Wildhorn musicals -
Reunion, with the legendary Peter Asher serving as executive musical consultant, celebrating the Laurel Canyon sound through original music and, The Song Of Bernadette, a modern musical adaptation of the story of Bernadette Soubirous, whose vision beside a lake in the mid1800s, Lourdes, France changed everything.
The musical, based on Franz Werfel's 1941 novel, will open in its regional developmental production in the Spring. Continuing Wildhorn‘s wildly successful run in Asia, in July 2022, there were 4 Wildhorn musicals running
simultaneously in Korea - Jekyll & Hyde, Death Note, The Man Who Laughs and Mata Hari. (Wildhorn became the first American composer in 22 years to have had three shows running simultaneously on Broadway: Jekyll & Hyde; The Scarlet Pimpernel; and The Civil War in 1999). The headline of the weekend section of the Korea Times proclaimed, “How Frank Wildhorn Became The Most Popular Music Composer In Korea.”
Jekyll & Hyde,” the one that started it all, opened on Broadway in 1997 and continues to delight around the world with “This Is The Moment” being performed on a consistent basis - whether by professional companies, from cutting edge new Australian productions reimagining the gender roles to the various Asian companies which enter into their 20+ seasons whilst the next chapter of the Jekyll & Hyde musical story continues to evolve with Academy Award winning script writer Alexander Dinelaris’ take on the beloved musical (with the late Leslie Bricusse’s blessing, of course!) which is currently in process. The next gen J&H is said to “explore an even darker, grittier side to the story, reflecting a modern London with a rich, diverse and enigmatic history.”
Moving into 2023, Frank Wildhorn continues to open new musicals across the Globe and much loved portfolio projects continue to evolve with interesting twists. Just announced for January 2023: in Japan 1.20-1.26 for 1 week only - movie theaters across Japan will screen the theatrical release of Xcaliber, The Documentary, filmed during the making of the musical last year. In Korea, a special version of the Widhorn musical, Montecristo: The Musical Live - Barrier Free is being screened in theaters in collaboration with the Korea Association for the Visually Impaired, the National Screening Association and others to allow access and accommodation for ”the hearing and visually impaired” amongst the audiences. Bonnie & Clyde (who have been very busy!) opens in early February with the Takarazuka Company - promising a spectacular and interesting production by this renowned female only company (this is the place Frank met his beloved wife, Takako (Yoka Wao), when she was performing in Never Say Goodbye.) And, as mentioned, Bonnie & Clyde reopens in the West End in early March and The Song of Bernadette World Premieres in its developmental production at the Skylight Music Theatre. As happens in Wildhorn’s world, professional productions of his 20+ musicals continue to run around the globe. Stay tuned to his social media channels for updates.