The first premiere will be a reworking of the Budapest Operetta Theatre's Die Csárdásfürstin (The Gipsy Princess), with Zsuzsa Kalocsai, Anita Lukács and Mónika Fischl in the leads, on September 19.
The next premiere, slated for October 16, will be of the musical A Midsummer Night's Dream by classically-trained Gypsy Jazz great Béla Szakcsi Lakatos.
Lajos Parti Nagy's play Ibusár, with music composed by Ferenc Darvas, will premiere in January 2009.
A dramatic musical by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik based on Frank Wedekind's play Spring Awakening will have its Hungarian premiere at the same time as its West End premiere. The theatre has picked a cast of 40 for the piece and will present them at the Broadway Festival on September 19-20.
The last premiere of the season will be Emmerich Kálmán's operetta Die Bajadere, to take place on March 20, 2009, during the Budapest Spring Festival. Directed by Kerényi and first performed in Saint Petersburg, the Hungarian performances will feature Attila Dolhai, who has sung mainly in musicals so far, and Erika Miklósa, the world-travelling soprano, in the lead roles.
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| A Midsummer Night's Dream |
Last season's great success Abigél will remain on the programme at both the Thália Theatre and the Budapest Operetta Theatre.
The Budapest Operetta Theatre will separate its operetta and musical departments starting this season, Kerényi said. By officially separating the two departments, the theatre can treat its Hungarian operetta performances as a Hungaricum. At the same time, the traditions of the former Petőfi Theatre and Rock Theatre, which first performed musicals in Hungary, will be further incorporated into musical performances.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
