News & Notes

See the Box Office Announcement from the July 28th
New York Times (click here)

Ultimate Albums Air Date & Web Feature

VH1's "Ultimate Albums: Bat Out Of Hell" special with new interview (and piano playing) footage of Jim Steinman as well as most of Bat's key players premieres Sunday May 26, 10/9c. Visit VH1's Ultimate Albums: Bat Out Of Hell page which includes an exclusive interview with Jim as well as track by track liner notes, additional show times, a trivia game and more!


See the Full Page Dance of the Vampires New York Times Ad
(click here )

Forget Snow White...She's Blood Red

There are ecstatic love duets, close encounters, unbridled dancing, wild comedy and, of course, bats and a madman named Boris. Sarah has to choose between earthly love with Alfred, or eternal passion with Krolock in the Vampire State Building. (complete Dance Of The Vampires story synopsis)

Playbill Feature On Vampire Cast, Creative Team & CD

Headline: Rando, Carrafa to Dance with Crawford and Vampires on Bway and CD
Byline: "If you think Broadway musicals suck now - Just you wait..."
The fangy tuner with music and lyrics by Jim Steinman (Whistle Down the Wind, the upcoming Batman) will be helmed by Urinetown director John Rando. The project will reteam the helmer with choreographer John Carrafa (Urinetown, Into The Woods). (read more)

No other casting has been confirmed as of yet, but Rene Auberjonois has been offered a role and is currently in negotiations, according to his agent Peter Strain.

Broadway.com Casting Story

Broadway.com featured a story about the tentative cast of Broadway's Dance Of The Vampires. Max von Essen is quoted as saying: “I saw the show in Vienna,” von Essen told Broadway.com. “The score is totally incredible. It’s pop meets opera meets rock. I didn’t understand a word of it over there, but I remember loving the music. My role, Alfred, is such a great role—it’s really made for me vocally and dramatically.” (Read the full story here)

The Creative Team Of Dance Of The Vampires (click here)

Dance Of The Vampire Schedule Changes & Group Sales Info

Preview and Opening Dates for Dance Of The Vampires are now as follows:
Previews Begin: Oct. 14th. (1st matinee Oct. 23rd.)
Opening Night: November 21st.

Orchestra seats for groups of 20 or more are $76 for every night EXCEPT Saturday Evening.
Saturday Evening Groups Sales Tickets are $104.50
Group sales info. is available by calling 212 398 8383 or 800 223 7565

Previous News & Notes Items:

NYTimes Dance Of The Vampires Ad and AMEX Ticket Offer

An ad is scheduled to run in this Sunday's New York Times putting advance tickets on sale for American Express Gold, Platinum, Centurion and select Corporate card holders. This offer is tentatively scheduled to be valid May 5th - May 19.

Vittoria! (Aida) OperaBabes

There has been a lot of confusion surrounding the Steinman produced track Vittoria! (Aida) as recorded by the OperaBabes. This information is direct from Sony and is, hopefully, accurate.
* Jim's original mix of Vittoria! is on the FIFA World Cup 2002 CD in most territories outside of the UK (where it has been replaced by One Fine Day).
* On June 10th (tentative date) a single including a Vittoria! remix will be released worldwide, but again, different territories are free to choose another track if they desire.
* A remix of Vittoria! is slated to appear on the OperaBabes debut release Beyond Imagination worldwide but NOT on the initial UK recording. The UK will get the Vittoria! remix as an added track in conjunction with a TV ad campaign in the Fall as part of a Christmas sales promotion.

"Vittoria!" is MAGNIFICO

The Jim Steinman produced Vittoria (Aida) is now available in certain regions of the world on "Fever Pitch - Official 2002 Fifa World Cup." Other release dates are as follows: France May 7 th, US - May 21st, Europe - May 25th. Please note - Steinman's track is not scheduled to be on the OperaBabes debut CD "Beyond Imagination" or the FIFA World Cup UK version. Order accordingly as you won't want to miss this stunner!

Tell Me All About It

Jim has interviewed (and played piano for) an upcoming VH1 program. "Ultimate Albums - Bat Out Of Hell" is tentatively scheduled to air in late May and also features interviews with many of Bat Out Of Hell's contributors. "Ultimate Albums'' is a new series that examines a single important record in each weekly one-hour episode, recounting in detail why it connected the artist and the audience, and how it forever changed their lives and our culture. (more about the series)

The Bat Out Of Hell II : Back Into Hell Deluxe Edition release has been canceled. Read more.

(Variety) USA Ostar Theatricals, Robert Boyett Theatricals and Lawrence Horowitz have joined David Sonenberg and Andrew Braunsberg as producing partners on "Dance of the Vampires." Barry Diller and Bill Haber's USA Ostar is currently repped on Broadway with the revival of "Noises Off." Horowitz, exec producer of TV's "A Moment of Truth" movies, had been a producer on the Broadway productions of "Electra" and "It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues." Boyett made his Broadway producer debut last autumn with "Hedda Gabler" and has also invested in "The Crucible," "Sweet Smell of Success" and "Topdog/Underdog." The veteran TV producer brought "Laverne & Shirley" and "Bosom Buddies," among other shows, to the tube.

"Dance of the Vampires" is based on Roman Polanski's 1967 film "The Fearless Vampire Killers." After a long run in Vienna, the musical by composer Jim Steinman and lyricist-book writer Michael Kunze was originally announced to open last fall at the Minskoff Theater. After the events of Sept. 11, it was pushed back a full year to September 2002. Now it has been moved to Nov. 14 due to changes in the creative team. Co-directors John Caird and Steinman have been replaced by John Rando ("Urinetown"). David Gallo is the new set designer. Other new names will be forthcoming, but Michael Crawford continues as the headliner.

That's Opera, Babe!

Jim has completed work producing a song for the Opera Babes. Titled "Vittoria!" - a composition by Giuseppe Verdi, the track will be featured on the spring 2002 Sony UK FIFA WORLD CUP CD as well as on the upcoming CD by the Opera Babes. Jim has also interview in support of the project.

The Opera Babes are soprano Rebecca Knight and mezzo-soprano Karen England. The two young ladies were picked to sing at the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League in 2001 after being spotted singing on the streets outside the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, England. Soon after they were signed to a record deal with Sony UK.

Back Into Hell...Again.

Meat Loaf's BAT OUT OF HELL II: BACK INTO HELL Expanded Into Two-CD DELUXE EDITION Featuring Three Versions Of 'I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)' to be released March 19, 2002. Press Release

NEW GARBO MUSICAL TO OPEN IN SWEDEN THIS YEAR

A new Swedish musical about the life of reclusive Swedish-born film legend Greta Garbo will open in Stockholm in September, Swedish news agency TT reported.

"Garbo the Musical" will feature new material about the star recently released by her relatives in the United States and music inspired by pop star Celine Dion, producer Mikael Hellqvist told the agency. Read More.

DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES - The Most Successful Musical Of 2001

12/12/01 Stella Entertainment Press Release - Stuttgart

Market Leader STELLA Entertainment AG's production of DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES has been seen by more than 600,000 visitors this year and is the most successful German musical of 2001. In addition, the trade magazine Musicals named DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES the distinguished recipient of the 2001 Reader's Choice Award for "Favorite Long-Running Musical."

The numbers speak for themselves! "DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES is the most successful musical in Germany," explains Klaus von der Heyde, Chairman of the Board of STELLA Entertainment AG. "It's a musical that's appealed to a completely new target group and has allowed us to bring a younger demographic of visitors into our theaters."

Since March 31, 2000, when the VAMPIRES began their mischief, crowds of people have found their way to Stuttgart - and more continue to come. On the 12th of December, 2001 the one-millionth visitor experienced DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES live in Stuttgart.

There are big plans in the coming years for Vampires. "The musical is doing so well that we plan to keep it in Stuttgart until at least 2004," said Klaus von der Heyde. In addition to this achievement, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES is expected to become the first original German-language production to transfer to Broadway, New York in the autumn of next year. German Press Release

Vampires Enlist You!

A temporary webpage has been established at -

http://www.danceofthevampires.com

There is a "news only" list you can subscribe to. Join and you'll receive automatic alerts (that will include website & show updates plus special information) direct to your e-mailbox.

On October 5, 2001, David Sonenberg, producer of Dance Of The Vampires confirmed that the show would not open in April 2002 as had been initially planned. The tragic events of September 11, 2001 have made it necessary to reschedule. Here is the excerpt from the New York Times:

Delay for `Vampires'

There is another Broadway postponement to report: "Dance of the Vampires," a musical based on the 1967 Roman Polanski film "The Fearless Vampire Killers," will not be seen this season.

Its producer, David Sonenberg, said yesterday that he had decided to push back the show's opening until next fall. The show, originally scheduled for late April, will instead open on Oct. 24 at the Minskoff Theater.

Mr. Sonenberg said most of the show's creative team, including John Caird, the co-director, was based in London, which caused myriad logistic delays. "We haven't been able to do anything productive since all this happened," he said. "We just realized there was no way to open before the Tony cutoff."

MICHAEL CRAWFORD

in

DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES
A new musical by Jim Steinman and Michael Kunze
Based on the film by Roman Polanski

Michael Crawford returns to Broadway for the first time since his Tony Award®- winning performance in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES is a hot wired fairy tale in which an aristocratic, charismatic vampire, Count Von Krolock, jousts with a young passionate student, Alfred, to win the body and soul of a beautiful eighteen year old virgin, Sarah, who only knows that she wants…more!!!

From an award-winning creative team comes the musical event of the season.
DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES is a spectacular rollercoaster ride, twisting and turning from romance to comedy to horror, all set against an opulent score and explosive dance.
Get ready for a total eclipse over Broadway.

Please visit http://www.danceofthevampires.com to join the
Dance Of The Vampires Information Hotline E-mail List!

NEW YORK (Variety) - Fourteen years after his blood-letting turn in "The Phantom of the Opera,'' actor Michael Crawford returns to Broadway this season in another musical of the macabre, "Dance of the Vampires.''

Based on Roman Polanski's 1967 movie spoof "The Fearless Vampire Killers," the show opens April 11 at the Minskoff Theater. Full Story

Casting for Dance Of The Vampires will begin September 4th in New York. Rehearsals are slated to start January 7, 2002. According to current plans, the first preview at Broadway's Minskoff Theater will be on March 5th and the show will officially open a month later on April 11th. All this point, all dates remain tentative.

Holy Garbo, Batman!
A long list of varied projects are still in development and making very good progress...they include, among others, Warner’s development of the Steinman/Ives musical Batman. MTV is still slated to produce Wuthering Heights California for next season, and Jim is creating yet another new musical based on the life of Greta Garbo. Greta Garbo The Musical is tentatively scheduled to open in 2002 in Stockholm, Sweden before, hopefully, moving to Berlin, London’s West End and Broadway. The show features a book by Warner Brown. Music will be composed and arranged by Michael Reed and Jim Steinman. The show’s director will be Scott Faris.

A WICKed Tribute!
John Wick, award-winning author and game designer (best known for his work on Legend of the Five Rings and 7th Sea for AEG), is developing a new Role Playing Game called Neverland and inspired by the music of Jim Steinman.

The Windy Cities:
Whistle Down The Wind - UK Tour 2001 - 2002

Design by PAUL FARNSWORTH
Lighting by NICK RICHINGS
Choreography by HENRY METCALFE
Musical director DAVID STEADMAN
Produced & directed by BILL KENWRIGHT

The following information was provided by Bill Kenwright Ltd. and is subject to change. Please confirm all details of interest to you directly with the venue. Box office numbers have been provided.

Sept. 14 - 29 Theater Royal, Plymouth - Box Office 01752267222
Oct. 2 - 13 Kings Theater, Glasgow - Box Office 01412875429
Oct. 15 - 22 Alhambra, Bradford - Box Office 01274752000
Oct. 29 - Nov 5 New Theatre, Cardiff - Box Office 02920878889
Nov. 12 - 19 Hippodrome, Birmingham - Box Office 01216227486
Nov. 26 - ? To Be Confirmed
Dec. 3 - 15 Apollo Theatre, Oxford - Box Office 01865244544
Dec. 17 - Jan. 14 Empire Theatre, Liverpool - Box Office 01517083206
Jan. 21 - Feb 2 Festival Theatre, Edinburg - Box Office 01315296000
Feb. 4 - Feb16 Empire Theatre, Sunderland - Box Office 01915142517
Feb. 18 - 25 Grand Theatre. Wolverhampton - Box Office 01902421447
March 4 - 11 His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen - Box Office 01224641122
March 18 - 30 Opera House, Manchester - Box Office 01612422525
April 1 - 13 Mayflower Theatre, Southampton - Box Office 02380711811
April 15 - ? To Be Confirmed
April 22 - ? To Be Confirmed
April 29 - May 6 Hippodrome, Bristol 01179299444

An English language reading of Dance Of The Vampires was held April 27th in New York for the show’s investors. A workshop production will be staged in mid-May for theater owners. The cast for the reading and workshop is as listed below:

Steve Barton - Count von Krolock (Phantom Of The Opera)
Sarah Uriarte Berry - Sarah (Les Miserables)
Max von Essen - Alfred (Jesus Christ Superstar)
William Youmans - Professor Abronsius (Titanic)
Tom Alan Robbins - Chagal (The Lion King)
Bertilla Baker - Rebecca (Titanic)
Kate Shindle - Magda (Caberet - she is also the former Miss America, 1998)
Jason Wooten - Herbert (Footloose, also Starmites 2001)
Ken Jennings - Koukol (Sweeney Todd)

Dance Of The Vampires -
Book by Jim Steinman, David Ives and John Caird as adapted from the German libretto of Michael Kunze.

Music and Lyrics by Jim Steinman

Directed by Jim Steinman & John Caird

Executive Producer is Andrew Braunsberg

Produced by Elizabeth Williams & Anita Waxman

Planned Broadway arrival is early 2002.
Opening Date and Theater To Be Announced.

Brief Notes:
Development of Batman - The Musical (Book by Ives, Music/Lyrics by Steinman) for Warner Brothers continues. The show may receive a reading later this summer.

Vampires Begin The Dance Toward Broadway:
The reading for U.S. producers and investors of Dance Of The Vampires is planned for the last week of April in New York. John Caird will co-direct with Jim. David Ives (who wrote the book for the upcoming Warner Bros. Steinman/Ives musical - Batman) is now also involved in Dance Of The Vampires as the one of the projects librettists.

Going Batty:
Thrilled with the final script (Ives) and score (Steinman) presented to them for Batman The Musical, Warner Bros. Has “green-lighted” the project for a late 2002 arrival in Gotham. Possible directors for the projects are being explored at this time.

A Hell Of A Cover:
A Q Magazine special edition - The 100 Best Record Covers Of All Time features the cover art for Bat Out Of Hell. Art by Corben -Concept by Steinman. The write-up is featured on this web site at: 100 Best Covers

Forbidden Fires Burn In Boston:
A new Steinman related project is now underway, with Jim's consent, called Forbidden Fire...The Musical Legacy of Jim Steinman. The project is the brainchild of Lisa "Lucky" DesPres, the talent coordinator and artistic director of one of the largest club venues in the Boston, Massachusetts area. Collaborating with Lisa are Angie Winterbottom and Emily DeGraff both longtime and profound Steinmaniacs. The show will be done revue style with Steinman songs serving as both the musical numbers and the emotional premise upon which each of the various scenes is written. Top caliber talent has already been recruited and Gary Cherone (formerly of Extreme / Van Halen and presently with Tribe of Judah) has been confirmed as one of the show's stars. Forbidden Fire plans a Fall 2002 opening in Boston with hopes of moving to New York shortly thereafter. A statement from Lisa follows:

"We're very fortunate to have a muse of such legendary standing as Mr. Steinman. It is our mission to reintroduce his music to the world in a way that allows the fundamental heroism to shine through. Though most (lay-persons) are familiar with a number his songs, they unfortunately don't make the connection. They don't know there is one man behind an epic body of work. We look forward to the resounding "WOW" when the general public realizes that the same man who brought them Paradise By The Dashboard Light, also brought them Total Eclipse and It's All Coming Back to Me Now. It's time
for Jim and his music to be appreciated autonomously. In the manner one recognizes a Mozart composition - or on a more contemporary level, those of Leiber and Stohler. Indeed, few contemporary composers have enjoyed such longevity. Let us celebrate the artist who "made" the music as we've celebrated the artists who have performed it."
Lisa "Lucky" DesPres
Producer Forbidden Fire

More Bat To Love
On January 30th Legacy, a division of Sony Music, released an "expanded" version of Bat Out Of Hell. This new edition features two additional tracks recorded live at Nassau Coliseum in Hempstead (Long Island), New York in 1978. New tracks include Steinman's adaptation of classical composer Maurice Ravel's "Bolero"( which was used to open the stage show for the original Bat Out Of Hell Tour) and a blistering 15 minute "in-concert" version of the album's title track. Read a well-written review of this release here.

I'm Obsessed With Obsession:
MTV announced, as part of it's plan to develop 10 new original movies, "Wuthering Heights." The Emily Bronte classic about obsessive love takes a new spin in a contemporary adaptation based on a screenplay by Jim Steinman and Patricia Louisiana Knop. Jim will be executive producer and compose the original score for the movie. The writers, Max Enscoe and Annie deYoung, are currently working on two horror-thriller scripts (Day The World Ended & The Spider) for HBO and expect their first cinematic release to come in Fall of 2001 with "Wooly Boys." MTV generally spends in excess of 4 million dollars per movie and expects to complete production on "Wuthering Heights" in late 2001 or early 2002.

We'll Miss It, No Matter What:
Whistle Down The Wind has closed in London after a successful 2 1/2 year run that spawned the immensely successful single, No Matter What. Collectors will be interested to know that Donny Osmond covers that song on his current release "This Is The Moment."

January 19th, 2001

After a West End run of over  two and a half years, the Andrew Lloyd Webber 
and Jim Steinman musical, Whistle Down the Wind, will close at the Aldwych 
theatre on Saturday Jan 6th 2001.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said, "I am sad to see "Whistle Down the Wind" go, though 
a two and half year run is pretty good. Although with hindsight I feel I 
might have been treading water, the show did contain 'No Matter What', my 
biggest ever Number One hit in the UK, and many other songs of which I am 
extremely proud. That is why I will return to it."

There is talk about the show possibly changing theaters - (the Aldwych is not 
one of the many owned by ALW's RUG) - or taking it on tour. It's sad news 
because the musical is really very beautiful, consistently placed in the Top 
10 selling shows of the West End and recouped it's investment. 

October 30, 2000

Let The Revels Begin - Vampires Dance On Broadway:
Dance Of The Vampires is scheduled to arrive on Broadway in Fall 2001. 
The show will feature book, music and lyrics by Steinman and he'll also be co-directing.

Holy Cow - It's Batman:
Work on Batman - The Musical, (a Warners Brothers project), continues. 
Steinman provides music and lyrics for a David Ives book. It will likely come to 
Broadway in the 2001-2002 season.

Isn't It Romantic?:
Frank Wildhorn is developing a new concept in musical theater. His project 
is called The Romantics and on it he'll collaborate with a variety of 
lyricists, including Jim Steinman, Don Black and Stephen Schwartz. Wildhorn 
describes it as "a multi-layered project about ten couples." (Couples include 
Adam & Eve, Bonnie & Clyde, and F.Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald). Wildhorn hopes 
The Romantics will spawn two albums, a television special, material to use in 
a concert setting and two complete musicals. Wildhorn's wife (Jekyll and Hyde 
star) Linda Eder, is the female star of the show and will be featured in all 
female lead parts. Steinman will provide lyrics for the Ladyhawke section of 
the musical. Ladyhawke is the story of two lovers - cursed to walk through 
life together, yet endlessly apart. Separated by an evil spell, they 
alternate between animal (hawk or wolf) and human form - allowed to be 
together, both as humans, during the brief moments when day turns to night 
and night turns to day. A total eclipse helps bring an end to black magic 
that plagues them.

Until The Very End, I'm There:
RUG Denies Whistle Down The Wind Closing Rumors:
Rumors have been circulating, (largely started by remarks made by Andrew 
Lloyd Webber to Variety Magazine while doing press for his current musical, 
The Beautiful Game) that Whistle Down The Wind may close in January 2001. 
RUG denies this and is booking through Spring 2001. Whistle Down The Wind 
continues to do well - 2 1/2 years since opening, it generally ranks in the 
West End Top 10 and it's almost completely recouped all investment money. 
The Aldwych Theater, where Whistle is housed, is not one of the many West 
End theaters owned by RUG/ALW. My hope is that this philosophical and 
poignant work will continue to be available to audiences for many years to 
come.

No Matter Where There's Darkness, I Bring My Song To You:
Michael Ball sings No Matter What on his upcoming release "Michael Ball - This
Time...It's Personal." The CD is scheduled for released on October 23rd with 
a video release scheduled to follow.

Forever's Gonna Start Tonight:
Pia Douwes, Uwe Kroeger, Viktor Gernot and Marika Lichter teamed to perform 
four concerts in Vienna last September. The show, called "In Love Again...With 
Musicals," featured a Pia Douwes and Uwe Kroeger duet on Totale Finsternis 
(Total Eclipse Of the Heart) from Tanz der Vampire. A live recording release 
is planned and this number is slated for inclusion. A release date has not 
yet been announced.

Did You Get To Try Anything New?:
In addition to the above, Jim continues to work on a variety of exciting 
projects. Although it's premature to discuss these "back burner" projects 
with certainty, they include developing new talent for the Ravenous Records 
label, developing a screenplay for TV, plus work on an assortment of 
musicals. 

No Way Jose!:
Jim Steinman is not involved with Meat Loaf's latest recording endeavor, Fun 
House.

October 9, 2000

Restless Records / DAS Label Press Release

23 YEARS AND 37 MILLION RECORDS LATER ...

"BAT OUT OF HELL" GOES COUNTRY

Meat Loaf's "Bat Out Of Hell" was released in 1977 and has sold over 37 million copies since. A new spin on the extraordinarily successful rock-opera classic will feature various country artists covering the tunes on "Bat Out Of Nashville."   More

5/15/00

On July 26th VH1 plans to air "Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back," a new original movie that tells Meat Loaf's version of his dramatic rise to fame in the 1970s, his subsequent fall as a result of personal and professional problems, and his return to fame after recording the sequel to Bat Out Of Hell in 1993 with Jim Steinman. W. Earl Brown ("There's Something About Mary") stars as Meat Loaf, Dedee Pfeiffer ("For Your Love") as Lesley Aday and Zachary Throne ("Frank Leaves for the Orient") as the Meat's legendary inventor, Jim Steinman. The film is directed by Jim McBride ("Great Balls of Fire," "The Big Easy").

Steinman and most others portrayed in the film, aside from Meat Loaf, were not consulted on the script with regard to accuracy or content.

5/15/00

Stuttgart's Tanz der Vampire stars Kevin Tarte and Barbara Köhler's performance of "Totale Finsternis" on the German TV station ZDF- Sendung on the program "Straße der Lieder" has been rescheduled. They are now tentatively scheduled to appear April 22nd.

The Stuttgart cast of Tanz der Vampire are also scheduled to appear on "Kinderquatsch mit Michael" on April 1st but that date is also subject to change.

03/28/00

Jim's record label, Ravenous, is now associated with the Columbia Records family of music. A variety of projects are being planned.

"Dance Of The Vampires" (Stuttgart, Germany version) opens March 31, 2000 with previews beginning mid/late March. Returning visitors to the show will be pleased to find an extended and re-written Draussen Ist Freiheit/dance sequence. Visit Stella on-line for booking and ticket information.

http://www.musical.de/vampire/de/html/index.html

** "Dance Of The Vampires" (United States version) is working toward a Fall 2001 Broadway arrival. Contrary to a report appearing in a New York paper's gossip column, Roman Polanski will not be directing the U.S. production.

** Jim continues to prepare "Batman : The Musical" for Warner Bros. with book by David Ives, music and lyrics by Steinman.

** Filming is set to begin on VH1's Meat Loaf bio-pic "To Hell And Back." Although an actor has been cast and a role scripted for Steinman, Jim was not involved in script development nor will he assist with production.

** A United States release of "The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays The Music Of Meat Loaf" is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, 2000. Orchestral renditions of Bat Out Of Hell, Dead Ringer For Love, You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth, Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through, I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That), Read 'em And Weep, Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad, and Paradise By The Dashboard Light are featured on the 12 track collection. The Royal Philharmonic, one of the premier orchestras in the world, have previously featured the songs of U2, R.E.M Oasis and Madonna.

03/12/00

Current Cast For The Stuttgart Premiere Of Dance Of The Vampires:

Lead Roles:
Count von Krolock - Kevin Tarte
Von Krolock (alternate) - Charles Fornara
Alfred - Aris Sas
Alfred  (alternate) - Fritz Schmid   
Sarah - Barbara Köhler
Sarah (alternate) - Christina Koeb  
Professor Abronsius - Werner Bauer
Chagal - James Sbano
Rebecca - Anne Welte
Herbert - Thomas Mülner                     
Magda - Maaike Schuurmans
Koukol - Torsten Flach

Ensemble: 
Raymond Sepe - Understudy Krolock / Chagal
René Rosenburg - Understudy Alfred / Professor
Thomas Christ
Aleks diCapri
Heinz-G. Schramm
Isabella Prühs - Understudy Magda
Juliana Albrecht - Understudy Rebecca
Kelli Brisbane
Maike Switzer
Michaela Kollar

Dance Team:
Damian Kacperski, Akos Tihanyi, Philip Ranson, Bart Sluis, Witalji Kühne, Francseco Abós, Anne Tiger Days, Liane Maynard, Isabella Massé, Virginia Kop, Tiziana Doneda, Nuria Castells

Swings:
Norbert Kohler - Understudy Alfred / Herbert
Frank Röbling - Understudy Professor
Alexander Wengel - Understudy Koukol
Andrew Hunt - Dance Captain
Matteo Gastaldo
Lillemor Spitzer - Understudy Sarah
Maryanne Kelly - Understudy Magda
Marion Furtner - Understudy Sarah
Kathryn Broadribb
Melanie Gemeiner
Yvonne Eggen

2/07/00

Tanz der Vampire prepares to open in Stuttgart, Germany
(Previews start March 17th, Opening Night - March 31st, 2000)

Booking Information: http://www.musical.de/vampire/de/html/index.html

Main Character Cast:
Count von Krolock: Kevin Tarte (alternate): Charles Fornara
Alfred: Aris Sas (alternate): Fritz Schmid
Sarah: Barbara Köhler (alternate): Christina Koeb
Professor Abronsius: Werner Bauer
Chagal :  James Sbano
Rebecca:  Anne Welte
Herbert:  Thomas Mülner
Magda:  Maaike Schuurmans
Koukol: Torsten Flach

On Saturday March 25th, Kevin Tarte and Barbara Köhler (Stuttgart's Krolock
and Sarah) will perform "Totale Finsternis" on the German TV station ZDF-
Sendung on the program "Straße der Lieder." 

2/5/00

NEW YORK MORNING SHOW LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE OVERLOOKED CANDIDATES FOR ROCK HALL

The New York morning team of Steve Mason & Sue Kolinsky who host what they call "The Anti Show" on 102.7 WNEW have launched the online ROCK HALL OVERSIGHT PETITION at the show's website at www.stevemason.com.

The list of overlooked candidates was compiled by Mason, Kolinsky, and callers over a period of weeks. "There were some obvious ommissions like Aerosmith and Queen," says Mason, "but there are also some personal favorites." Sue Kolinsky is a big fan of Steely Dan and Laura Nyro, while Mason is a Harry Chapin afficianado and, having grown up in Toledo, has a soft spot for straight ahead rock like 38 Special, REO Speedwagon, and Cheap Trick. Two of the candidates who have clearly earned a place in The Rock Hall, but might not garner support without a public push are Burt Bacharach and Bernie Taupin. "Bacharach's career and influence spans the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's," Mason points out. "From his string of hits with Dionne Warwick to his recent collaborations with Elvis Costello, he is a distinctive musical voice that deserves recognition. As for Taupin, it is his lyrics that created hit after hit for Elton John. The Rock Hall is for songwriters as much as it is for performers."

Visitors to the website at www.stevemason.com can vote for as many of the candidates as they believe are deserving of Rock immortality. Mason & Kolinsky will foreward all online petitions to Rock Hall voters, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and to major music publications. Here is a list of all of
the candidates on THE MASON & KOLINSKY ROCK HALL OVERSIGHT PETITION.

38 Special, Aerosmith, Burt Bacharach, Harry Chapin, Cheap Trick, Don McLean, Moody Blues, Rush, Laura Nyro, Queen, Stevie Nicks (solo), REO Speedwagon, Jim Steinman (writer/producer), Bernie  Taupin, Steely Dan
1/20/00

Jim recently interviewed for 20/20. The episode is scheduled to air Thursday October
28th 1999 on ABC Television.
10/14/99

The Classic Albums Special : Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell will be shown on ITV on
October 23rd 1999. This show features extensive interview clips with Jim. See
Rockman's Classic Albums preview section for samples. The show will also be released on VHS and DVD. Limited edition packages including the Bat Out Of Hell CD will also be issued.
10/14/99

The CD Pavarotti & Friends For Guatemala and Kosovo has been released on Decca Records (289466600-2). The album features a spectacular debut with Pavarotti and Boyzone performing No Matter What. There is also a video of the concert, directed by Spike Lee, available (440074220-3).
10/14/99

A new CD called, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays The Music Of Meat Loaf
(MCCD403), has been released in the United Kingdom. The CD features orchestral
versions of 12 songs of which 8 are penned by Jim - those songs are:
Bat Out Of Hell / Dead Ringer / You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth /
Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through / I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do
That) / Read 'Em And Weep / Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad / Paradise By The Dashboard Light

The CD can be ordered on-line for HMV Direct, the telephone # (U.S. callers) is
011 44 990 334578
10/14/99

Whistle Down The Wind has extended it's booking period at the Aldwych Theater in
London. You can now purchase tickets through September 2000.
10/14/99

"Boyzone will be performing No Matter What on General Hospital on August 4th."

7/16/99

Boyzone will be in Los Angeles July 1 & 2 taping an appearance on General Hospital. They'll be performing No Matter What. Exact air date is yet to be determined but it should be shortly after the taping.

To hear a bit of Luciano Pavarotti and Boyzone's duet of No Matter What click here.

6/26/99

Jim is featured in Entertainment Weekly's issue - The 100 Most Talented People.

It Broadway Rocker JIM STEINMAN

AGE 49 WHY HIM? The writer-producer behind Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell is the Great White Way's new lullabier. Steinman's Whistle Down the Wind, a collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber, comes to the U.S. next year; his Dance of the Vampires, directed by Roman Polanski, will debut on B'way by Halloween 2000; then he'll turn the Caped Crusader into a crooner for Batman: The Musical, in 2001. WORK HABITS "I'm nocturnal. My favorite thing is to go to sleep around noon, wake at 6 p.m., and work through the night." Creative crutch "I listen to Wagner and the Beach Boys. And I watch Hitchcock. I once got kicked out of an apartment for playing the score from Psycho too loud." WORST JOB "Playing in the opening act for Bette Midler at a bathhouse in New York. I was all dressed up and everyone else was in towels." NEXT Studying bat habits for Batman: "I'm starting to sleep upside down in a tree."

6/20/99

Also, ITV will soon be featuring Bat Out Of Hell as part of their "Classic Albums" series.

Jim loved the Beta Band! Despite persistent press reports that say otherwise, Jim never objected to their use of parts of Total Eclipse Of The Heart on The Hard One. After all, it's a ten minute long song - and Jim's so fond of those!

No Matter What! It's Boyzone's first US single but it's also something of anthem among Boyzone fans as a way to express their support and affection for Stephen Gately who has just publicly announced that he's gay. The song in the United States (which at this time, sadly, is not supported by a single, video or tour) is making steady progress at radio stations across the country. The Notting Hill soundtrack was Billboards "greatest gainer" for the last two weeks in a row.

Boyzone's No Matter What hits the US airwaves Monday, May 10th! Call your local stations to request it! 

Jim has been nominated for a Tony in association with the musical Footloose. Among the show's other nominations, it received one for Best Original Score. Others in the category are:

Original Score: Tom Snow, Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman ``Footloose'', Jason Robert Brown ``Parade,'' Frank Wildhorn and Jack Murphy ``The Civil War,'' Jeanine Tesori ``Twelfth Night.''

**Whistle Down The Wind's Original London Cast Recording has been released on Really Useful/Polydor records [5472612].

**Major cast changes in the show include Laura Michelle Kelly replacing Lottie Mayor as Swallow and Glenn Carter replacing Marcus Lovett as The Man. New cast starts May 3rd.

**Dance Of The Vampires is tentatively planning it's Broadway debut for Fall 2000. The current production running in Vienna will most likely close in January 2000. Another production is slated to open in Stuttgart soon after that.

**No Matter What as performed by Boyzone has been honored with two Ivor Novello Award nominations for International Hit Of The Year and Best Selling British single.

**No Matter What will be making it's U.S. debut as the first single off the Notting Hill Motion Picture Soundtrack available May 18th in America. This love story, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, is from the same writing team as Four Weddings And A Funeral. The film will be released worldwide May 28th.

**Boyzone's first U.S. TV appearance will be on The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Tentatively scheduled to air May 26th - they'll be performing No Matter What!

**To read an article written by Keith Duffy of Boyzone click here.

**Although many of Jim's current projects are still in the embryonic state one that seems to be quickly taking shape is Warner Brother's Batman Musical - a project for which Jim will be writing both music and lyrics. To read a NY Daily News article about the project click here.