Description: The concept album of a new musical.


Synopsis:

Featured Artist: John Barr  Stephanie Benavente  Michael McCarthy  Robert Fardell  Deborah Crowe  Ian Lynn  Kit Orton  Alison Guill  Christian Jon Billett  Alex Sangster  Steven Sparling  Stephanie Evans  Claire Falconer  Christopher Orton  Anna-Lee Robertson  

Composer: Christopher J. Orton  

Lyricist: Gareth Evans 

Author: Director: Special Feature: Release date: 06/06/2006
Format: CD
Year of recording: 2006
Number of disc: 1
Number of pages: Classification: Running time:

More information:

Dracula - The Musical adapted from Bram Stoker`s Classic Gothic Novel. Dracula is the new musical by Gareth Evans and Christopher J. Orton, with orchestration by Ian Lynn. The musical is an adaptation of Bram Stoker`s classic gothic novel, `Dracula`. This collaborative work accurately represents the dark Victorian world of Stoker`s novel whilst making a direct connection between the fictional vampire and historic figure, Vlad Tepes - Dracula. The libretto has been deliberately written with due consideration to the period and intention of the original 1897 novel. This professional work is a musical based upon the novel (and Stoker`s original references for the novel) and not based upon a film version, or some romantic idea, of the story and title character. The musical `Dracula` has taken over six years to reach the present stage of development. After extensive research had been conducted by the lyricist in 1999 / 2000 (including the use of references to Stoker`s original notes for the novel), the initial lyric structures for some of the proposed songs and the outline of the musical plot were written. The first version of the complete libretto had been produced by 2003 and has subsequently been further improved. Christopher J. Orton and Gareth Evans began working together on the project in 2004, when Christopher began setting the libretto to his original music and to create the score for the work. After the lyricist and composer had recorded some demo material of their work in 2004, and following some private cast readings of scenes, an opportunity arose to produce a professional concept recording of the show. This process began in 2005 after the noted composer, arranger and musical director, Ian Lynn, agreed to orchestrate the work. The album features the leading West End musical theatre performer, Michael McCarthy, singing the title role. The official album launch was on September 25th at Dress Circle (London). The UK Theatre Magazine, What`s On Stage, published a very positive review of the Dracula concept album in its December 2006 issue. Recently, a track from the album was played on national radio. That was on the Elaine Paige show on BBC Radio 2. A further album of the complete Dracula musical is planned and that process will begin during 2008. The producers of the album are Sang de Vie Productions Ltd. They can be contacted via their website. "The songs deliver just the right measure of dramatic passion to get the blood pumping" " ... Michael McCarthy hitting all the right notes in the title role" "This 70 minute CD has already gathered a battalion of fans"