Grand Hotel
by Alchemy Theatre Company
May. 30 - Jun. 15
“…and the revolving door turns and turns and turns…”
Come spend a night or two in the world’s most luxurious yet vaguely tragic hotel where we can eavesdrop on the conversations and the lives of some finely observed guests. It is 1928 Berlin. The world is between wars, the stock market is booming, Berlin is the center of high life and optimism rules the day. However, underneath it all, there is something much darker happening with the Grand Hotel’s illustrious clients – issues of life and death, financial ruin, love and murder. All this converging to mirror life itself as people come and go through the revolving door that never stops. Richly contrasting rhythm and dance, comedy, glitz, heartache and tragedy are interwoven into this story that features a diverse ensemble cast and a lush and powerful score.
The cast includes Taylor Bini as Flaemmchen, Cameron La Brie as Baron Felix Von Gaigern, Leslie Hethcox as Otto Kringelein, Tim Blackwood as Colonel Doctor Otternschlag, Sara Zare as Elizaveta Grushinskaya, Sarah-Marie Curry as Raffaela Ottanio, Richard C. Jones as Hermann Preysing, PatricRegner as Erik Litnauer, Noah Steele as Rhona/Detective/Chauffeur/Shareholder, Ashton Slade Miller ashe Doorman/Scullery Worker/Shareholder, Isaiah Jones as Jimmy 2/Bellman/WealthyCouple/Shareholder, Noah Wood as the Gigolo/Scullery Worker/Wealthy Couple/Dancer, Megan Nasche s the Countess/Operator/Wealthy Couple/Woman in Lobby/Tootsie/Dancer, Max Green as Victor Sandor-Witt/Scullery Worker/Wealthy Couple/Zinnowitz, Sharon Robinson as Madame PeePee/Wealthy Couple/Tootsie/Operator and Ellie Jarrett Shattles as Trude.
Michael Cooper, Artistic Director of The Alchemy Theatre, will direct this musical with book by Luther Davis, music & lyrics by Robert Wright & George Forrest and additional music & lyrics by Maury Yeston. Grand Hotel, The Musical is based on Vicki Baum’s novel Grand Hotel by arrangement with Turner Broadcasting Co., owner of the motion picture Grand Hotel.
The musical is set in 1928 Berlin in the world’s most luxurious yet vaguely tragic hotel. Richly contrasting rhythm and dance, comedy, glitz, heartache and tragedy are interwoven into this story that features a diverse ensemble cast and a lush and powerful score. Dr. Ellie Jarrett Shattles (2024 B. Iden Payne winner) has joined the team as Music Director and Noah Wood (2024 B. Iden Payne winner) will be the Choreographer. Rounding out the teamed by Producer Marnie Near will be Costume Designer Sarah Rosenkranz, Set Designers Holly and Patrick Cowley with Dynamic Duo Productions, Lighting & Sound Designer Kallie Pierce, Graphic Designer Paige Hoover and Stage Manager Britney Salyer.
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Menschen im Hotel by Vicki Baum
Grand Hotel started out as a book by German author Vicki Baum called Menschen im Hotel, or "People at a Hotel."
Set in a grand hotel in the center of 1920s Berlin, the novel served as a microcosm of the modern world and remains Baum's most celebrated work. It was hailed as a "delicious and disturbing masterpiece," by New York Review books among many others.
The book was also adapted by Baum into a German stage play of the same name shortly after the book's publication in 1929. |
Grand Hotel, The Movie
In 1932, Baum's novel was adapted into the American film Grand Hotel, directed by Edmund Goulding and produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, with a screenplay by William A. Drake. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 1932 Oscars and has proven to be an influential film long since its release, notably containing the iconic line "I want to be alone," delivered by actress Greta Garbo.
In 2007, the film was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." |
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Grand Hotel, The Musical
In 1989, Grand Hotel, The Musical premiered on Broadway, with a book by Luther Davis, music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest, and additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston.
The show garnered 12 Tony Award nominations and five wins, including best direction and best choreography. It became the first American musical since 1985's Big River to top 1,000 performances on Broadway, and continues to play at multiple houses across the country. |
Grand Hotel
by Luther Davis, Robert Wright, George Forrest, Maury Weston
Alchemy Theatre Company
May 30 - June 15, 20225
Whisenhunt Stage, Zach Theatre, Austin
Tickets on sale March 1, 2025.
