Robert Johanson
Hamlet - A Rock Opera (highlights from the original Czech production in English)
Detail Info
Adaptation/Direction
Robert Johanson
Composer/Lyrics
Janek Ledecky
The production started out in Prague in an English language adaptation which I created with Janek. The Korean producers saw this and wanted to bring it to Korea with their actors. Thus the Korean adventure began, where the Korean cast thrilled the audiences there and it has recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary. Almost every Korean musical star has now played the terrific title role. I was asked back and back to create many new productions, returning over 40 times to my home away from home.
But the most important result was that Robert Johanson, respected theater director, decided to join the team. He worked as Artistic Director for the most prestigious Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey for almost twenty years adapting and directing more than 150 plays there, on Broadway, NY City Opera and in other US theaters. Robert liked the material, but his only condition was to ask Janek to make changes for a U.S. adaptation. So Janek with Martin Kumzak, arranger and orchestrator, met with Robert and they found immediately that Robert’s ideas were all based on his theater experiences and his huge love for Shakespeare.
