Grimm Adaptations

Alexander has co-written (with bookwriter-lyricists Wolfgang Adenberg, Dieter Stegmann and Kevin Schroeder) numerous musical adaptations of Brothers Grimm fairy tales - Snow White, The Blue Light, Sleeping Beauty, King Drosselbart, The Seven Ravens, The Golden Goose, The Frog Prince and Beauty And The Beast - The Singing Springing Lark - all originally produced over successive summers at the Amphitheater Park Schloss Philippsruhe, Hanau, Germany, prior to subsequent productions around both Western and Eastern Europe, and most released on CD and/or DVD.

Several of the shows’ songs have gone on to be performed, recorded and released by leading musical theatre artists including Joanna Ampil, Daniel Boys, Earl Carpenter, Linzi Hateley, Ramin Karimloo, Shona Lindsay, Diane Pilkington, Oliver Thornton, Sally Ann Triplett and Sabrina Weckerlin.

Snow White

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Images from original German production

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CRITICAL RESPONSE

A stunning musical production of Snow White with strong vocal and acting performances, striking set-pieces and fantastic costumes, marked a brilliant start to the Festival….Snow White brought the audience two hours of highly entertaining musical theatre and is among the best musical productions of recent years. - HANAU POST

All in all, Snow White, with its sound directional vision, perfect casting, witty lyrics, great songs and costumes (Ulla Röhrs on top form as always), and ensemble with its powerful singing and masterly dancing, is one of the best musicals staged at the Amphitheater for a long time. - HANAUER ANZEIGER

THE BLUE LIGHT

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Images from original German production

CRITICAL RESPONSE

The audience enthusiastically embraced this witty and entertaining production boasting brilliant actors, the imaginative and elaborate costumes to be expected of Ulla Roehrs and catchy music by Alexander S. Bermange... The song 'Hacke, Hacke, Scheit fuer Scheit' is one of the highlights of the evening. - HANAUER ANZEIGER

Sleeping Beauty

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Images from original German production

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CRITICAL RESPONSE

A dramatic, funny and above all musically exciting Sleeping Beauty... Entertainment of the highest standard. - FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG:

This is a musical that deserves to be seen... One is treated to an intelligent and original, yet accessible, telling of the tale, which, judging by the standing ovation it received, cannot fail but be embraced by its audiences and be enjoyed on different levels and in different ways by young and old alike. - BLICKPUNKT MUSICAL

This sparkling take on the story entertained and delighted Friday’s 1200-strong opening night audience at the Amphitheater Schloss Philippsruhe Hanau. The show’s rousing hits were played by a small but cool live band, the ten performers’ voices were predominantly of a high standard, the plot had pace... - MAIN ECHO

Sleeping Beauty offers one and a half hours of good entertainment for the whole family and thereby keeps up the Festival’s tradition of producing successful musicals. - HANAUER ANZEIGER

KING DROSSELBART

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CRITICAL RESPONSE

Rarely has anybody been so successful in making a fairy tale both contemporary and authentic… English composer Alexander S. Bermange’s thrilling music is stylistically very varied, yet consistently catchy. - FRANKFURTER RUNDSCHAU

A piece de resistance… Rarely has a premiere met with such an enthusiastic response… An opening that can be heartily recommended. - OFFENBACH POST

Fantastic music… varied and peppered with catchy tunes… A visit to the show is an absolute must. - HANAUER ANZEIGER

THE SEVEN RAVENS

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CRITICAL RESPONSE

A classic fairy-tale of guilt and forgiveness presented in marvellous musical tableaux. - FRANKFURTER NEUE PRESSE

An extremely entertaining production, received ecstatically by the audience. Alexander S. Bermange invests the music with as much feeling and emotion as Wolfgang Adenberg does with the book and lyrics. - HANAU POST

A flawless production.... great fun for children and adults alike... [Alexander S. Bermange] succeeds in providing catchy tunes practically all the way through, some lively, others more reflective. - FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG

The premiere of THE SEVEN RAVENS was a thrilling experience... the music is compelling and has so many catchy tunes that you just won't be able to get the opening number - A Fair in Budapest - and many further songs out of your head. - HANAUER ANZEIGER

The Golden Goose

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Images from press coverage of original German production

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CRITICAL RESPONSE

A fantastic team has made this production, by means of words and music, a truly fabulous experience. - FRANKFURTER NEUE PRESSE

"The Golden Goose"... impresses as a lively, dynamic musical with comic interludes... Alexander S. Bermange's music boasts catchy tunes and some stirring duets. - HANAU POST

An enchanting Golden Goose.. thanks to Alexander S. Bermange's catchy tunes, Marc Urquhart's direction, Dieter Stegmann's lyrics and the company's outstanding vocal performances... a theatrical delight for children and adults alike. - FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG

The Frog Prince

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CRITICAL RESPONSE

Catchy songs of power, money and love - powerful musical numbers make "The Frog Prince" a joy... Alexander S. Bermange's music is successful in every respect, Marc Urquhart's production is funny and focussed, and Dieter Stegmann's book and lyrics ensure that even social criticism finds its place amidst the fun... The standing ovation showed once again that fairy stories, given the right adaptation, can provide the best entertainment and put you in the best of spirits. - HANAUER ANZEIGER

Year after year, musicals rank as the most successful productions. Judging by the audience's show of enthusiasm at the premiere, this will be no different with "The Frog Prince". Marc Urquhart (direction) and Dieter Stegmann (book and lyrics) have come together again and, with Alexander S. Bermange's catchy music, created an exciting production which is well worth seeing and hearing... The show will be of enjoyment to both young and old. - FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG

Beauty & The Beast -

The Singing Springing Lark

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THE LOST FAIRY TALES

An original and tongue-in-cheek story of four archetypal fairytale villains seeking to entrap four famous fairytale princes and princesses (played by the same four performers), interweaving songs from some of the above fairytale-inspired musicals.

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