Janek Ledecký - Official Website

HISTORY

“It’s the biggest challenge I’ve faced so far,” said Janek Ledecký, the author of Hamlet: The Rock Opera.
It all began in June 1997. Martin Kumžák, producer of the album Mít kliku, dared Janek to take a truly bold step: to try retelling Shakespeare’s most famous play of all time through songs. And so Janek spent 1998 writing and composing the musical Hamlet. When he announced his plan at a press conference, the vast majority of the professional community thought he was joking. And when he also revealed that he was building a brand-new theater for Hamlet, even his closest friends began to worry about his future. In November 1999, the premieres took place at the new Kalich Theater in Prague. With 700 performances and three CDs (greatest hits, a complete recording, and a symphonic recording—two gold records), the musical achieved incredible success in the Czech Republic.

Construction of Kalich Theater, 1999

Hamlet, 1999 – Live Reading Rehearsals

Hamlet, 1999 – Recording

Hamlet, 1999 – Costume Design (S. Rybáková)

Hamlet, 1999 – Set Design (Š. Caban)

Hamlet, 1999 – First Rehersals

Hamlet, 1999 – Original Poster

Hamlet, 1999

This was followed by 150 performances at the Nová scéna in Bratislava. At the same time, however, Hamlet began to take a completely new and surprising direction. Vince Parrillo, an American sociology professor and one of the directors at the Leonia Theater, came to the Kalich Theater to witness something he couldn’t believe. One of the most frequently performed plays, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, had been reimagined as a rock musical. Vince Parrillo was so captivated by the Prague production that he decided to do whatever it took to bring Janek’s work to the U.S. And he succeeded. After presenting excerpts from Hamlet at the Leonia Theater in New Jersey, Janek announced a competition to adapt Hamlet back into English, which was decisively won by George Harvilla, a brilliant drummer, percussionist, and actor all in one. He is also the winner of the 2000 Hemingway Prize for American Poetry.
In September 2003, the first staged reading of the musical Hamlet took place at Lamb’s Theater on Broadway, featuring stars such as Louis Pitre from Mamma Mia, John Hickok and Delisco from Aida, and Jeremy Kushnier from the musical Rent as Hamlet. Three performances were held. All ended with standing ovations. The show was recognized by TRU as one of the three best staged readings of 2003 and received a grant for further productions.

Hamlet, 2005 (US Version)

Hamlet – US Version Press Call, 2005 (S. Arcelus, J. Ledecky, C. Titmas)

Hamlet – US Version Press Call, 2005 (J. Ledecky, C. Titmas, E. Spidlova, S. Arcelus, J. Laufer, Dasha)

Hamlet – US Version Press Call, 2005 (J. Ledecky, S. Arcelus)

Hamlet – US Version Press Call, 2005 (R. Johanson)

Hamlet – US Version Press Call, 2005 (S. Arcelus)

However, the most significant outcome was that Robert Johanson, a renowned theater director, decided to join the team. Robert had served for eighteen years as artistic director of the Paper Mill Playhouse, the most prestigious theater in New Jersey. He had directed and staged more than 240 plays on Broadway and other American stages. And, by the way, in the 1980s he played Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. His only condition was that Janek agree to the idea of an “American” adaptation of the play. And so, in January 2004, Janek traveled to the U.S. to meet with Robert. And he was relieved to find that all of Robert’s comments and ideas were based on his years of theater experience and his love for Shakespeare. The first opportunity to present part of the adaptation came in April 2004 at the Abingdon Theatre in New York. Jeremy once again starred as Hamlet, alongside Josh Tower (Simba in The Lion King) as Horatio, PJ Benjamin (Mr. Cellophane from Chicago) as Polonius, and other famous Broadway names. The premiere of the new adaptation at Prague’s Kalich Theatre, featuring Sebastian Arcelus as Hamlet (later starring in Wicked, Jersey Boys, and the TV series House of Cards, Secretary, and others) and Cullen Titmas as Laertes, resulted in enthusiastic audience reactions, fantastic reviews in the media, and a DVD containing a recording of the entire performance.

Hamlet – Seoul, 2007 (R. Johanson, J. Ledecky)

Hamlet – Seoul, 2008 (Official Poster)

Hamlet – Seoul, 2008 (Premiere)

Hamlet – Seoul, 2011 (Official Poster)

Hamlet – Seoul, 2011 (J. Ledecky)

Hamlet – Tokyo, 2012 (J. Ledecky)

Hamlet – Tokyo, 2012 (Cast & Crew)

Hamlet – Tokyo, 2012

Hamlet –Seoul, 2017

In October 2007, Hamlet made its debut in Seoul, South Korea, in a production by EMK. On the day of Hamlet’s premiere, there were 68 musicals running in Seoul at the same time, yet Hamlet instantly became a hit in the Korean musical theater industry. It immediately ranked second in ticket sales.
The second run of Hamlet in Korea began in February 2008. It was nominated for Best Foreign Musical, alongside Hairspray and Sweeney Todd. In 2009 and 2010, another 350 performances were staged. On October 20, 2011, the fourth Korean production of Hamlet opened at the Universal Arts Center in Seoul, this time directed by Robert Johansson.
In February 2012, the Japanese version premiered in Tokyo, directed by Tamiya Kuriyama with Yoshio Inoue in the role of Hamlet. All performances were sold out, and Tokyo was followed by Nagoya and Osaka.
And on March 22, 2012, the international version was finally presented to Czech audiences in Czech. Robert Johanson directed at Prague’s Broadway Theater. And Janek Ledecký relished playing King Claudius. The Prague production of Hamlet was unquestionably the highlight of the theater season. In April 2017, as part of the tenth anniversary of Hamlet’s premiere in Korea, the fifth Korean production of Hamlet: The Rock Opera opened at the D-Cube Sheraton Theater in Seoul. This time, it featured the biggest K-pop stars in the lead roles. All performances were completely sold out.

Janek Ledecký

music, book, original czech lyrics

Robert Johanson

book, world version

Martin Kumžák

music direction

Šimon Caban

scénografie

Simona Rybáková

kostýmy

PAVEL DAUTOVSKÝ

light design

George C. Harvilla

anglické texty

Vincent N. Parrillo

anglické texty