A DATE WITH DRACULA – Ethan Freeman about Vampires, the role and the show

There has been an unexpected answer by Ethan Freeman when we asked him if he really believes in the existence of vampires. Since he will actually become a vampire on stage during this year's production of DRACULA in Tecklenburg and Basel, his answer was as follows:

"I believe that there are a lot of vampires in a certain way. It's not by chance that the vampire is a strong, archetypical myth with a close relation to the human being. There are surely a lot of people today carrying an inner vampire. There are many things that create a vampire. Things that have nothing to do with a flying bat. I don't belive in those real vampires we know from creepy tales. But who knows: Maybe I'll be convinced of the opposite someday...“

In a way, Ethan Freeman already has a relationship with the character of the immortal Dracula who lives on other people's blood, since the torn role between live and death, between loving and killing, seems to be the role of his life. He appears to be perfectly suited to play the "charismatic villain", as Freeman describes the big roles of his career. During his years on the international musical stages, he came to perform again and again as a character who is wandering between the worlds of good and evil: The Phantom of the Opera, Jekyll and Hyde, Beauty and the Beast, Cats – all those shows tell stories about the secret line between light and darkness, between good and bad.


Ethan Freeman as "The Beast" - "Die Schöne und das Biest"

Ethan Freeman sees in Dracula a new way to face the challenge in playing a human larger then life character who is leading the fight with himself. A strong, magical personality with a mental and physical power and a cruel and yet irresistible flair.

You almost might say that Ethan Freeman was destined to play Dracula. Already in 1997 Dracula was planned to have its opening in Munich and Ethan was choosen for the leading role. After the casting he went to see the show in Prague. Although the production in Munich was cancelled, the impressions of the show in Prague remained in Freeman's mind.

After numerous roles, Ethan's long-time friend and colleague Dean Welterlen brought Ethan's attention to the Frelichtbühne in Tecklenburg, where he performed in 2001 in Jesus Christ Superstar. In an impressive and unforgottable way he played the equally torn Pilate and filled the stage with his amazingly powerful intensity.


Ethan Freeman as Pilate in "Jesus Christ Superstar 2001"

By coincidence there happened to be a phone conversation between Radulf Beuleke and Ethan Freeman at the end of 2003, when Beuleke had the idea of casting Ethan for the role of Dracula in 2004.

The vampire in the musical version of DRACULA is not following the traditional types of Dracula. Many pictures and visions in our heads deal with blood and garlic. But for Ethan Freeman, this Dracula has some political and romantic sides. It's a big role for him that leads over emotions and power by being something rather then doing something.

The setting of the castle is perfectly suitable for this Musical:

"It's fantastic how it fits with the Dracula topic. The old castle is an amazing surrounding for this show and gives you an atmosphere that you couldn't produce anywhere else. There's gonna be a lot of music, atmosphere and magic in Tecklenburg this summer."