BBC News | SHOWBIZ | Crawford to star in vampire musical

Michael Crawford, the star of Phantom of the Opera, is to return to the stage as a vampire in a New York comedy-horror production.

Dance of the Vampire will be based on Roman Polanski's 1967 movie spoof The Fearless Vampire Killers, with Crawford playing Count von Krolock, who battles with a student for the body and soul of a young woman.

Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman
Phantom duo: Crawford and Sarah Brightman
The internationally-famed star, who is also known in the UK for the 1970s series Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, is best known for his role as the phantom, which has taken in more than �2.15bn at the box office.

The 59-year-old British actor won a Tony award in 1988 for playing the role, the highest honour for given by Broadway.

His manager, Mort Viner, said told Daily Variety newspaper Crawford's second musical horror character would be entirely different from his first "because of the comedy".

Michael Crawford with Michelle Dotrice
Crawford also starred in Some Mothers with Michelle Dotrice
He said Crawford saw Dance of the Vampires in Vienna and had been talking to its producers for 18 months about appearing in a New York version of the show.

The rest of the cast are set to be announced in the next six weeks and it will have its opening night early next year.


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