Homage to the greatest entertainer in Germany
© Stage Entertainment
–
I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN NEW YORK is a musical from the middle of life and at the same time a homage to Udo Jürgens. The entertainer, who died in 2014, was himself enthusiastic about the musical with 20 of his most popular hits. Whether “Thank you for the flowers”, “At 66 years old”, “But please with cream” or the title song “I’ve never been to New York” – the songs of the musical are well known to younger and older viewers and catch their ears.
The story and music of the musical convey several important messages. It shows how important it is not to give up your dreams and not to depend on other people’s opinions. These messages are always up to date and address people directly. Coupled with the catchy hits by Udo Jürgens, this depth is inspiring and exhilarating.
Stage Entertainment’s first in-house production
A good mood and pure joie de vivre – that’s the feeling most viewers of the musical ICH WAS NEVER NEVER IN NEW YORK. Stage Entertainment’s first in-house production impresses with its rare mix: I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN NEW YORK is both a comedy with depth and a lively musical to make you laugh.
Gabriel Barylli and Christian Struppeck wrote the book for the musical. The choreography is by Kim Duddy. Great shows spread a positive mood. After four years of preparation, ICH WAS NEVER IN NEW YORK 2007 was premiered on December 2, 2007 in TUI Operettenhaus, today’s Stage Operettenhaus Hamburg, and could be seen here until September 26, 2010.
The musical also scored points with its ingenious stage technology: The set consists of a motor-driven and computer-controlled revolving stage, which depicts the bridal suite, the stairwell and the ship’s deck. A total of nine stage wagons move the sun deck, where a central part of the plot takes place in the second act. Thousands of LEDs illuminate the cruise liner and create an atmospheric, authentic atmosphere.
Further stations in Germany
© Eventpress Stage Entertainment
–
The Hamburg premiere was just the beginning of a series of successful performances in numerous countries. From November 2010 to October 2012 the cruise ship from ICH WAS NEVER IN NEW YORK docked in Stuttgart. It was then shown from December 5, 2012 to October 2013 in the Stage Metronom Theater in Oberhausen. The musical also completed short but impressive seasons in 2015 in Berlin and in 2017 in Hamburg.
The first major tour through the German-speaking area took ICH WAS NEVERALS IN NEW YORK from October 2015 to January 2017 to Munich, Berlin, Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Bremen, Bregenz, Essen and Frankfurt am Main.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN NEW YORK: Also internationally successful
The musical with the hits by Udo Jürgens was also extremely successful abroad. Performances began in Vienna during the first Hamburg season. From March 2010 to June 2012 ICH WAS NEVER BEEN IN NEW YORK was a guest for 592 performances in the Austrian capital. The musical was shown at Theater 11 in Zurich from November 2012 to June 2013.
The audience in Tokyo was also enthusiastic about the German musical. In Japan, I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN NEW YORK made an acclaimed stopover from October to November 2011.
Incomparable characters
The musical I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN NEW YORK features a number of incomparable characters. Whether stubborn career woman, sprightly pensioner or fun-loving photographer, the attitudes towards life couldn’t be more different – and yet there are always similarities. Well-known musical actors give the characters an inimitable personality.
Lisa Wartberg
Lisa Wartberg is a successful television presenter. She is considered a sure contender for an important television award. From Lisa’s point of view, it was worth sacrificing her private life to her career. Lisa prefers not to think about the fact that she is not in a relationship, her only friend is also her make-up artist and her mother is in the retirement home – until her mother escapes from the retirement home.
Kerstin Marie Mäkelburg took on the role of Lisa for the world premiere of ICH WAS NEVER NEVER IN NEW YORK in Hamburg. In 2015 and 2017 she was portrayed by Sarah Schütz, Ann Mandrella played the part in Vienna.
Maria Wartberg and Otto Staudach
Maria Wartberg follows the career of her daughter Lisa from an unloved old people’s home. But Maria still has wishes and dreams, just like her new love Otto Staudach. The couple in love decide to run away and to fulfill a long-cherished wish together: a wedding under the Statue of Liberty.
Ingeborg Krabbe won the premiere in the role of Maria Wartberg. Dagmar Biener gave her unmistakable charm in Berlin in 2015 and in Hamburg in 2017. Otto Staudach was initially portrayed by Horst Schulheiß. Ernst Wilhelm Lenik, Peter Kock and Gunter Sonneson convinced in later performances.
Axel Staudach
Otto’s son Axel lives separated from his ex-wife and son Florian. Between the weekends with Florian and his job as a photographer, there is hardly any time for anything else. When the father comes out of the old people’s home, Axel gets stressed. Of course, all of this happens on a weekend with his son, so it’s important to get the father back to the old people’s home as quickly as possible and still have some time with the son.
Jerry Marwig embodied the fun-loving and somewhat reckless photographer Axel Staudach for the premiere. In the following years Karim Khawatmi took over the part and made it his star role.
Fred Hofmann and Costa Antonidis
© Ansgar Gersmann
–
The make-up artist and confidante of Lisa, Fred Hofmann is in conflict. He does not dare to confess to his partner Costa that the other residents do not want to have them in the common old apartment. When Lisa asks him to go to the ship, he takes Costa with her without further ado and hopes to be able to muster up all his courage soon.
Veit Schäfermeier, Uli Scherbel and Andreas Bieber were already convincing as the charming Fred Hofmann. Ronny Rindler played Costa at the Hamburg premiere. In Berlin, Hamburg and on tour Gianni Meurer delighted the audience with his interpretation of the role.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE MOVIE IN NEW YORK
With its unique blend of a heartwarming story and lively narrative style, I WAS NEVER BEEN IN NEW YORK has now made it to the big screen. The film adaptation of the musical by director Philipp Stölzl celebrated its premiere on October 17, 2019. Some well-known actors could be won for the cast: Heike Makatsch took over the role of Lisa Wartberg, Katharina Thalbach plays her mother Marie, Moritz Bleibtreu plays Axel Staudach and Uwe Ochsenknecht plays the aging gigolo Otto.
Tickets for Berlin
Order tickets now –
