Frank Wildhorn: A Universal Composer

After starting out in Pop Music in the 1980s-1990s, Frank Wildhorn made a transition to Musical Theatre with his first hit show being Jekyl & Hyde. Now nearly 30 years on, Frank has written over 40 musicals including Bonnie & Clyde, Carmen and Camille Claudel. In more recent years, Frank has also been exploring the manga genre with his show Death Note winning Best Musical in South Korea before a series of sold-out concerts in the West End last year. This year, he's returned with another exciting new show: Your Lie in April, another adaptation of a popular Manga series which sold out 2 concerts at the prestigious Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The show is now due to return for a 12 week run at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End, with a cast led by Dean John Wilson and Zheng Xi Yong.

In this brand new interview with Frank Wildhorn, he talks about the development of Your Lie in April and Death Note, and why it feels so exciting to bring these shows to London with majority Asian casts. He tells us about his fondness for Japan and South Korea, and his appreciation for audiences in those regions who have really welcomed and celebrated his work. He credits his son for being a major driver in his involvement with these shows. We also hear him look back over his career, making the move from pop music to musical theatre and how he's managed to not get pigeonholed as an artist with him most recently composing the Danube Symphony that was premiered by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra at the Musikverein. It's a fascinating discussion with one of the most prolific composers working today and it'll be exciting to see what Frank brings next to London as he continues to work on a variety of projects.

Your Lie in April opens at Harold Pinter Theatre on 28th June and runs till 21st September.