ARISE

Denise Lucia Aquino

Luci

Denise Lucia Aquino was born in Berlin and has Filipino and African-American roots. She trained in musical theatre at the Joop van den Ende Academy in Hamburg and made her stage debut in 2016 as Deloris van Cartier in SISTER ACT at the Theater des Westens in Berlin.

This was followed by roles in HAIRSPRAY and GHOST, then as Tina Turner in the Hamburg production of the hit musical. She also played Marylin in DESERT FLOWER at the Deutsches Theater in Munich.

Most recently, she reprised her role as Deloris van Cartier, this time for a major tour of Germany with SISTER ACT – DAS HIMMLISCHE MUSICAL.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

ARISE

Daniel Johnson

Dream

Daniel Johnson is a German/British singer and musical performer. He earned a scholarship to train at the Stage School Hamburg before going on to complete a bachelor’s degree in popular music and media in his hometown of Paderborn.

Since 2018, he has performed regularly as part of the show ensemble at Europa-Park theme park, where he was also honoured with the 2021 Artist Award as “Singer of the Year”. He has performed on a countless stages, including at the Eutiner Festspiele music festival and the Wintergarten Berlin theatre. Most recently, he played the male lead in ‘Hairspray’ at the Staatstheater Darmstadt. He is also active as a live performer, appearing at international Pride events, aboard AIDA cruise ships and in variety and dinner shows.

Since 2022, Johnson has been a member of Team5ünf, a boyband that plays easy-listening pop (Schlager). The group regularly appears on TV – among others, on Immer Wieder Sonntags and the ZDF-Fernsehgarten – and also performs at major live events and on arena tours.

In the second season of the BLINDED by DELIGHT Grand Show, Daniel Johnson plays the role of Dream on the world’s biggest theatre stage.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

ARISE

Julia Steingaß

Oxytocin / 1st Understudy Luci

Singer and actress Julia Steingaß hails from the Harz region. She made her debut in the European premiere of the musical ‘Marie Antoinette’ while still training in Bremen as a stage performer. This was followed by engagements at renowned theatres such as the Theater Koblenz, Staatsoperette Dresden and Tiroler Landestheater in Innsbruck.

From 2015 to 2018, she was a full-time member of the ensemble at the Staatstheater Meiningen. She captivated audiences there in roles such as the female lead in the musical ‘Evita’. She also appeared as Eva Perón at the Theater Koblenz and Theater Ulm.

Further defining roles include Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’ (also in Koblenz), Eliza in ‘My Fair Lady’ at the Burgfestspiele Bad Vilbel and Marylou in ‘Grand Hotel’ at the Theater Erfurt.

Julia Steingaß previously appeared at the Palast as a soloist in the Young Show ‘Die Schneekönigin’ [‘The Snow Queen’]. She is now returning to the world’s biggest theatre stage to perform in the BLINDED by DELIGHT Grand Show as Oxytocin and is also an understudy for Luci.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

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Markus Fetter

Dopamine / 1st Understudy Dream

Düsseldorf-born Markus Fetter studied musical theatre at the Berlin University of the Arts. During his studies, he performed at the Neuköllner Oper and the Admiralspalast in Berlin, among other venues, and placed first in the German National Singing Competition in 2017.

(Leading) roles at various festivals and theatres then followed, for instance in Bad Hersfeld and at Schmidt Theater Hamburg and the Theater St. Gallen.

His stage credits include Rusty in STARLIGHT EXPRESS, Christian in MOULIN ROUGE! and Benni in the world premiere of BERLIN NON STOP. He is currently a soloist in BLINDED by DELIGHT at the Palast.

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ARISE

Katalin Rohse

Endorphin / 1st Understudy Oxytocin / 2nd Understudy Luci

Zwickau-born Katalin Rohse discovered her passion for music and the stage at an early age. From 2005 until 2019, she was a member of Schwanenschloß children and youth choir in Zwickau and also attended the local music conservatory. She gained her first stage experience at the Theater Plauen-Zwickau as part of the theatre youth group and as a singer and soloist in the musical theatre.

After completing a university preparatory course in Berlin-Neukölln from 2019 until 2022, Katalin Rohse went on to study musical theatre at Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen.

She appeared in ‘A Little Night Music’ at the Solingen Theatre while still a student. She also performed in ‘Sweeney Todd’ at the Dortmund Theatre as part of the ensemble and wowed audiences as Marty Maraschino in ‘Grease’. Most recently, Katalin Rohse appeared in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ – her first engagement with Bühnen Bern performing arts institution. Her talents have been recognised with several awards: in 2021 she placed third and in 2023 first in the National Singing Competition in Berlin.

In the BLINDED by DELIGHT Grand Show, Katalin Rohse plays the role of Endorphin and is also an understudy for Oxytocin and Luci.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

ARISE

Antonio Calanna

Serotonin / 1st Understudy Dopamine / 2nd Understudy Dream

Antonio Calanna is an Italian singer and musical theatre performer with international stage and studio experience.

He studied musical theatre at the MDM Academy in Milan and communication studies at the University of Insubria in Varese-Como. He was engaged by Stage Entertainment Germany for seven years, appearing in productions such as ‘Bat Out of Hell’, ‘Kinky Boots’, ‘Frozen – The Musical’ and ‘Rocky’. He made guest appearances at numerous theatres across the German-speaking world and internationally during this time, including in Bad Vilbel, Darmstadt, Zwickau, Detmold, Jagsthausen, St Gallen, Lucerne and Salzburg, also with a stint in London’s West End. There, he performed in productions such as ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, ‘Rock of Ages’ and ‘Bernstein’s Mass’.

Alongside his theatre career, Antonio Calanna is also active as a rock and metal singer, currently with his latest project ‘A Cold Paradise’. As the former lead singer of the band ‘All For Metal’, he released several studio albums on labels such as AFM Records and Reigning Phoenix Music and toured internationally. With his powerful stage presence, he wowed audiences at festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Bloodstock Open Air.

For the second season of BLINDED by DELIGHT, he takes to the world’s biggest theatre stage as Serotonin and is also an understudy for Dopamine and Dream.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

ARISE

Dr. Berndt Schmidt

Producer

Berndt Schmidt has been the general director and managing director of the Palast and the producer of the theatre’s Grand Shows and Young Shows since 2007. Previously, he was CFO at a Bertelsmann subsidiary in Frankfurt am Main, London and New York and the regional managing director of two Stage Entertainment theatres. In 2019, he co-produced the theatre performance Belief in the Possibility of Complete Renewal of the World at the Palast together with René Pollesch and Fabian Hinrichs. The last hit show he produced, the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show, drew over 900,000 guests in less than two years. He was named ‘Berliner of
the Year’ in 2019 for his commitment to diversity and against discrimination and awarded the Order of Merit of Berlin in 2023. He worked with Oliver Hoppmann to develop the concept for BLINDED by DELIGHT, which will be the ninth Grand Show he produces.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

ARISE

Oliver Hoppmann

Author & Director

Oliver Hoppmann has been contributing to the Grand Shows and Young Shows at the Palast for more than 15 years now. In 2015, he was appointed creative director and is celebrating his tenth year in this role with BLINDED by DELIGHT. He led creation of THE ONE, VIVID, ARISE and FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Shows and is among the most successful creative directors of his generation. In 2018, he co-authored and co-directed the VIVID Grand Show together with Las Vegas-based writer and director Krista Monson. He subsequently wowed hundreds of thousands of guests with ARISE and FALLING | IN LOVE. Oliver Hoppmann is now once again the writer and director, this time responsible for the BLINDED by DELIGHT Grand Show. He developed the idea for this production together with producer Berndt Schmidt and also helped to put together the international creative team.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

ARISE

Dr. Berndt Schmidt

Producer

Berndt Schmidt has been the general director and managing director of the Palast and the producer of the theatre’s Grand Shows and Young Shows since 2007. Previously, he was CFO at a Bertelsmann subsidiary in Frankfurt am Main, London and New York and the regional managing director of two Stage Entertainment theatres. In 2019, he co-produced the theatre performance Belief in the Possibility of Complete Renewal of the World at the Palast together with René Pollesch and Fabian Hinrichs. The last hit show he produced, the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show, drew over 900,000 guests in less than two years. He was named ‘Berliner of
the Year’ in 2019 for his commitment to diversity and against discrimination and awarded the Order of Merit of Berlin in 2023. He worked with Oliver Hoppmann to develop the concept for BLINDED by DELIGHT, which will be the ninth Grand Show he produces.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

ARISE

Oliver Hoppmann

Author & Director

Oliver Hoppmann has been contributing to the Grand Shows and Young Shows at the Palast for more than 15 years now. In 2015, he was appointed creative director and is celebrating his tenth year in this role with BLINDED by DELIGHT. He led creation of THE ONE, VIVID, ARISE and FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Shows and is among the most successful creative directors of his generation. In 2018, he co-authored and co-directed the VIVID Grand Show together with Las Vegas-based writer and director Krista Monson. He subsequently wowed hundreds of thousands of guests with ARISE and FALLING | IN LOVE. Oliver Hoppmann is now once again the writer and director, this time responsible for the BLINDED by DELIGHT Grand Show. He developed the idea for this production together with producer Berndt Schmidt and also helped to put together the international creative team.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

ARISE

Oliver Hoppmann

Author & Director

Oliver Hoppmann has been contributing to the Grand Shows and Young Shows at the Palast for more than 15 years now. In 2015, he was appointed creative director and is celebrating his tenth year in this role with BLINDED by DELIGHT. He led creation of THE ONE, VIVID, ARISE and FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Shows and is among the most successful creative directors of his generation. In 2018, he co-authored and co-directed the VIVID Grand Show together with Las Vegas-based writer and director Krista Monson. He subsequently wowed hundreds of thousands of guests with ARISE and FALLING | IN LOVE. Oliver Hoppmann is now once again the writer and director, this time responsible for the BLINDED by DELIGHT Grand Show. He developed the idea for this production together with producer Berndt Schmidt and also helped to put together the international creative team.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

ARISE

Jeremy Scott

Costume designer

Jeremy Scott is an American fashion designer and creative director. He consciously breaks with fashion conventions and blends high fashion with pop iconography, his designs both fearless and whimsical. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he studied at the Pratt Institute in New York, graduating in 1996, and debuted his eponymous line in Paris in 1997 to acclaim. The Jeremy Scott label quickly gained a devout following. Since 2002 he has lived in Los Angeles, his primary residence and inspiration. Appointed Creative Director at Moschino in 2013, from his debut collection inspired by fast food and fast fashion he turned Moschino and the industry on its ear. Alongside his label, his iconic partnership with adidas has spanned over two decades, foreshadowing fashion’s love affair with sportswear. Scott has collaborated with Mercedes, MAC, Barbie, Swatch and The Simpsons, among others.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

ARISE

Florian Wieder & Cuno von Hahn

Production & Stage Design

Wieder Design is an internationally renowned show and design studio with studios in Los Angeles and Munich. Its team of producers, designers, visual artists and architects creates innovative stage concepts worldwide for stars such as Adele, U2, Beyoncé and Coldplay as well as for TV events like the Eurovision Song Contest, the MTV Video Music Awards and The Voice. Founder Florian Wieder and Managing Director Cuno von Hahn have been awarded an Emmy for the MTV VMAs. They designed the imaginative stage set for BLINDED by DELIGHT.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

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Chris Moylan

Lighting & SFX designer

Chris Moylan has been working internationally as a freelance lighting and video designer for TV shows, concerts, theatre productions and major events since 1999. The Canadian has collaborated with stars of the likes of Rihanna, Katy Perry and Paul Van Dyk as well as on productions such as HOLIDAY ON ICE and the HANS ZIMMER THEATRE EXPERIENCE. At the Palast, he has created the lighting design for several Young Shows and the VIVID, ARISE and FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Shows – as well as now for BLINDED by DELIGHT.

BLINDED by DELIGHT

ARISE

Falk Rosenthal (Gravity)

Video designer

Falk Rosenthal is an internationally recognised, award-winning video designer for events, TV formats and music videos. His honours include a Primetime Emmy Award for the MTV Video Music Awards (2010), the Eyes & Ears of Europe Premier Award for the Eurovision Song Contest (2011), a BAFTA for THE X FACTOR UK (2015) and the Eyes & Ears of Europe Excellence Award (2018). Falk Rosenthal is the video designer for the BLINDED by DELIGHT Grand Show and part of the creative team.

BLINDED by DELIGHT