Cast & creative team
FALLING | IN LOVE

ARISE

Dr. Berndt Schmidt

General Director, Managing Director of the Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin and Producer

Berndt Schmidt is the general director, managing director and producer of the Grand Shows and Young Shows at the Palast.

After joining Bertelsmann AG in New York, he became deputy managing director of Logic Records in Frankfurt am Main, a successful dance music label owned by the Bertelsmann Music Group, as well as commercial manager of its foreign subsidiaries in New York and London.

Following further management positions in the music and film industry, the cultural manager moved into the special world of theatre – in 2002 as general agent for the musical ‘Ludwig II – Longing for Paradise’ in Füssen and in 2004 as regional director for the Apollo and Palladium musical theatres in Stuttgart, operated by Stage Entertainment.

He has been theatre director and general director at the Palast in Berlin since 1 November 2007. With 545,000 guests and ticket revenue totalling €27.2 million, he achieved the best results in the theatre’s hundred-year history in 2019. In April 2023, Berndt Schmidt broke another sales record when the ARISE Grand Show generated higher ticket revenues than any production before.

As producer, Berndt Schmidt was responsible for the sensational cooperation ‘Belief in the Possibility of Complete Renewal of the World’ with director René Pollesch and co-director and actor Fabian Hinrichs.

In October 2020, ‘Stageless’ went on display at the Palast during the pandemic, in collaboration with the renowned exhibition space for photography, C/O Berlin. The exhibition featured photographs by the highly-acclaimed photographer and Berghain bouncer, Sven Marquardt, of the Palast’s ballet ensemble.

Schmidt was named ‘Berliner of the Year’ in 2019 by readers of the Berliner Morgenpost newspaper for his political and social commitment to diversity as well as against xenophobia, racism and anti-Semitism.

The FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show is Berndt Schmidt’s eighth Grand Show as producer.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Oliver Hoppmann

Author und Director

Oliver Hoppmann has been contributing to creation of the Grand Shows and Young Shows at the Friedrichstadt-Palast for more than ten years now. He is also involved in live communication projects as well as show and concert events, making him one of the most successful creative directors of his generation.

As director, he conceived the anniversary galas for the MANEO anti-violence project as well as the children’s opera ‘Nola Note auf Orchesterreise’ for the ‘Classic Open Air’ in Berlin. He was also involved in the renowned B.Z. Culture Prize as director and has worked as a sequence director for Aktion Mensch, Bayer Vital and Roche, among others.

Oliver Hoppmann has been instrumental in countless hit shows since he joined the Palast back in 2011, including ‘berlinILLUMINATED’, SHOW ME, THE WYLD and ‘Keinschneechaos’. He has been the creative director for the world’s biggest theatre stage since 2015.

In this position, he led the creation of THE ONE Grand Show as well as the Young Shows ‘Im Labyrinth der Bücher’, ‘Verrückte Sonne’ and ‘Spiel mit der Zeit’. Oliver Hoppmann worked closely with Las Vegas-based writer and director Krista Monson to co-direct and co-write the Palast’s most successful production to date, the VIVID Grand Show.

With 545,000 guests and ticket revenues of 27.2 million euros, in 2019 VIVID achieved the best results in the Palast’s hundred-year stage history. The most recent hit production ARISE, which Oliver Hoppmann created in collaboration with William Baker, broke the box office record and achieved higher ticket revenues than any other production before. Oliver Hoppmann works closely with producer Berndt Schmidt to help put together the international creative teams for these productions.

Oliver Hoppmann is now involved in the ‘FALLING | IN LOVE’ Grand Show as author and director.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Inspired by the poem “The Garden of Love” by William Blake (1757-1827)

Poet and Author of the poem ‘The Garden of Love’

William Blake was a poet, painter and engraver and is considered the inventor of relief etching. Born in London on 28 November 1757, he died on 12 August 1827.

In 1772, William Blake began an apprenticeship with an engraver, after which he was admitted to the Royal Academy of Arts. He dropped out of his studies, however, following a falling-out with the academy’s president. In 1784, he established the printing house that he worked at for the rest of his life. As a simple engraver and illustrator of books, he remained largely unknown and penniless during his lifetime.

Indeed, his works were not particularly popular among his contemporaries – it was only the Pre-Raphaelite artists, who first recognised and admired his works. From the mid-nineteenth century, William Blake became one of the most important figures in British art.

Blake’s works are spiritual and informed by visions. The Bible counted among the formative influences of his childhood and remained a source of inspiration for him throughout his life. He was critical of the church nonetheless, accusing it of suppressing natural desire and sensual pleasure, hence his reference to “life-denying” religions.

He also vehemently opposed slavery and believed in racial and gender equality. At the time, such modern views were extremely rare and often met with rejection.

One of his most famous books was published in 1789 under the title of ‘Songs of Innocence and of Experience’. One of the best-known poems therein is entitled ‘The Tyger’.

Blake’s poem ‘The Garden of Love’ that was published in 1794 served as the initial inspiration for Berndt Schmidt and Oliver Hoppmann’s idea for the new FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show. For them, the poem confirms how humanity’s dream of a better world – in Blake’s work, the garden of love – has existed for centuries. An eternal and everlasting dream of humankind.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Dr. Berndt Schmidt

General Director, Managing Director of the Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin and Producer

Berndt Schmidt is the general director, managing director and producer of the Grand Shows and Young Shows at the Palast.

After joining Bertelsmann AG in New York, he became deputy managing director of Logic Records in Frankfurt am Main, a successful dance music label owned by the Bertelsmann Music Group, as well as commercial manager of its foreign subsidiaries in New York and London.

Following further management positions in the music and film industry, the cultural manager moved into the special world of theatre – in 2002 as general agent for the musical ‘Ludwig II – Longing for Paradise’ in Füssen and in 2004 as regional director for the Apollo and Palladium musical theatres in Stuttgart, operated by Stage Entertainment.

He has been theatre director and general director at the Palast in Berlin since 1 November 2007. With 545,000 guests and ticket revenue totalling €27.2 million, he achieved the best results in the theatre’s hundred-year history in 2019. In April 2023, Berndt Schmidt broke another sales record when the ARISE Grand Show generated higher ticket revenues than any production before.

As producer, Berndt Schmidt was responsible for the sensational cooperation ‘Belief in the Possibility of Complete Renewal of the World’ with director René Pollesch and co-director and actor Fabian Hinrichs.

In October 2020, ‘Stageless’ went on display at the Palast during the pandemic, in collaboration with the renowned exhibition space for photography, C/O Berlin. The exhibition featured photographs by the highly-acclaimed photographer and Berghain bouncer, Sven Marquardt, of the Palast’s ballet ensemble.

Schmidt was named ‘Berliner of the Year’ in 2019 by readers of the Berliner Morgenpost newspaper for his political and social commitment to diversity as well as against xenophobia, racism and anti-Semitism.

The FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show is Berndt Schmidt’s eighth Grand Show as producer.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Oliver Hoppmann

Author und Director

Oliver Hoppmann has been contributing to creation of the Grand Shows and Young Shows at the Friedrichstadt-Palast for more than ten years now. He is also involved in live communication projects as well as show and concert events, making him one of the most successful creative directors of his generation.

As director, he conceived the anniversary galas for the MANEO anti-violence project as well as the children’s opera ‘Nola Note auf Orchesterreise’ for the ‘Classic Open Air’ in Berlin. He was also involved in the renowned B.Z. Culture Prize as director and has worked as a sequence director for Aktion Mensch, Bayer Vital and Roche, among others.

Oliver Hoppmann has been instrumental in countless hit shows since he joined the Palast back in 2011, including ‘berlinILLUMINATED’, SHOW ME, THE WYLD and ‘Keinschneechaos’. He has been the creative director for the world’s biggest theatre stage since 2015.

In this position, he led the creation of THE ONE Grand Show as well as the Young Shows ‘Im Labyrinth der Bücher’, ‘Verrückte Sonne’ and ‘Spiel mit der Zeit’. Oliver Hoppmann worked closely with Las Vegas-based writer and director Krista Monson to co-direct and co-write the Palast’s most successful production to date, the VIVID Grand Show.

With 545,000 guests and ticket revenues of 27.2 million euros, in 2019 VIVID achieved the best results in the Palast’s hundred-year stage history. The most recent hit production ARISE, which Oliver Hoppmann created in collaboration with William Baker, broke the box office record and achieved higher ticket revenues than any other production before. Oliver Hoppmann works closely with producer Berndt Schmidt to help put together the international creative teams for these productions.

Oliver Hoppmann is now involved in the ‘FALLING | IN LOVE’ Grand Show as author and director.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Jean Paul GAULTIER

Visual Design Director / Curator / Costume design

Jean Paul Gaultier was born in 1952 in a Paris suburb and began his career with Pierre Cardin in 1970, on his 18^th birthday. After working at Esterel, Patou and again at Cardin, Gaultier decided to launch his own fashion house and staged his first show in Paris in 1976. Critical and commercial success soon followed and by the early 1980s, he was one of the most talked about young designers.

From the beginning of his career, Jean Paul Gaultier wanted to show that beauty has many facets and that we can find it where we least expect it. Intake the unassuming tin can, for instance, which first became a bracelet and later the packaging for his hugely successful perfume. His menswear was launched in 1984 with ’L’Homme Objet’ collection and in 1997 Gaultier realized his dream of starting an haute couture collection with ‘Gaultier Paris’. He was also the designer for Hermès womenswear from 2004 to 2011. In 2015, Gaultier decided to discontinue his ready to wear and to instead pursue haute couture.

Gaultier has worked in dance, music and film throughout his career. His costumes for Madonna’s ‘Blond Ambition Tour’ had a lasting impression on popular culture. ‘The Fifth Element’ by Luc Besson is a cult film largely thanks to his costumes.

In 2018 he presented the Fashion Freak Show at the Folies Bergère in Paris, a revue that tells the story of his life and the fifty years of popular culture through song, dance and fashion. After a nine-month run in Paris, the show is now touring internationally.

In January 2020, Jean Paul Gaultier presented his last haute couture show celebrating 50 years of fashion at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. This huge show featured masterpieces on the catwalk with famous models, VIPs and close friends of the House.

From now on, the House of Gaultier will continue its haute couture activities with one guest designer per season, who will reinterpret the codes of the House.

Having already fulfilled a childhood dream in 2016 by living out his aesthetic vision for THE ONE Grand Show and creating over 500 extravagant costumes, Gaultier is now returning to the Palast for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show as Visual Design Director, curator and costume designer.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Daniel Behrens

Music Supervisor & Composer

After completing his studies at Cologne University of Music and Dance, Daniel Behrens began his career as a musical director, conductor and music supervisor for musicals such as ‘Jekyll & Hyde’, ‘Cats’, ‘Saturday Night Fever’, ‘Aida’, Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Elisabeth’ and ‘Spamalot’.

Daniel Behrens moreover composed the soundtrack for the film ‘Men to Kiss’, which was shown at numerous festivals and won the award for best film in San Diego, Miami and Calgary. On numerous occasions, he has worked as a guest conductor with renowned orchestras, including the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Filmorchester Babelsberg during the release concert for Matthias Schweighöfer’s hit album ‘Lachen, Weinen, Tanzen’. He was a session conductor at the renowned Teldex Studio Berlin and also conducted the ‘GermanPops Orchestra’ at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

Since 2010, Daniel Behrens has been engaged as music director and chief conductor at the Friedrichstadt-Palast where he is also active as a composer: he previously composed music for the YMA, SHOW ME, THE WYLD and THE ONE grand shows and was responsible for the music supervision for the VIVID and ARISE grand shows.

Daniel Behrens is once again assuming the role of music supervisor for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show and will additionally showcase a number of his own compositions.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Alexandra Georgieva

Ballet Director at the Palast, Choreographic Supervisor & Choreographer

Alexandra Georgieva began her dance career at the age of six in her hometown of Plovdiv in Bulgaria. She completed her professional dance training at the National Ballet and Choreography School in Sofia in 1985 under the tutelage of some of the best-known Russian dance teachers. Alexandra Georgieva finished her residence at the National Opera in Sofia in the same year and accepted an engagement at the State Musical Theatre.

Georgieva joined the Palast as a dancer in 1990 and was assigned her first solo after just six months. She performed on stage for a total of 23 years, 18 of which on the world’s biggest theatre stage. Alexandra completed her training in dance pedagogy alongside her work and, after ending her dance career in spring 2008, took over as director of the unique Ballet ensemble at Friedrichstraße 107 that same summer.

In addition to her work as ballet director at the Palast, Alexandra Georgieva is actively involved in voluntary work: from 2012 to 2016, she was a member of the board for the prestigious German Dance Prize, for example. Since 2014, she has been a member of the board of trustees for the Dell’Era-Gedächtnis-Stiftung and, since 2017, a member of the board of the Federal German Ballet and Dance Theatre Directorate.

Alexandra Georgieva is a member of the juries of numerous renowned competitions and projects, such as ‘tanz:digital’ of the umbrella organisation Tanz Deutschland, the TANZOLYMP International Dance Festival, the German national singing competition for the musical and chanson categories and ‘The Power of the Arts’ initiative. Georgieva’s many years of expertise mean she is a popular coach for celebrities and TV formats such as ‘Showtime of my Life – Stars gegen Krebs’ and ‘Germany’s Next Topmodel’.

Alexandra Georgieva has choreographed for countless winter shows and grand shows at the Palast, most recently for the ARISE Grand Show. She will now once again set brilliant accents in the new FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show with her choreographies.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Elisabetta Pian

Advisor costume production

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Jean Paul GAULTIER

Visual Design Director / Curator / Costume design

Jean Paul Gaultier was born in 1952 in a Paris suburb and began his career with Pierre Cardin in 1970, on his 18^th birthday. After working at Esterel, Patou and again at Cardin, Gaultier decided to launch his own fashion house and staged his first show in Paris in 1976. Critical and commercial success soon followed and by the early 1980s, he was one of the most talked about young designers.

From the beginning of his career, Jean Paul Gaultier wanted to show that beauty has many facets and that we can find it where we least expect it. Intake the unassuming tin can, for instance, which first became a bracelet and later the packaging for his hugely successful perfume. His menswear was launched in 1984 with ’L’Homme Objet’ collection and in 1997 Gaultier realized his dream of starting an haute couture collection with ‘Gaultier Paris’. He was also the designer for Hermès womenswear from 2004 to 2011. In 2015, Gaultier decided to discontinue his ready to wear and to instead pursue haute couture.

Gaultier has worked in dance, music and film throughout his career. His costumes for Madonna’s ‘Blond Ambition Tour’ had a lasting impression on popular culture. ‘The Fifth Element’ by Luc Besson is a cult film largely thanks to his costumes.

In 2018 he presented the Fashion Freak Show at the Folies Bergère in Paris, a revue that tells the story of his life and the fifty years of popular culture through song, dance and fashion. After a nine-month run in Paris, the show is now touring internationally.

In January 2020, Jean Paul Gaultier presented his last haute couture show celebrating 50 years of fashion at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. This huge show featured masterpieces on the catwalk with famous models, VIPs and close friends of the House.

From now on, the House of Gaultier will continue its haute couture activities with one guest designer per season, who will reinterpret the codes of the House.

Having already fulfilled a childhood dream in 2016 by living out his aesthetic vision for THE ONE Grand Show and creating over 500 extravagant costumes, Gaultier is now returning to the Palast for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show as Visual Design Director, curator and costume designer.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Fecal Matter (Hannah Rose Dalton, Steven Raj Bhaskaran)

Costume design

Fecal Matter is a multi-disciplinary brand created in order to express uncensored ideas. The Fecal Matter world presents an alternative to restrictive beauty standards and offers experiences and products that connect fashion, film, politics, performance, music and everything that is forbidden in order to promote critical thinking.

The duo behind the brand, Steven Raj and Hannah Rose, connected over their passion for change and freedom of expression when they met in Montreal, Canada. Established in January 2016, the intention behind the brand name comes from their interpretation of the cycle of consumption and how valueless the material world can be.
Fecal Matter uses social media as a platform to visually share their unique vision of beauty and reality. The duo has been praised for their 360 degree work process as they create all aspects of their work including photography, hair, makeup, clothing design, art, modelling and music.

Their work has been showcased in multiple museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Museum of Fine Arts (Montreal) and the National gallery of Victoria (Melbourne). They have also worked with Rick Owens as creative directors for the Converse collaboration campaign doing the photography and modelling as well. They are most known for their skin shoes creation, a thigh high boot that resembles the human leg with mutations. This pioneering work has launched a worldwide phenomenon of body transformation within the art and fashion spaces.

Beyond their work, Hannah and Steven’s manifesto “Provoke Society” has inspired a generation to live their authentic truth and express themselves without limits, just like they do every day.

Fecal Matter will present their unique vision of beauty with their extraordinary costumes in the new Grand Show ‘FALLING | IN LOVE’.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Sasha Frolova

Costume design

As a multidisciplinary artist, Sasha Frolova contributes artistic expertise in the fields of performance art and sculpture that blends latex costumes with abstract forms. She creates inflatable costumes and sculptures from latex and other materials.

Frolova graduated from the Moscow State Stroganov Academy of Industrial and Applied Arts and the National Institute of Design of the Union of Designers of Russia with a degree in graphic design. In 2006, she completed the New Art Strategies course at the Institute of Contemporary Art (Moscow), majoring in Contemporary Art.

Sasha Frolova is a member of the Creative Union of Artists of Russia as well as the Newest Trends section of the International Federation of Artists.

In addition to galleries and museums, Sasha Frolova also presents her art in public spaces, such as with the modern art project Aquaaerobika that synthesises performance art and electronic music. In 2009, Sasha Frolova was a finalist for the Kandinsky Prize in the “Young Artist. Project of the Year” category.

In 2013, Sasha Frolova was a finalist for the ARTE LAGUNA 12.13 Prize and won a special prize in the “Personal Exhibition” category. One year later, she received the “Alternative Miss World 2014” prize in London, UK. Frolova has participated in various group exhibitions and festivals all over the world.

With her extravagant aesthetics, Sasha Frolova not only adds spectacular inflatable latex costumes to the new Grand Show FALLING | IN LOVE, but also scenographic design elements to the biggest theatre stage in the world.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Jelka Music

Manager of Jean Paul GAULTIER

Jelka Music was born and raised in Belgrade. After graduating from the University of Belgrade, she spent two years at Tokyo University of Foreign Languages where she studied linguistics. Music also holds an MBA in management and communications from CELSA Sorbonne University in Paris.

Music met Comme des Garçons fashion label founder Rei Kawakubo while at the global beauty company Shiseido in Tokyo and spent nine years working with her, first in Tokyo and later in Paris, where she settled in 1995. The pair collaborated on several art projects, among others with Cindy Sherman, Daniel Buren and the Swiss duo Fischli/Weiss, all of whom exhibited works in the company’s flagship store in Aoyama, which is one of Tokyo’s wealthiest districts.

After the turn of the millennium, Jelka Music served as global communications director for John Galliano’s eponymous brand until 2007 when she began working for Jean Paul GAULTIER. As his communications director and a close confidante, she completed numerous projects together with him, including the ‘The Fashion World of Jean Paul GAULTIER: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk’ exhibition, which toured 12 cities on three continents, and the Fashion Freak Show that premiered in Paris in 2018. Music also supported numerous tours for world stars such as Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Mylene Farmer during her time with GAULTIER.

Jelka Music has continued to work for and with GAULTIER on his personal projects since the star designer retired from the fashion industry in January 2020 and is now part of his team for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Arthur Mamou-Mani

Stage Architect

Arthur Mamou-Mani (AA dipl, ARB/RIBA FRSA) is a French architect and director of the award-winning architecture practice Mamou-Mani that specialises in a new kind of digitally designed and fabricated architecture.

Arthur Mamou-Mani is a lecturer at the University of Westminster and has given numerous talks around the world on “Eco-Parametric” architectural practices, including three TedX conferences in the US, France and UK. A fellow of the Royal Society for Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), he has won the American Architecture Prize and a RIBAj Rising Star Award, and was recently awarded the prestigious Pierre Cardin Prize for Architecture by the Académie des Beaux-Arts in France.

In 2020 the Architects Journal named Mamou-Mani one of its 100 ‘Disruptor’ practices that are challenging the norms of traditional architecture practice in their drive to bring about sustainable alternatives. Alongside his architectural practice, Arthur Mamou-Mani founded the digital fabrication laboratory FabPub that allows people to experiment with large-scale laser cutting and 3D printing equipment in Hackney, London.

Arthur Mamou-Mani also incorporates his experience with parametric design and digital fabrication services (laser-cutting, 3D printing) into the elaborate stage architecture of the new ‘FALLING | IN LOVE’ Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Yoko Seyama

Scenographer

The Berlin-based Japanese scenographer and multimedia artist Yoko Seyama specialises in spatial time-based art. She combines organic and industrial materials in her minimalistic and contemporary works.

Seyama holds an MA in ArtScience from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and a BA in Architecture from Musachino Art University in Tokyo. She was the recipient of a grant from the Japanese Pola Art Foundation.

The talented artist has showcased her scenographic work the world over and collaborated with countless dance companies and venues: Nederlands Dans Theater, Staatsballett Berlin, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Norrdans SE, the National Dance Company of Wales, the National Ballet of Japan and the Astana Opera in Kazakhstan.

Seyama’s installations have been exhibited worldwide, for example at the Centre for International Light Art (Unna/Germany), Borås Art Museum (Sweden) and the LUMINA Festival of Light (Cascais/Portugal) as well as the Lighting Guerrilla Festival (Ljubljana/Slovenia), Vilnius Light Festival (Lithuania), the Wood Street Galleries (Pittsburgh/USA), Bangkok Citycity Gallery (Thailand) and many more.

Yoko Seyama has now created an impressive stage set for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Sasha Frolova

Costume design

As a multidisciplinary artist, Sasha Frolova contributes artistic expertise in the fields of performance art and sculpture that blends latex costumes with abstract forms. She creates inflatable costumes and sculptures from latex and other materials.

Frolova graduated from the Moscow State Stroganov Academy of Industrial and Applied Arts and the National Institute of Design of the Union of Designers of Russia with a degree in graphic design. In 2006, she completed the New Art Strategies course at the Institute of Contemporary Art (Moscow), majoring in Contemporary Art.

Sasha Frolova is a member of the Creative Union of Artists of Russia as well as the Newest Trends section of the International Federation of Artists.

In addition to galleries and museums, Sasha Frolova also presents her art in public spaces, such as with the modern art project Aquaaerobika that synthesises performance art and electronic music. In 2009, Sasha Frolova was a finalist for the Kandinsky Prize in the “Young Artist. Project of the Year” category.

In 2013, Sasha Frolova was a finalist for the ARTE LAGUNA 12.13 Prize and won a special prize in the “Personal Exhibition” category. One year later, she received the “Alternative Miss World 2014” prize in London, UK. Frolova has participated in various group exhibitions and festivals all over the world.

With her extravagant aesthetics, Sasha Frolova not only adds spectacular inflatable latex costumes to the new Grand Show FALLING | IN LOVE, but also scenographic design elements to the biggest theatre stage in the world.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Chris Moylan

Lighting designer

Chris Moylan has been working as a freelance lighting and video designer and programmer since 1999. The Canadian is responsible for the lighting design for television productions, corporate events and theatre shows. Stars of the likes of Rihanna, Katy Perry, Nelly Furtado and Paul Van Dyk count among the clients of the Berlin-based expert. Moylan also designed the interactive ‘Lux Partum’ light installation at Motorwerk Berlin.

 For the Palast, Chris Moylan conceived both the lighting design and the lighting and video programming for the Young Shows ‘Spiel mit der Zeit’ and ‘Im Labyrinth der Bücher’. After working on the lighting design and programming for the VIVID Grand Show, Moylan also skilfully set the scene for the ARISE Grand Show.

 Moylan is now responsible for the lighting design for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show, his third production at the Palast.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Form & Rausch (Hannes Lippert)

Video Designer

Hannes Lippert has been working as a freelance 3D artist since 2012 and founded his ‘formundrausch’ studio for digital visualisation in 2018. The Berlin-based design studio focuses on 3D and motion design for various clients from the event, design and advertising industries.

Lippert uses technologies and techniques in his work to create fascinating fictional worlds characterised by contemporary forms and objects.

Hannes Lippert’s studio affords an impressive portfolio that includes a combination of commissioned projects for international clients such as Wallpaper*, Zara Home, TRNK New York and Jacquemus in addition to personal work. His designs have featured in exhibitions in Milan, Vienna and Prague.

Hannes Lippert’s video work already inspired audiences in the ARISE Grand Show. He has now once again created impressive video designs for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Martin Wingerath

Sound designer

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Thomas Milde

Sound design associate

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Nils Bennett

Illusion Designer

Born Andreas Meinhardt, Nils Bennett works under his stage name as a magician, illusion designer and magic consultant. Fascinated by the art of magic since his childhood, Nils Bennett began participating in (inter)national magic competitions at a young age – and that to great success: among others, he was named the German champion.

In recent years, Nils Bennett has increasingly shifted his focus to working behind the scenes and specialised in the conception of special magic effects for theatre productions and shows by other magicians such as the Ehrlich Brothers, Farid, Simon Pierro and Topas.

He’s also the brains behind countless magical moments in renowned theatre and TV productions, including ‘Bibi & Tina – Das Konzert’, ‘Ghost – Das Musical’, ‘Tommy Tailors Traumfabrik’, the musical premiere of ‘Moses’ and the ARD magic show ‘Einfach Magisch’.

Nils Bennett is a member of the Magic Circle of Germany.

He already conceived stunning illusions for the ARISE Grand Show; now Nils Bennett will delight audiences with special magic effects in the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Jan Wünsche

Storyboard Designer

Jan Wünsche is a successful freelance illustrator based in Berlin. After completing his training in theatre sculpture at the Wilhelm Ostwald School for colour technology and interior design, he spent two years working in film set construction and dressing.

His artistic talents, skills as a graffiti artist and profound understanding of art and architecture led Jan Wünsche to specialise in the design and visualisation of creative ideas and projects.

After working as an illustrator for a Berlin-based event agency Jan Wünsche began freelancing in 2007, focusing on illustration, concept design and storyboard conception. Countless commissions for event agencies, book publishers and various companies followed – in the fields of exhibition design, entertainment and film. Adidas, Merlin Entertainments, Movie Park Germany, Tropical Islands, the international creative agency Archimedes Exhibition and the Oetinger publishing group count among his clients.

Jan Wünsche already worked at the Palast as a production designer on THE ONE Grand Show and created the storyboard for the ARISE Grand Show. For the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show, he is once again responsible for illustrating the storyboard.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Haut-Vol (Hugues Aubry, Nicolas Fortin, Maxime Sabouri)

Trampoline Designer

Les Productions Haut-Vol is a Canadian company that has been producing a variety of diving, acrobatic and circus shows for over 25 years now. The Canadian couple that founded the company back in 1995 increasingly integrated acrobatic and trampoline acts into their shows to eventually specialise in a truly hybrid discipline: the trampoline wall.

With the growing success of Haut-Vol’s productions in Canada and the USA, the company expanded its portfolio to include customised show acts. In 2012, Les Productions Haut-Vol caught the eye of a Cirque du Soleil producer during a show for Montreal’s snow festival, the Fête des Neiges de Montréal. The Canadians have been a permanent fixture at Cirque du Soleil ever since, creating and presenting around ten acrobatic show acts every year.

In 2015, the successful circus artists Nicolas Fortin and Maxime Sabourin joined the Haut-Vol team to meet the company’s ever-growing demands. Today the company employs almost 100 artists every year.

After touring almost exclusively in North America, the renowned trampoline designer trio of Hugues Aubry, Nicolas Fortin and Maxime Sabouri have now crossed the Atlantic to develop a breathtaking artistic number for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Nils Lunow

Rigging designer

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Steffen Liebsch

Production stage manager

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Magic Box (Elke Kies, Alan Anders)

Scent Effect Designer

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Carole Delavelle & Les Jumeaux Fleuristes (Math Assouline, Kostiantyn Kondakov)

Blossoming Effect Designer

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Crystal Group

Water effects

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Zoe Wees

Songwriter & Composer

Born and raised in Hamburg, the 21-year-old singer has a very deep connection to music. As a child, she was diagnosed with benign rolandic epilepsy – a traumatic condition that can trigger severe seizures and often leads sufferers to feel isolated.

In 2018, Zoe Wees began collaborating with Nils Bodenstedt, who was one of her teachers at the time and is now a companion and songwriter. Together, they worked on a series of cover songs, which they posted on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, gaining tens of thousands of enthusiastic new fans.

The pair then contacted the award-winning Hamburg producers Patrick Pyke Salmy and Ricardo Muñoz, who brought Wees together with fellow songwriters Emma Rosen and René Miller. This enabled the newcomer to work on her own songs and to tell her own musical and personal story.

Zoe Wee’s powerful and empowering debut single ‘Control’ explores the emotional scars left by her illness. The intimate ballad helped Zoe to launch her career, allowing her to use her expressive, soulful voice to make a complex, touching story universally relatable.

2021 saw the release of Wees’ debut EP entitled ‘Golden Wings’. She’s been Apple Music’s ‘Up Next’ artist as well as part of Spotify’s RADAR and EQUAL campaigns, made the Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ list and appeared on US television, performing on James Corden’s ‘The Late Late Show’, ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon’. The first two singles received over 2.5 billion global streams.

In 2022, Zoe Wees completed her first own European tour and also performed at numerous festivals, among others in Chicago (‘Lollapalooza’), Stockholm, Berlin, Paris and San Francisco (‘Outside Lands’).

The young singer has now written two passionate ballads for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Jasmin Shakeri

Songwriter & Composer

Jasmin Shakeri is a sought-after songwriter, vocal coach and actress. Born in Berlin, she trained in classical ballet and modern dance as a child, and received singing lessons for many years.

These skills, coupled with a great deal of talent, led to her being involved in some exciting projects from an early age. Since 2001, she has been a member of various music acts, including Jan Delay, Ben Becker and Yvonne Catterfeld. She has also been a guest lecturer at the renowned University of Popular Music and Music Business in Mannheim. As a songwriter, she is the woman behind the hit songs of Andreas Bourani and his quadruple platinum album ‘Hey’. Matthias Schweighöfer also trusted in Shakeri’s talents for his debut album ‘Lachen, weinen, tanzen’, which made it into the Top 10 of the German album charts.

As a vocal and performance coach, she supervised the cast for the German musical film ‘Ich war noch niemals in New York’, which among others starred Moritz Bleibtreu, Heike Makatsch, Uwe Ochsenknecht and Katharina Thalbach. Jasmin Shakeri can also be admired as an actress, for example in the mini-series ‘Crews & Gangs’ by Neco Çelik, in Christoph Gampl’s ‘Man of Beirut’ and in the ZDFneo sitcom ‘Deadlines’. She additionally supports various social projects of the European Union with her coaching.

Jasmin Shakeri already showed in the VIVID and ARISE grand shows what it means to write fantastic, uplifting songs. She will now also contribute her many talents to the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Daniel Behrens

Music Supervisor & Composer

After completing his studies at Cologne University of Music and Dance, Daniel Behrens began his career as a musical director, conductor and music supervisor for musicals such as ‘Jekyll & Hyde’, ‘Cats’, ‘Saturday Night Fever’, ‘Aida’, Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Elisabeth’ and ‘Spamalot’.

Daniel Behrens moreover composed the soundtrack for the film ‘Men to Kiss’, which was shown at numerous festivals and won the award for best film in San Diego, Miami and Calgary. On numerous occasions, he has worked as a guest conductor with renowned orchestras, including the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Filmorchester Babelsberg during the release concert for Matthias Schweighöfer’s hit album ‘Lachen, Weinen, Tanzen’. He was a session conductor at the renowned Teldex Studio Berlin and also conducted the ‘GermanPops Orchestra’ at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

Since 2010, Daniel Behrens has been engaged as music director and chief conductor at the Friedrichstadt-Palast where he is also active as a composer: he previously composed music for the YMA, SHOW ME, THE WYLD and THE ONE grand shows and was responsible for the music supervision for the VIVID and ARISE grand shows.

Daniel Behrens is once again assuming the role of music supervisor for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show and will additionally showcase a number of his own compositions.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Ketan & Vivan Bhatti

Composer

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Albin Janoska

Composer

Albin Janoska is a successful musician and producer and the musical director for the band SOHN. The Austrian studied at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts as well as at the Vienna Conservatory. He was conferred an Amadeus Austrian Music Award for ‘All I Wanna Do’ in the ‘Amadeus Academy Award’ category and has conceived numerous music productions for stars of the likes of Conchita WURST, Count Basic, SOHN, Wiener Blond and 5Haus Posse.

His flair for music has allowed him to complete projects in a wide variety of fields, hence the all-rounder was not only responsible for the tours and recording sessions of SOHN, Nils Wülker, Groove Collective, Rodney Hunter, AVEC, Velojet, but also created numerous remixes for Manu Delago, Zagar, Sofa Surfers and Violetta Parisini. One further highlight of his career was establishment of his own music label, Oupin Music.

Albin Janoska passes on his extensive expertise as a lecturer at the Institute for Popular Music of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

In the ARISE Grand Show, Albin Janoska was responsible for arrangement of the stunning finale. Now he is also composing for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Katie Kresek

Arranger

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Lutz Krajenski

Arranger

Born in 1972, Lutz Krajenski began learning various keyboard instruments at the age of 4 and launched his professional music career at 21.

As a pianist, organist and keyboardist, he has performed on stage with artists like Randy Crawford, Stefan Gwildis, Mousse-T, Omar, Inga Rumpf, Roachford, Thomas Quasthoff, Carla Bley, Tom Jones, Till Brönner, Joja Wendt, Max Mutzke and Udo Jürgens.

In recent years, Lutz has among others worked as an arranger for the Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin, Mando Diao, Sarah Connor, Annett Louisan, Pepe Lienhard and numerous public television broadcasters including the ZDF.

The sought-after arranger’s meeting with singer Roger Cicero set the course for his future career: Krajenski accompanied him as musical director, pianist, arranger and leader of his big band – including a platinum album and an Echo Pop award – from the start of his solo career in 2005 until his untimely death in 2015.

Other highlights in Krajenski’s career have included the collaboration with Ulrich Tukur, the album ‘Eine Frau’ by Jasmin Tabatabai, live keyboards for Tom Jones, his production ‘Symphonic Motown’, the 25th anniversary album of the ‘Estonian Writers Society’ and Manfred Krug’s tribute album ‘Seine Lieder’, which attained gold status.

In 2016, the album ‘Carnival of the Animals’ by the Hamburg formation ‘Salut Salon’ produced by Lutz Krajenski received a Klassik-Echo classical music award.

In recent years, Lutz Krajenski has devoted himself to crossover jazz/classical music, among others in a duo with the pianist Markus Becker. He also released his first two solo albums under the artist name ‘krajenski’: ‘ORBIT’ and ‘B-3 Vol.1’.

Lutz Krajenski has now prepared musical arrangements for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Ashley Wallen

Choreographer

Ashley Wallen is one of the best-known, most sought-after choreographers of our time. His work is inspired by MGM Studios classics and includes his legendary show-stopping choreography for the Golden Globe-winning film ‘The Greatest Showman’ starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendaya and Michelle Williams.

The Australian choreographed the spectacular stage performance of ‘Come Alive’ in ‘The Greatest Showman’ with a cast of over 100 dancers that was broadcast live on US television during ‘A Christmas Story Live!’. In 2020, he choreographed for the Netflix film ‘Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey!’.

He has worked with stars of the likes of Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and Mariah Carey. and made a name for himself as a choreographer for films such as ‘Moulin Rouge’ starring Nicole Kidman and ‘Friends with Benefits’ starring Justin Timberlake.

The combination of precision and strength can both be seen and felt in his work. It was also reflected in the unique choreography he created for the ARISE Grand Show. Ashley Wallen will showcase his choreographic talents once again in the new FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Boram Kim

Choreography

Boram Kim is a Korean choreographer and dancer whose way into the world of contemporary dance was somewhat unconventional. After working as a back-up dancer for 10 years, he began to question how dance could communicate with audiences and, with passion and ambition, soon started developing his own choreographies.

In 2007, Kim founded the Ambiguous Dance Company, using choreography as a way to explore and overcome the uncertainties that reside within him. Kim’s creative process begins with selection of the music, which inspires his choreography.

He blends movements with melodies and rhythms to create unique interpretations that facilitate communication and harmony. For Kim, dancing is a means to discover and demonstrate the limitless possibilities of nonverbal language expressed through the body.

In the new FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show he’ll present his unique approach to facilitating harmony between music and dance.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Georges Momboye

Choreography

Originally hailing from Kouibly on the Ivory Coast, Georges Momboye is today a choreographer and director based in Paris. Considered one of the most representative artists of modern African dance, he succeeds in bringing together the best of African and contemporary dance. His shows are an ode to the creative energy of the body and to universal rhythm.

Georges Momboye is the director of the Momboye Dance Company that he formed in 1992, and founder of the Momboye Centre in Paris. Momboye is also the choreographer and director of numerous major events. His dance company has performed at many prestigious festivals around the world. Today, he is the director of the National Ballet and the Cirque of the Ivory Coast, which he directs under the guidance of the Master.

In 2022, Georges Momboye, artistic director and choreographer for the First Lady of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, amazed the prestigious guests of the 8th edition of the Children of Africa charity gala. The same year, he performed at the opening ceremony of the Africa Investment Forum organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Georges Momboye creates challenging choreographies for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Joy Alpuerto-Ritter

Choreography

Joy Alpuerto-Ritter is a Berlin based performer, choreographer and director known for her diversity and understanding of different dance styles. Born in Los Angeles, she moved to Freiburg, Germany at the age of 4, where she took her first ballet classes.

She trained for 10 years in ballet and jazz, participating in the RAD (Royal Academy of Dancing), dance competitions, ballet performances and shows with her mother’s Philippine and Polynesian Culture Dance Group. At the age of 17, she was accepted to the Palucca University of Dance in Dresden where she graduated in 2004.

Starting with classical training, philippine folk, contemporary dance & urban styles, she has been touring worldwide with companies such as Akram Khan Company, Wangramirez, Christoph Winkler and the Cirque du Soleil.

In 2016 she was nominated as “Outstanding Female Dancer” (Modern) for the performance “Until the Lions” at the National Dance Awards UK. Her signature is finding an interesting fusion of movement vocabulary from different cultural backgrounds. Following her internationally acclaimed solo “BABAE” (selected for Aerowaves 2020) and the commissioned ensemble piece “UNDA”, Joy’s work is expanding as she leads the direction and production of collaborative, cross-pollinating works with a range of talented artists and creatives.

Since then, Joy has been creating her own work and collaborating as (associate) choreographer with Akram Khan, Chen Shi-Zheng, Riz Ahmed, Viviana Durante, Florence + the Machine and has supported other academic institutions in Austria, Germany, Italy and Beijing.

In the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show she inspires with multifaceted choreographies.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Leo Mujic

Choreographer

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Mark Smith

Choreographer

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Sadeck Waff

Choreographer

The multifaceted dancer and renowned choreographer Sadeck Berrabah, who goes by the alias of Sadeck Waff, offers an innovative, globally unique perspective on dance that reflects on the body and the geometry of movements.

The Frenchman specialised in street dance and the ‘popping’, ‘locking’ and ‘tutting’ styles early on in his career. ‘Tutting’ involves moving the arms at right angles to the rhythm of the music to create fascinating, almost hypnotic choreographies.

Sadeck Berrabah stands out for his creative and original work as a choreographer and dancer with the ‘Géométrie Variable’ group, which he co-founded in 2017. The team rapidly became known internationally when a series of videos it posted went viral.

Sadeck Berrabah has worked with countless world stars, including Shakira, Chris Brown and the Black Eyed Peas. With his unique, distinctive signature style, he also collaborates with well-known luxury brands, such as Moncler for its 70^th anniversary. A highly dedicated performer, Sadeck Berrabah exchanges ideas with his community on a daily basis and his posts on social networks have millions of views.

Sadeck Berrabah has won numerous dance battles the world over, including in France, China, Germany and Russia, and is today a judge for various dance competitions. He also continues to teach and to share his knowledge in workshops that are open to everyone.

Sadeck Waff has now developed a fascinating new choreography for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Maik Damboldt

Choreographer

Maik Damboldt discovered his passion for dance at a young age. The Weimar native joined the renowned Palucca school of dance in Dresden when he was ten years old, training in classical ballet. He complemented his repertoire with courses in modern dance and jazz dance.

After an engagement in 1982 with the German television ballet company (Deutsches Fernsehballett), Maik Damboldt went on to become a sought-after soloist and gained fame through his countless television performances on the major TV shows hosted by the DFF and later also the ARD, ZDF and MDR. Among others, he appeared in the three-part film ‘Tanz auf dem Vulkan’.

Maik Damboldt has worked with national and international show greats and choreographed for countless major TV shows, such as the Jose Carreras Gala, Bambi awards, Semper Opera Ball, and many other performances of the television ballet company.

He already began working at the Palast as a choreographer during his active dancing career and was appointed ballet master in 2003. He has choreographed for a great many shows at Friedrichstraße 107, including ‘Glanzlichter’, ‘WinterTräume’, ‘berlinILLUMINATED’, Qi, Yma, SHOW ME and THE WYLD as well as countless shows of the Young Ensemble.

He will also contribute unique choreographies to the new FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Alexandra Georgieva

Ballet Director at the Palast, Choreographic Supervisor & Choreographer

Alexandra Georgieva began her dance career at the age of six in her hometown of Plovdiv in Bulgaria. She completed her professional dance training at the National Ballet and Choreography School in Sofia in 1985 under the tutelage of some of the best-known Russian dance teachers. Alexandra Georgieva finished her residence at the National Opera in Sofia in the same year and accepted an engagement at the State Musical Theatre.

Georgieva joined the Palast as a dancer in 1990 and was assigned her first solo after just six months. She performed on stage for a total of 23 years, 18 of which on the world’s biggest theatre stage. Alexandra completed her training in dance pedagogy alongside her work and, after ending her dance career in spring 2008, took over as director of the unique Ballet ensemble at Friedrichstraße 107 that same summer.

In addition to her work as ballet director at the Palast, Alexandra Georgieva is actively involved in voluntary work: from 2012 to 2016, she was a member of the board for the prestigious German Dance Prize, for example. Since 2014, she has been a member of the board of trustees for the Dell’Era-Gedächtnis-Stiftung and, since 2017, a member of the board of the Federal German Ballet and Dance Theatre Directorate.

Alexandra Georgieva is a member of the juries of numerous renowned competitions and projects, such as ‘tanz:digital’ of the umbrella organisation Tanz Deutschland, the TANZOLYMP International Dance Festival, the German national singing competition for the musical and chanson categories and ‘The Power of the Arts’ initiative. Georgieva’s many years of expertise mean she is a popular coach for celebrities and TV formats such as ‘Showtime of my Life – Stars gegen Krebs’ and ‘Germany’s Next Topmodel’.

Alexandra Georgieva has choreographed for countless winter shows and grand shows at the Palast, most recently for the ARISE Grand Show. She will now once again set brilliant accents in the new FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show with her choreographies.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Liam Scullion

Choreographer

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Edesia Morena Barata

Acrobatics Choreographer – Bungee Trapez and Trampolin & High Bar Akrobatik

Born and raised in Barcelona, Edesia M. Barata began her performance career as an elite athlete with the Spanish national team for rhythmic gymnastics. In 1998, she was spotted by the Cirque du Soleil and spent ten years touring the world with the productions ‘Saltimbanco’ and ‘Corteo’.

Since 2007, Barata has collaborated on more than 40 different creations around the world as an artistic and acrobatics coach, acrobatics choreographer and performance designer, stage director, casting manager and event designer. Among others, she has worked with the Cirque du Soleil, 45 DEGREES, Cirque Events and Experiences, The 7 Fingers and the Palast.

In 2020, Barata became the creative designer and artistic director for Limbic Media, conceiving two interactive night walks entitled ‘AGORA – Path of Light’ and ‘ECLIPSE – Walk with Light’. She also co-founded the performing arts consultancy named SPARC Intl.

After demonstrating her skills as an acrobatics choreographer in the VIVID Grand Show in 2018, she will once again be responsible for the bungee trapeze and trampoline acrobatic elements in the new FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Brennan Figari

Acrobatics Choreographer

Originally from California/USA, Brennan Figari was fond of both sports and theatre as a child. As a teenager, he discovered his passion for artistry, which he considers to be the perfect combination of artistic expression and athleticism.

Figari trained with some of the best acrobatic artists in the world and conceived a unique performance style that combines technically challenging elements with dramatic, theatrical execution. Brennan Figari has not only made a career for himself as an aerial acrobat, though, but also earned a name for himself as a successful choreographer.

He has worked as an acrobat and choreographer on various shows such as ‘America’s Got Talent’, ‘The Ellen Degeneres Show’, ‘Schlager Champions’ starring Helene Fischer and the ‘Tonight Show’ as well as for companies like Google. Brennan Figari also toured with Cavalia’s equestrian show ‘Odysseo’ for five years, going on to work as the acrobatics choreographer for ‘Apassionata’ and the Munich-based show ‘Equila’.

Brennan Figari was already involved in the ARISE Grand Show at the Palast. Now, the Berlin resident has created breathtaking acrobatics choreographies for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Valeriy Yemets

Choreograf White Gothic

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Yvonne Ritz-Andersen

Casting manager soloists

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Mel Bayol

Casting manager acrobatics

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Justyna Woloch

You

Polish-born dancer and choreographer Justyna Woloch began her dance career at the Conservatory of Dance in Krakow and at the State Ballet School in Gdańsk.

She enjoyed successes from an early age, receiving numerous awards and distinctions, including first place in the National Dance World Cup. She also won the National Woytek Lowski Contemporary Competition and was named the Best Graduate from Ballet Schools in Poland.

The award-winning dancer assumed a leading role in the ‘Mandala of Power’ spectacle during the fourth Gdańsk Dance Festival and performed a solo to the song ‘Jolie’ for the music project ‘To The Moon’.

Justyna Woloch not only discovered her dance talents early on, but also her flair for choreography and was conferred awards at the International Choreographic Competition in Bytom as well as at the ‘Tanzolymp’ in Berlin in the ‘Choreography’ category.

Justyna has been a dancer in the Friedrichstadt-Palast ballet ensemble since 2014 and already showcased her choreographic talents on the world’s biggest theatre stage in the ARISE Grand Show.

In the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show, Justyna Woloch enchants audiences with her talents in the role of the silent poet, You.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Pedro Oliveira Brito

You

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Laura Panzeri

Me

Laura Panzeri began her stage career at an early age at the Teatro Sociale classical ballet school in Como, Italy, before completing her musical training at the Scuola Del Musical in Milan.

The Italian-born singer’s first engagement involved touring her home country with ‘Happy Days’. She then toured Italy with ‘Grease’, playing the lead role of Sandy. This was followed by an engagement in ‘Saturday Night Fever’ at the Teatro Nazionale in Milan, where she wowed audiences as Annette and first cover for Stephanie Mangano.

Since 2013, Laura Panzeri has sung in numerous productions in Germany, performing among others as Mary Robert in ‘Sister Act’ and Ali in ‘Mamma Mia’ at the Metronom Theater in Oberhausen, and Princess Jasmine in Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ at Hamburg’s Stage Theater Neue Flora. Here, the talented singer also thrilled audiences in the lead roles of Gina and Indigo in ‘Paramour’ by Cirque du Soleil.

In addition, an engagement as a vocal soloist in the production of ‘West Side Story’ (Anita) took her to the Staatstheater in Nuremberg. Most recently, Laura Panzeri appeared on stage in various productions as a soloist with the top-class ‘MS Color Fantasy’ show ensemble.

In parallel to her successful singing career, the performer has lent her powerful voice to numerous cartoon characters in the series ‘Littlest Pet Shop’ (Zoe), ‘Equestria Girls’ and the Netflix film ‘My Little Pony – A New Generation’ (Sunny).

After delighting audiences in the ARISE Grand Show as Siren as well as covering the roles of Muse and Light, she returns to the world’s biggest theatre stage as Me in the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Olivier Erie St. Louis

Leon

Born in Washington D.C., Olivier Erie St. Louis discovered his passion for music at a young age. After a degree in molecular biology in Oxford, he began a life as ‘Jekyll and Hyde’: scientist by day and studio musician by night.

As the international attention and recognition as an artist grew, he resolved in 2013 to only pursue his one true passion: music. Olivier St. Louis subsequently established himself as a singer-songwriter, music producer and blues rock guitarist and released two albums. He has worked and toured the world with artists of the likes of Hudson Mohawke, Oddisee, C2C, Laura Mvula and AnnenMayKantereit.

Between touring and songwriting, Olivier Erie St. Louis discovered his love of theatre. His potential as soloist in THE WYLD Grand Show was so evident, he was afforded the opportunity to assume another lead role as the chronos deity Time in the latest Grand Show ARISE. Here, he further proved not just the depth of his musical prowess, but an uncanny ability as an actor. Awarding him the opportunity once more as a remaining soloist to play Leon in the new FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Marc Chardon

Red and cover Leon

Marc Chardon was already drawn to the stage at a young age. Born in Hamburg, he always found a way to pursue his passion, whether as the lead singer of various bands or as a layperson within the musical ensemble of the Theater Heilbronn. In 2015, Chardon successfully completed his training as a musical performer at the Joop van den Ende Academy in Hamburg.

Chardon’s first engagement was as lead soloist aboard AIDA cruises, which allowed him to tour Europe and Asia. He subsequently performed on countless stages in Germany, Austria and Switzerland while touring with musicals such as ‘Grease’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

As the drag queen Adia Rocher, Chardon was part of the ‘Winterglitzer’ variety show at Hamburg’s Schmidt Theater in 2022. Most recently he thrilled audiences as Dennis Dupree in the musical ‘Rock of Ages’. Offstage, he also works as an audio book and dubbing artist.

In the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show Chardon can be seen on the world’s biggest theatre stage as a soloist in the role of Red and as cover for Leon.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Floor Krijnen

Green and cover Me

Dutch-born Floor Krijnen discovered her love of musicals at a young age and was able to gain her first stage experience at the age of seven.

In 2008, she reached the semi-finals of the Dutch version of ‘Popstars’.

During her studies at the Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Tilburg, Krijnen trained with the renowned vocal coach Edward Hoepelman, completing her bachelor’s degree in music with distinction in 2013.

After graduating, Floor Krijnen played Anita in ‘West Side Story’ at the Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and made her German debut in 2014 as the alternating Milady De Winter in ‘The Three Musketeers’.

In 2015, Krijnen wowed as a cover in ‘MOZART! – The Musical’ at Vienna’s Raimundtheater before embarking on a major tour of Germany with ‘Sister Act’. In 2016 she returned to Vienna as the cover for Rebecca in ‘Dance of the Vampires’ at the Ronacher.

In ‘Mary Poppins’ in Hamburg she assumed the roles of Mrs. Brill and Mrs. Corry and was the cover for the two sisters Clara and Louise in the musical ‘Ghost’ in Stuttgart.

The versatile artist shone in the German-language premiere of ‘Pinocchio’ at the Luisenburg Festival and was part of the ensemble of ‘Zucker’. During an arena tour with the hit musical ‘We Will Rock You’, Krijnen toured Germany, Austria and Switzerland, performing among others as Killerqueen and Ozzy.

She celebrated her town theatre debut at Theater Münster in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical ‘Aspects of Love’. Most recently, she rocked her way into audiences’ hearts at Theater Nordhausen as the soul girl Chiffon in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’.

In the new FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show, Floor Krijnen inspires in the role of Green and as cover Me.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Jara Buczynski

Blue and Cover Me

Jara Buczynski grew up in a small town near Dortmund. In 2015, she moved to Hamburg to train as a musical performer at the Stage School Hamburg. She subsequently received her first engagement as a dancer at the Schmidt Theater Hamburg.

Following two productions at the Fritz Theater Bremen where she was the cover for the lead roles, she moved to Berlin in 2019 to play the role of young Heather Carter in Stage Entertainment’s ‘The Band’ at the Theater des Westens.

This was followed by various productions of the musical ‘Flashdance’ in which Buczynski assumed the role of Tess and served as cover for Gloria and the lead Alex Owens, touring Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In addition to several concerts all across Germany and an engagement as a guest artist on the ‘Mein Schiff’ fleet, Buczynski most recently performed in the ensemble and as cover for Ali in Stage Entertainment’s ‘Mamma Mia’.

In the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show, Jara Buczynski embodies the role of Blue and is also the cover for Me on the world’s biggest theatre stage as well as the dance captain for the soloists.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Sophie Alter

Backing vocals, cover for Green and Blue

Sophie Alter completed her training as a state-certified stage actress at the Stage School Hamburg. She already thrilled audiences during her musical studies in productions such as ‘The Addams Family’ and ‘Fame’ (Ms. Sherman) at the First Stage Theater Hamburg.

After graduating with distinction in 2018, Alter among others assumed the role of the cook in ‘Heidi – The Musical’ in the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna and toured Germany, Austria and Switzerland with ‘Beauty and the Beast’ as Mathilde.

In 2021, she made it into the battles on ‘The Voice of Germany’ with her impressive voice. In 2022 and 2023, she toured Germany and Austria with ‘This is THE GREATEST SHOW’.

Sophie Alter enchants in the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show with her impressive voice.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Manuel Lopez

Backing vocals and cover Red

A native of Latin America, Manuel Lopez was born in Guatemala and grew up in the German state of Hessen. He successfully completed his studies in musical theatre performance at the Hamburg School of Entertainment.

Lopez’s first engagements were as a vocal soloist at the Schmidt Theater in Hamburg. In 2013, he assumed his first lead role in the world premiere of ‘Yakari – Freunde fürs Leben’ with which he toured Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He subsequently impressed in Elton John’s ‘Aida’ at the Lake Thun Festival in 2014.

Lopez toured Germany, Austria and Switzerland with the German premiere production of ‘Shrek – The Musical’ and sang in the Webber musical ‘Evita’ at the Altes Schauspielhaus Stuttgart. He played Patsy in ‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’ at the Zeltpalast Merzig and could be seen at the Theater der Jugend Wien in ‘Cinderella passt was nicht’.

After appearing in ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Nathan the Wise’ at the Clingenburg Festival in 2018, Lopez travelled the world’s oceans for the second time as a vocal soloist and musical director aboard the MS Artania.

In 2020, Lopez was part of the first German tour of ‘Paw Patrol – live’ and performed at the GOP Hannover for the first time as Lion in the musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’. With the German premiere of Disney’s ‘The Ice Queen’ in Hamburg, Lopez made his debut with Stage Entertainment as cover for several supporting roles. In 2023, he performed in ‘ABBA Klaro!’ at the Komödie Bielefeld and thrilled audiences in ‘Catch Me If You Can’ at the Theater Magdeburg.

In the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show, Manuel Lopez enchants guests with his vocal talents.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

White Gothic

Force Equilibrium

White Gothic is a quartet consisting of the exceptional Ukrainian athletes Valeriy Yemets, Yaroslav Pulin, Sergii Dubovyk and Dmitro Tarasenko. Their unique performance of power equilibristics in a modern staging symbolises courage and friendship and impressively celebrates what human bodies are capable of.

As human sculptures, the artists create powerful and elegant figures that amaze the audience.

In January 2024, the group was awarded a coveted Bronze Clown at the 46th International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo.

Following countless appearances, among others in the Cirque du Soleil and international television shows, this unique act now contributes mystical moments exclusively to the FALLING I IN LOVE Grand Show.

The four Ukrainians already showcased their impressive power acrobatics at the Palast back in 2014 in THE WYLD Grand Show.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Abdelkader Airour

Coach Bungee Trapez Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Michael Hills

Trampolin und High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Léon Le Nestour

Trampolin and High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Niklas Letellier

Trampolin and High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Luis Moya

Trampolin und High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Matthew Piva

Trampolin and High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Joel Ramseier

Trampolin und High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Denis Sushko

Trampolin and High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Iurii Terentev

Trampolin and High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Aliaksandr Tsikhonovich

Trampolin und High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Nikita Turenko

Trampolin and High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Dillon Vance

Trampolin und High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Lauren Yee

Trampolin und High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Paulo Vieira

Trampolin und High Bar Act

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Alexandra Georgieva

Ballet Director at the Palast, Choreographic Supervisor & Choreographer

Alexandra Georgieva began her dance career at the age of six in her hometown of Plovdiv in Bulgaria. She completed her professional dance training at the National Ballet and Choreography School in Sofia in 1985 under the tutelage of some of the best-known Russian dance teachers. Alexandra Georgieva finished her residence at the National Opera in Sofia in the same year and accepted an engagement at the State Musical Theatre.

Georgieva joined the Palast as a dancer in 1990 and was assigned her first solo after just six months. She performed on stage for a total of 23 years, 18 of which on the world’s biggest theatre stage. Alexandra completed her training in dance pedagogy alongside her work and, after ending her dance career in spring 2008, took over as director of the unique Ballet ensemble at Friedrichstraße 107 that same summer.

In addition to her work as ballet director at the Palast, Alexandra Georgieva is actively involved in voluntary work: from 2012 to 2016, she was a member of the board for the prestigious German Dance Prize, for example. Since 2014, she has been a member of the board of trustees for the Dell’Era-Gedächtnis-Stiftung and, since 2017, a member of the board of the Federal German Ballet and Dance Theatre Directorate.

Alexandra Georgieva is a member of the juries of numerous renowned competitions and projects, such as ‘tanz:digital’ of the umbrella organisation Tanz Deutschland, the TANZOLYMP International Dance Festival, the German national singing competition for the musical and chanson categories and ‘The Power of the Arts’ initiative. Georgieva’s many years of expertise mean she is a popular coach for celebrities and TV formats such as ‘Showtime of my Life – Stars gegen Krebs’ and ‘Germany’s Next Topmodel’.

Alexandra Georgieva has choreographed for countless winter shows and grand shows at the Palast, most recently for the ARISE Grand Show. She will now once again set brilliant accents in the new FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show with her choreographies.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Daniel Behrens

Music Supervisor & Composer

After completing his studies at Cologne University of Music and Dance, Daniel Behrens began his career as a musical director, conductor and music supervisor for musicals such as ‘Jekyll & Hyde’, ‘Cats’, ‘Saturday Night Fever’, ‘Aida’, Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Elisabeth’ and ‘Spamalot’.

Daniel Behrens moreover composed the soundtrack for the film ‘Men to Kiss’, which was shown at numerous festivals and won the award for best film in San Diego, Miami and Calgary. On numerous occasions, he has worked as a guest conductor with renowned orchestras, including the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Filmorchester Babelsberg during the release concert for Matthias Schweighöfer’s hit album ‘Lachen, Weinen, Tanzen’. He was a session conductor at the renowned Teldex Studio Berlin and also conducted the ‘GermanPops Orchestra’ at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

Since 2010, Daniel Behrens has been engaged as music director and chief conductor at the Friedrichstadt-Palast where he is also active as a composer: he previously composed music for the YMA, SHOW ME, THE WYLD and THE ONE grand shows and was responsible for the music supervision for the VIVID and ARISE grand shows.

Daniel Behrens is once again assuming the role of music supervisor for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show and will additionally showcase a number of his own compositions.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Daniel Behrens

Music Supervisor & Composer

After completing his studies at Cologne University of Music and Dance, Daniel Behrens began his career as a musical director, conductor and music supervisor for musicals such as ‘Jekyll & Hyde’, ‘Cats’, ‘Saturday Night Fever’, ‘Aida’, Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Elisabeth’ and ‘Spamalot’.

Daniel Behrens moreover composed the soundtrack for the film ‘Men to Kiss’, which was shown at numerous festivals and won the award for best film in San Diego, Miami and Calgary. On numerous occasions, he has worked as a guest conductor with renowned orchestras, including the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Filmorchester Babelsberg during the release concert for Matthias Schweighöfer’s hit album ‘Lachen, Weinen, Tanzen’. He was a session conductor at the renowned Teldex Studio Berlin and also conducted the ‘GermanPops Orchestra’ at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

Since 2010, Daniel Behrens has been engaged as music director and chief conductor at the Friedrichstadt-Palast where he is also active as a composer: he previously composed music for the YMA, SHOW ME, THE WYLD and THE ONE grand shows and was responsible for the music supervision for the VIVID and ARISE grand shows.

Daniel Behrens is once again assuming the role of music supervisor for the FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show and will additionally showcase a number of his own compositions.

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Tobias Leppert

Dirigenten der Show-Band des Palastes unter der Direktion von Daniel Behrens

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW

ARISE

Sebastian Brand

Dirigenten der Show-Band des Palastes unter der Direktion von Daniel Behrens

FALLING | IN LOVE GRAND SHOW