ARISE Grand Show

ARISE

Oliver Hoppmann

Author and director

Oliver Hoppmann has been contributing to the creation of Grand Shows and Young Shows at the Friedrichstadt-Palast for 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. He has also worked as a sequence director for Aktion Mensch, Bayer Vital and Roche, among others.

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

In this position, he has 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. Together with the show’s producer Berndt Schmidt, he helps put together the international creative teams for these productions.

Oliver Hoppmann is now involved in the ARISE Grand Show as author and director. He developed the show’s script in collaboration with the London-based writer, William Baker.

ARISE

William Baker

Author

The Manchester-born writer and theatre director affords many decades of experience in concert and musical theatre and is one of the most versatile minds in the industry.

William Baker has directed, photographed or styled some of the most influential names in pop, including The Killers, Boy George, Jamiroquai and Björk. He was awarded the Elle Style ‘Visionary Award’ for his versatile and glamorous fashion mix.

The Englishman has a very special relationship with Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue. Her creative director for many years, he directed numerous world tours and accompanied her as an advisor and stylist on her way to becoming a celebrated style icon. The multitalent has also written and produced three books with Minogue to celebrate their work together: ‘Kylie: Evidence’, ‘La La La’ and ‘Kylie: Fashion’. As a director, William Baker was largely responsible for the resounding success of ‘The Labyrinth’ – pop singer Leona Lewis’ debut tour, and continues to work as a stylist for fashion icon and music legend Boy George.

As one half of the author duo for ARISE (together with Oliver Hoppmann), William Baker will now captivate audiences with a stunning Grand Show on the world’s biggest theatre stage.

ARISE

Frida Arvidsson

Stage design

Since graduating from the Scandinavian School for Stage Designers in Skellefteå, Frida Arvidsson has worked successfully on countless TV, film, theatre and music productions as a set and stage designer.

The Swede created amazing sets for the Eurovision Song Contest held in Malmö in 2013 and in Stockholm in 2016. She was the art director in Sweden for the feature film ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ and was conferred the Art Directors Guild award in the category of ‘Excellence in Production Design for a Feature Film – Contemporary Film’ in 2011. More recently she designed the set for Lionel Bart’s musical ‘Oliver!’ at the opera house in Gothenburg.

Frida Arvidsson will now contribute her extensive experience and fantastic ideas to the set design for the ARISE Grand Show on the world’s biggest theatre stage.

ARISE

Conchita Wurst

Music and lyrics

The Austrian singer Thomas Neuwirth created the stage persona of Conchita Wurst in 2011 with whom he went on to win the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen for Austria. His winning message of “We are unstoppable” made him a global figure for the LGBTQ+ community overnight.

This performance was followed by the platinum-selling debut album ‘Conchita’, numerous awards – including three Amadeus Austrian Music Awards – as well as performances and TV appearances in more than 20 countries on four continents. His first solo tour with a live band was a huge success; the sold-out shows at Sydney Opera House, the Berlin Philharmonic and BBC Radio 2’s ‘Friday Night is Music Night’ at the London Palladium are further testimonies to his global popularity.

Conchita Wurst was invited by no less than Ban Ki-Moon, who was UN Secretary-General at the time, to make a joint appearance at a UN conference; he also spoke at the European Parliament in Brussels. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York dedicated a video installation and subway campaign to the entertainer. Beside his voluntary commitment to the Life Ball, which was one of the biggest and most media-effective AIDS/HIV charity events, he uses his popularity for social commitment, performing at charity concerts such as ‘Voices for Refugees’ held on Vienna’s Heldenplatz.

The media icon, who has been causing a sensation worldwide since winning the Eurovision Song Contest and offers brilliant live entertainment with a special blend of glam-pop and diva songs – and, more recently, also with modern electro-pop – will contribute two tracks to ARISE, which he composed especially for the new Grand Show.

ARISE

Ohad Naharin

Choreography

Ohad Naharin is one of the most extraordinary choreographers of our time and the inventor of the ‘Gaga’ movement language. He began his dance training in 1974 with the Batsheva Dance Company, before continuing his studies with the Martha Graham Dance Company. He also studied at the School of American Ballet and the Juilliard School, among others.

Ohad Naharin made his choreographic debut in New York in 1980. From 1980 to 1990 he presented his work worldwide, creating pieces for the Batsheva Dance Company, the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company and the Nederlands Dans Theatre.

In 1990, Naharin was appointed artistic director of the Batsheva Dance Company and founded Batsheva Young Ensemble that same year. He has since created over 30 captivating works for both companies. His innovative ‘Gaga’ movement language is based on the exploration of heightening sensations as well as imagination.

Ohad Naharin is also involved in music projects and has worked with musicians like The Tractor’s Revenge and Grischa Lichtenberger. Under the alias of Maxim Waratt, he mixes many of his own soundtracks. Naharin’s work is also the subject of numerous films such as ‘Out of Focus’ and ‘Mr. Gaga’.

He will now present his dance visions at the Palast for the first time in the ARISE Grand Show.

ARISE

Nikeata Thompson

Choreography

Before the Birmingham-born half-Jamaican discovered her passion for dance, she enjoyed a successful sporting career as an athlete up until the age of 19. Thanks to her unusual movement dynamics and sense of rhythm, she was booked as a background dancer for an American rapper in 2001. This foray into a previously unfamiliar industry fascinated her – and led to a multitude of further engagements. In 2003, the Berlin band SEEED made her and her crew a permanent fixture of their stage programme.

Nikeata Thompson causes a sensation with her video shoots, stage coaching and live performances, among others for renowned artists of the likes of Jan Delay, Udo Lindenberg, Madcon, Cassandra Steen, Beatsteaks and Lena Meyer-Landrut for whom she choreographed the 2011 performance at the Eurovision Song Contest. She has also worked with international stars such as Tom Hanks, Sean Paul and Robin Schulz, to name just a few. In 2011, Nikeata Thompson founded her own dance agency ‘NT Agency’.

She has appeared in TV shows such as ‘Got to Dance’, ‘Got to Dance Kids’ and ‘Masters of Dance’ and is also involved as the head choreographer for ‘The Voice of Germany’. She features in the current season of ‘Germany’s next Topmodel’ as a coach.

Having already contributed her powerful and dynamic style to SHOW ME as a choreographer, she has now developed fascinating new choreographies for the ARISE Grand Show.

ARISE

Ashley Wallen

Choreography

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.

Wallen is the man behind the choreography for the spectacular stage performance of ‘Come Alive’ from ‘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 previously 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 or ‘Friends with Benefits’ starring Justin Timberlake.

The combination of precision and strength can both be seen and felt in his work. It is also reflected in his unique choreography for the new ARISE Grand Show.

ARISE

Stefano Canulli

Costume design

Italian-born Stefano Canulli began his career at the age of 19. After graduating from art school, he studied the fine arts in Rome and was soon able to establish himself in the fashion world: leading Italian fashion houses of the likes of Roberto Capucci and Valentino hired him as an illustrator and artistic director for their advertising campaigns. In the 1980s, he also worked for Vanity Fair, showcasing his creative talents in the cover illustrations for this renowned publication.

After Thierry Mugler became aware of Canulli’s talents, the Parisian fashion designer hired him for his fashion house. In 1992, Canulli then moved to the French capital to further his cooperation with Mugler, collaborating with him on advertising campaigns and perfumes to accompany Mugler’s couture creations. Canulli and Mugler subsequently expanded their collaboration, working together on the costumes for the Cirque du Soleil shows ‘Zumanity’ and ‘Love’. Canulli also created all of the costumes for ‘Viva Elvis’ in Las Vegas.

Canulli has celebrated major successes as an artist, too: his sketches are displayed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, among other locations.

Canulli is highly regarded among leading international creatives like Ali Mahdavi and Luc Bondy as well as among actors such as Eva Mendes, Monica Bellucci, Amira Casar, Naomi Watts and Vincent Cassel.

In 2018, Stefano Canulli was responsible for the illustrations for Valentino’s haute couture advertising campaign. He also prepared the costume illustrations for the THE WYLD Grand Show and devised the make-up concept for the Palast. In cooperation with Philip Treacy, he sketched extravagant costume designs for the VIVID Grand Show.

The Italian fashion designer, illustrator and art director has now designed the breathtaking costumes for the ARISE Grand Show.

ARISE

Kristian Schuller

Art Direction - Photography

Kristian Schuller is one of Germany’s best-known fashion photographers and also enjoys tremendous success internationally. The photographer, who lives in New York and Berlin, stages his artful photographs in extremely elaborate and particularly colourful ways.

Born in Romania, Kristian Schuller moved to Germany with his family at a young age. He studied fashion design with Vivienne Westwood and photography with Franz Christian Gundlach at the Berlin University of the Arts. A recommendation from British stylist Isabella Blow brought Schuller to Condé Nast Publications in London.

His photographic work has garnered special attention due to its extraordinary aesthetics and creative sophistication. The press has dubbed Schuller the “Fellini of photography”.

In addition to working with renowned fashion magazines and commercial clients, Schuller has opened photo exhibitions in Paris, Berlin, Brussels, Krakow, Miami and Hamburg. The star photographer has published his most important work in several publications, which include ‘90 Days. One Dream’, ‘Tales for Oskar’ and ‘Anton’s Berlin’. He has appeared on the TV talent show ‘Germany’s next Topmodel’ as a photographer and jury member on numerous occasions.

In the ARISE Grand Show, Kristian Schuller will bring his artistic visions in photography to the stage for the first time.

ARISE

Dr. Berndt Schmidt

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 musicals ‘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.

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 renowned 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.

ARISE is Berndt Schmidt’s seventh Grand Show as producer.