About the work
Flashdance – The Musical is a stage adaptation of the eponymous 1983 Paramount film. The book is by Tom Hedley and Robert Cary, the music by Robbie Roth, the lyrics by Robbie Roth and Robert Cary. The world premiere took place in July 2008 at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth; the German-language premiere followed in 2014 at Theater Chemnitz (German version: Anja Hauptmann). The musical has since been performed regularly at German houses and on tour.
Plot
The story follows Alex Owens, who works by day as a welder in a steel factory in Pittsburgh and dances by night at Harry's bar to pursue her great passion. Her dream is a career as a professional dancer. When Nick Hurley, the junior boss of the steel mill, falls in love with her, he helps her secure an audition at the renowned Shipley Dance Academy — while the two also embark on a relationship.
Cultural significance
The musical bundles the spirit of the 1980s with the film's global hits — including the Oscar-winning title song "Flashdance… What a Feeling" as well as "Maniac", "Gloria" and "I Love Rock ''n'' Roll" — and adds stage songs composed specially by Robbie Roth and Robert Cary. It ranks among the popular film-to-musical adaptations and is a reliable audience success on German-language stages.