Franz Abraham

First Information

The world premiere of BEN HUR LIVE at London's O2 Arena on Sept. 17, 2009 was a huge, incredible success, also due to the fact the first high-speed chariot race after 2000 years was staged live. The media was full of lavish praise:

The London Times: “A production of the century”

Spiegel Online: “Gigantic…, God would shout: “Bravo”!

Münchner Abendzeitung: “Almost like a biblical miracle”

Die Welt: “Circus Maximus 2.0”

Süddeutsche Zeitung: “The XXXL-Spectacle ”

The Sun: “Entertaining, hypnotic and a runaway triumph“

Hamburger Abendblatt: ”It feels like you were sitting in the Circus Maximus”

20 shows together, over 40.000 spectators in London and almost 100.000 visitors in Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, and Zurich generated a turnover of more than EUR 8 million and over EUR 1,5 Mio. marginal return within eight weeks.

BEN HUR LIVE means spectacular entertainment for the whole family – transfering the Formula 1 of ancient times to the Circus Maximus of today -  consisting of many highlights such as a naval battle with huge galleys on a sea of fog and fantastic light effects , all imbedded in one of the greatest and most dramatic story lines that has ever have been created by literature and film.  All about love and friendship, hatred, revenge, and redemption.

In addition, one of the great and most talented soundtrack composers of our time, Stewart Copeland (The Police) delivered the wonderful music.

BEN HUR LIVE sets entirely new standards in Live-Entertainment and in theater culture, it constituted a new genre.

BEN HUR LIVE has

“The power of a rock concert,
the speed of a musical,
the magic of an epic movie,
the passion of a Greek tragedy.”

(Quote of BEN HUR LIVE inventor, Franz Abraham, in the London Times)

Credits:

Stewart Copeland – Music (Drummer “The Police”, music for 60 films: “9 ½ Weeks”, “Desperate Housewives” etc.)

Philip Wm. McKinley – Director (Broadway hit “The Boy from Oz”, “Hair”)

Marc Fisher – Design (“360” for U2, “The Wall” Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Olympic Ceremonies 2008 at Peking)

Patrick Woodroffe – Light (Bregenz Festival Opera House, Michael Jackson, Rolling Stones)

Rick Sordelet – Director of the fight scenes (“The Lion King”, “Tarzan”)

Liam Steel – Choreography (Royal National Theatre)

Shaun McKenna – Script (“Lord of the Rings” at London´s West End)

Ann Hould-Ward – Costumes (“Beauty and the Beast”)

Programm Brochure Ben Hur Live >>

BEN HUR LIVE Promo Video