Ring of Fire
The Deutsches Theater München presents
RING OF FIRE
The Music of Johnny Cash
Sunday: 7:30 pm
German premiere
The life and music of Johnny Cash – American country, rock and roll, and gospel music legend – will set the stage alight and capture our audience’s heart by storm. The musical’s first visit to Europe in Vienna thrilled audiences and critics alike. Now, Ring of Fire by Richard Maltby Jr. and William Maede celebrates its German premiere in our historic Silbersaal (silver hall).
Life and Legacy of the „Man in Black“
Ring of Fire is a musical mosaic of the life and career of Johnny Cash which gives us the essence of the American experience – a dark, driving and exuberant ride along a nostalgic track of humour and tragedy, sin and redemption. Unforgettable songs like „Folsom Prison Blues“, „Hey Porter“, „Far Side Banks of Jordan“, „Sunday Morning Coming Down“, „I’ve Been Everywhere“ and „I Walk the Line“ tell the story of the “Man in Black”. We discover the muses and musings of an American icon as he boldly travels the back woods and wide open roads. The set design in combination with the lighting design by David W. Kidd and the costumes by Marla Jurglanis ensure the perfect Country feeling.
Amazing ensemble
Six performers – who also act as band members – present the songs and life of Johnny Cash in this extraordinary production. Following their twice-extended run of the musical hit Woody Sez in New York, award-winning performers David M. Lutken, Helen Jean Russell and Megan Loomis rejoin the fabulous ensemble of Ring of Fire. David M. Lutken, who also acts as Musical Director for the show, portrays the older Johnny Cash who looks back on his life and his younger self – played by Sam Sherwood. Cash’s wife June Carter, too, is portrayed by two performers: Helen Jean Russel and Margaret Dudasik. Morgen Morse and Michael Hicks portray, among others, Johnny’s brothers Roy and Jack. All performers take on various roles and play multiple instruments such as bass guitar, violin, harmonica, drums and, of course, guitar.
Free Hootenanny-concerts on Saturdays
On all Saturdays, the cast will play so called Hootenanny-concerts in the Barocksaal (Baroque Hall, opposite of the main entrance) after the performances.
The tradition started in the winter of 1940/41, when Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger toured the US and played improvised concerts at union events. In Seattle, they were invited to a Hootenanny, a loosely organized ‘community sing’. They brought the term back to New York and played weekly Hootenannies.
Everywhere they go, the Ring Of Fire cast invites the audiences to their own weekly get-togethers. After the Saturday night show, they head to the bar to play and sing for about an hour. Everyone is invited, there’s no charge, and all are invited to sing, and to bring their own instruments and play, if they’re so inclined. They‘ll sing and play a wide variety of music. Musical Director David M. Lutken: „It’s not really another ‘performance’ it’s just a lot of fun!“
