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Overview

Synopsis

Step into the opulent world of Berlin’s most luxurious hotel in the roaring 1920s, where behind every door lies a story. Grand Hotel: The Musical is a thrilling, fast-paced spectacle that weaves together the lives of eccentric guests and desperate staff, all colliding over one unforgettable weekend. From the fading ballerina grasping at her last chance at love, to a charming but broke Baron with dangerous secrets, to a dying bookkeeper determined to truly live—Grand Hotel brings together ambition, romance, mystery, and the urgency of life itself.

Based on the book of the same name, this is a dazzling tale of glamour, intrigue, and human connection, set to a lush, jazz-infused score and driven by nonstop choreography.

Show Information

Based on
Grand Hotel by Vicki Baum (1929 novel)
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1989
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
Berlin, Germany. 1928
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Heavy
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast

Context

Characters

Showing 8 of 16 characters

Character Portrayals

See StageAgent members who have performed roles in Grand Hotel.

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Songs

  • The Grand Parade (Yeston)
  • Some Have, Some Have Not (Wright/Forrest)
  • As It Should Be (Wright/Forrest)
  • At the Grand Hotel (Yeston)/Table With a View (Wright/Forrest)
  • Maybe My Baby Loves Me (Wright/Forrest)
  • Fire and Ice (Wright/Forrest)
  • Twenty Two Years (Yeston)/Villa On a Hill (Wright/Forrest)
  • I Want To Go To Hollywood (Yeston)
  • Everybody's Doing It (Yeston)
  • As It Could Be (Wright/Forrest)
  • The Crooked Path (Wright/Forrest)
  • Who Couldn't Dance With You? (Wright/Forrest)
  • No Encore (Wright/Forrest)
  • Fire and Ice (Wright/Forrest)
  • Love Can't Happen (Yeston)
  • What You Need (Wright/Forrest)
  • Bonjour Amour (Yeston)
  • H-A-P-P-Y (Wright/Forrest)
  • We'll Take A Glass Together (Wright/Forrest)
  • I Waltz Alone (Wright/Forrest)
  • H-A-P-P-Y (Reprise)
  • Roses at the Station (Yeston)
  • What You Need (Wright/Forrest)
  • How Can I Tell Her? (Wright/Forrest)
  • At the Grand Hotel (Reprise)
  • As It Should Be (Wright/Forrest)
  • The Grand Parade/Some Have, Some Have Not (Reprise)
  • The Grand Waltz (Wright/Forrest)

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Key Terms

    An adaptation is a reworking of a story from one medium or cultural context into another, such as turning a novel into a play or updating a classic play’s setting. Adaptations often reinterpret themes, characters, and style for new audiences. They can range from faithful recreations to bold reimaginings.

    A powerful, resonant singing technique used in musical theatre to project high notes with chest voice.

    The art of designing and arranging movement sequences for theatrical dance and physical storytelling.

    An “I Want Song” is a number, usually placed early in a musical, where a main character expresses their deepest desire or ambition. This song sets the character’s journey in motion and gives the audience a clear emotional stake in the story. It has become one of the most recognizable and enduring conventions of musical theatre structure.

    A musical genre characterized by syncopation and improvisation, frequently integrated into musical theatre for style and rhythm.

    Short for 'legitimate theatre,' referring to traditional stage drama as opposed to musical or commercial performance. The term is also used to describe a classical vocal tone suitable for operatic or legit musical theatre roles.

Videos

Guide Written By:

Emma Houlahan

Emma Houlahan

Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.