Greece may not be Broadway or the West End but it does have its fair share of musicals! Most of these are adaptations of well-known hits, translated and served to the Greek public.

Annie

VENUE: Acropol Theater (9-11 Ippokratous Street. Telephone 210 364 3700)
The work, based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip of “Little Orphan Annie,” with music by Charles Strouse met with great success and sold out performances last year. It is back again at a brand new venue with a new cast starring Petros Haikalis, Vicky Kagia and Anna Panagiotopoulou. Performances run from October 15.

DATES: From Wednesday-Friday at 7 p.m. and 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday and 6.30 p.m. on Sunday.
PRICES: From 8-25 euros

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

VENUE: Megaron Mousikis (Thessaloniki’s Athens Concert Hall, 25th March Street. Telehpone 2310 895 938-9)
The musical features Alan Menken’s score with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.The work, based on the 1991 film of the same name, has always been a favorite with children. The work adapted from a French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont is a story of a prince transformed into a hideous beast as punishment for his cruel and selfish ways and the woman who sees beneath his ugliness.

DATES: November 12-13 at 8.30 p.m., November 15 at 4 p.m. and 8.30 p.m., November 16 at 11.30 a.m. and 5 p.m., November 18 and 8.30 p.m., November 19 at 4 p.m and November 19-21 at 8.30 p.m., November 22 at 4 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. and November 23 at 11.30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
PRICES: :From 20-70 euros with discount tickets for certain groups.

The Rocky Horror Show

VENUE: Rex (48 Panepistimiou Street. Telephone 211 800 0080)
The all-time Australian cult classic by Richard O’Brien mixes science fiction and B-grade horror films of the late Forties through to the Early Seventies. A newly engaged couple get caught in a storm and find “refuge” in the home of a mad transvestite scientist. Finally in Greece, the work is directed by the talented Konstandinos Rigos.

DATES: Premieres on October 17. Wednesdays and Sundays at 7.30 p.m. and Friday-Saturday at 9.30 p.m.
PRICES: From 12-40 euros.

Munchausen

VENUE Badminton (Goudi Olympic Facilities. Telephone 210 884 0600)
The adventures of the 18th-century German nobleman Baron Munchhausen who alleged to have told about his wartime exploits against the Ottoman Empire is being performed at the Badminton’s stage with Stelios Mainas in the title role.

DATES: October 9-19
PRICES: From 9-28 euros.
UPCOMING MUSICALS AT THE SAME VENUE: This too will pass (October 31-November 16), Zebra Pyjama (November 2-30)
Tom Sawyer

VENUE: Ellinikos Kosmos (Greek World at the Foundation of the Hellenic World, 254 Pireos Street, Tavros. Telephone 2122540000)
Mark Twain’s classic is adapted by Nana Nikolaou, and features Dimitris Kouroubalis in the title role and Peter Lagoutis as Hawk Finn. Choreography is by Areti Mokali and video art is used in the presentation.

DATES: Performances are at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 2.45 p.m. on Sunday.
PRICES: Ticket prices are at 13 euros and 11 euros and 45 euros for a family of four.

Hercules: 12 Labors 

VENUE: Pantheon Theater (166 Pireos Street. Telephone 210 347 1111)

VENUE: Pantheon Theater (166 Pireos Street. Telephone 210 347 1111)
Sakis Rouvas, Greece’s star, has taken up the challenge to play the demigod following his success in ancient theater last year (Bacchae). He teams up with director Dimitris Lignadis again with a musical that boasts of choreography by Chaly Jennings.
DATES: Premieres in November, actual dates to be announced
PRICES: TBA

ALSO COMING UP
The Pantheon Theater will feature composer Nikos Karvelas’ new rock musical “The Bells of Edelweiss” starring singer Anna Vissi at the start of January, whereas director Dimitris Lignadis is directing “Victor Victoria).