The Ludwig II Musical
Continued from page 2: Musical Theater Neuschwanstein

ABOVE: Ludwig II dances with his beloved cousin Sissi, who--unfortunately for Ludwig--is already married to the Emperor of Austria.

Archived article

Update: The musical, Ludwig II: Longing for Paradise, is no longer running. The Festspielhaus in Füssen in Allgäu now stages operas and other productions and continues to offer gastronomy at various price levels in the theatre's restaurants.

The production

Ludwig II: Longing for Paradise had its premiere on April 7, 2000. The producers spent nearly 15 million euros to stage the musical, which was a smash hit before it opened with more than 500,000 tickets sold.

The show has 29 different sets and 152 period costumes, plus real horses that pull a sleigh on treadmills while fog swirls around them on the revolving stage. But the most spectacular effect is during the final scene, where Ludwig disappears beneath the surface of a lake (yes, the water is real) before ascending to the heavens on a rainbow.

Large supertitles above the proscenium translate the dialogue into English, Italian, Japanese, and (on request) into French, Dutch, and/or Spanish.

The musical lasts three hours, including a 45-minute intermission that allows time for a drink, a snack, or browsing in the excellent souvenir shop (where you can buy a plastic poncho if it's raining at the end of the show).

Next: Dining at the theatre

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