World premiere of the musical Dancer in the Dark / Musikaali Dancer in the Dark world premiere!

Selma is almost blind and struggles as a single parent in a small American town in the 1960s. Her only child is also losing her sight and only an expensive eye surgery can save her son. Although she can barely see, she works hard at a factory to scrape together the money. To cope with the difficult everyday life, she dreams away to a fantasy world, filled with musical numbers.  “Dancer in the Dark is a dream project that we have been working on ever since I started as artistic director in 2019. I have now worked with the house’s ensemble for four years in various productions, so they all know my design language and the creativity has been bubbling in the rehearsal room. I’ve been waiting to bring in an ensemble with such great dance knowledge to create the fast-paced musical numbers at Lillan. On stage, we have the largest ensemble in the history of theatre,” says director Jakob Höglund.The performance offers completely new music, composed by Danish Marie Højlund. The music takes off from the sounds that Selma hears in her everyday life, because as her eyesight deteriorates, she shapes the world through her hearing. The music is performed by musicians Paavo Malmberg and Suvi Isotalo, who alternate in the performances with Eeva Kontu. The soundscape is created live by the ensemble and the stage itself is like a large instrument. Lumi Aunio, who was born in the church, plays the title role of Selma. She has previously played in Dear Evan Hansen (Helsinki City Theatre 2023), Moominvalley Crisis and Disaster (Lilla Teatern 2022) and Niin kuin taivaassa (Helsinki City Theatre 2021).  In the role of Selma’s son, Iivari Luomala and Emil Paloniemi alternate. Also on stage are Sofia Hilli, Ulriikka Heikinheimo, Tuukka Leppänen, Sanna Majuri, Unto Nuora, Mikko Paloniemi, Tiina Peltonen, Pia Runnakko, Inka Tiitinen, Antti Timonen, Alexander Wendelin and Joachim Wigelius. Text and poetry Patrick Ellsworth, music Marie Højlund, sound world by Morten Riis and Marie Højlund. The Swedish translationis by Annina Enckell (dialogue) andKaisa Lundán (lyrics). The director is Jakob Höglund and thechoreography is Jakob Höglund in collaboration with the working group. Music arrangements by Eeva Kontu and Paavo Malmberg. The conductor is Eeva Kontu. Thecenographyis  byAntti Mattila, costumedesign by Samu-Jussi Koski. Lighting design by William Iles and literarydesign by Jaakko Virmavirta and Paavo Malmberg. Mask isby Pia Malmberg. The assistant director and choreography is Johanna Elovaara. The dramaturg is Sanna Niemeläinen. Read the interview with director Jakob Höglund on Lilla Teatern’s website: Dancer in the Dark – songs in the twilight. Dancer in the Dark, worldpremiere 31.8.2024 at Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30, 00100 Helsinki. Ticket price: normal price €55, student price €27.50 (Mon-Thu), pensioner price €52 (Mon-Thu). #musikalendancerinthedark  The performanceis in Swedish. The performance is subtitled in Finnish and Swedish via the mobileapp Subtitle Mobile. HelsinkiCity Theatre’s customer service is open by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket office at First Line 2, Mon-Fri at 12-1 7, Djurgårdsvägen 5, Sat (performance days) one hour before the performances start. Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9 am-9 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min+local network charge/mta) www.hkt.fi Pictured in the press release: Lumi Aunio, photographer Heli Blåfield Further information, press tickets and interview requests:Lilla Teatern, Communications Planner Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@hkt.fi, 050 357 4250 

The world premiere of the musical Dancer in the Dark! 

In the autumn, Lilla Teatern will see the theatre’s largest production of all time. Based on Lars von Trier’s film, Dancer in the Dark is a rhythmic, sparkling musical directed by Jakob Höglund. For the first time, dancers from the Helsinki City Theatre’s dance group Helsinki Dance Company will also participate. The main role is played by the wonderfully voiced Lumi Aunio.  Selma is almost blind and is trying to survive as a single parent in a small American town in the 1960s. Her only child is also losing her sight, and only expensive eye surgery can save her. Although Selma can hardly see, she works in a factory to raise the money needed for the surgery. To cope with the difficult everyday life, he escapes into an imaginary world filled with musical numbers for approx.  “Dancer in the Dark is a dream project that we have been working on since I started as artistic director in 2019. I’ve been working with the ensemble for four years now, in different productions, so they all know my way of expressing themselves and creativity has flourished in the rehearsal hall. I’ve been looking forward to bringing an ensemble with such strong dancing skills to the stage, and to be able to design fast-paced musical numbers for Lillan. The stage will feature the largest ensemble in the history of theatre,” says director Jakob Höglund. Dancer in the Dark offers completely new music composed by Marie Højlund from Denmark. Music originates from the sounds that Selma hears in her everyday life, because when her eyesight deteriorates, she perceives the world through her hearing . The music will be performed by musicians Paavo Malmberg and Suvi Isotalo, who will alternate with Eeva Konnu in the performances . The ensemble creates a live soundscape and the stage itself is like a large instrument. Lumi Aunio, who is originally from Kirkkonummi, plays the main role as Selma. She has previously acted in performances such as Dear Evan Hansen (Helsinki City Theatre 2023), Kris och Katastrof i Mumindalen (Lilla Teatern 2022) and As in Heaven (Helsinki City Theatre 2021).  The role of Selma’s child is alternated between Iivari Luomala and Emil Paloniemi. Also on stage are Sofia Hilli, Ulriikka Heikinheimo, Tuukka Leppänen, Sanna Majuri, Unto Nuora, Mikko Paloniemi, Tiina Peltonen, Pia Runnakko, Inka Tiitinen, Antti Timonen, Alexander Wendelin and Joachim Wigelius.  Text and lyrics by Patrick Ellsworth, music by Marie Højlund, soundscape by Morten Riis and Marie Højlund. The Swedish translation has been done by Annina Enckell (dialogue) and Kaisa Lundán (lyrics). The director is Jakob Höglund and the choreography is by Jakob Höglund in collaboration with the working group. Eeva Kontu and Paavo Malmberg have arranged the music. The conductor is Eeva Kontu. Antti Mattila is responsible for the set design, Samu-Jussi Koski for the costume design. The lighting designer is William Iles and the sound designers are Jaakko Virmavirta and Paavo Malmberg. Pia Malmberg is responsible for the make-up. The director and choreography assistant is Johanna Elovaara. The dramaturg is Sanna Niemeläinen.Read the interview with director Jakob Höglund on Lilla Teatern’s website: Dancer in the Dark – sånger i skymningen.  Dancer in the Dark, world premiere 31.8.2024 at Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30, 00100 Helsinki.  Tickets: basic ticket 55 €, studentand ticket 27,50 € (Mon-Thu), pensionerticket 52 € (Mon-Thu).  #musikalendancerinthedark @lilla.teatern The language of the performance is Swedish. Finnish and Swedish subtitles are available for the performance via the mobile application Subtitle Mobile.  Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket offices First line 2, Mon-Fri 12-1 7, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge) www.hkt.fi In the photo in the release: Lumi Aunio, photographer Heli Blåfield Further information, press tickets and interview requests:  Lilla Teatern, DirectorPlanning Officer Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@hkt.fi, 050 357 4250