They called him the “red Elvis”: Dean Reed, born 1938 in Denver, Colorado, USA, died 1986 in the Zeuthener Lake in Brandenburg, at that time a part of the GDR. He lived a life that was unique, surreal and not without ambivalence. What stage could fit this story better than the Neuköllner Oper – and in an era that feels unreal, unprecedented, and full of contradictions? Having premiered in an abridged and Covid-limited production in autumn 2020, the musical was transferred to a digital miniseries format (still available for streaming here). Now back at the Neuköllner Oper, the production pays tribute to the life of a unique musician and human being.
The story is of an American farmer’s son. Full of idealism and ambition, Reed was a peace activist who believed wholeheartedly in international cooperation and justice, made his musical breakthrough in South America, filled stadiums, ceremoniously washed the American flag clean of the “dirt of imperialism”, spent time in prison, met Che Guevara and moved to the GDR for love. He died in East Germany, disillusioned with socialism. It is the story of a man who was a world star on the western side of the Iron Curtain and who was forgotten after its fall – at least among those too young to remember him. Iron Curtain Man was penned by Fabian Gerhardt and Lars Werner (script) and Claas Krause and Christopher Verworner (music). It’s a work that will interest anyone who believes in music, justice and doubt. “This is about people, and that’s who we are!”.
Text: Hilka Dirks / Photos: Thomas Koy & Mizafo
Iron Curtain Man at the Neuköllner Oper, Karl-Marx-Str.131/133, 12043 Berlin–Neukölln; map
You can buy tickets online.
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