It’s been a little while now, but on March 23rd, the premiere of Elisabeth took place at the De LaMar Theater. Looking back, I can’t help but feel incredibly warm and proud. The weeks leading up to it were intense—rehearsals were tough, demanding, and full of challenges. While the material already existed, we were creating a completely new version of the show, which meant we were essentially starting from scratch.

With a production like this, you always feel like you could use a little more time—just a few more rehearsals, a couple more try-outs. But March 23rd was the big day, and all of theater-loving Netherlands showed up in full force. It really felt like the musical premiere of the year.

Premiere days are always a bit nerve-wracking for me. I didn’t sleep well the night before—probably because of the excitement and anticipation. And to top it off, we had a matinee performance at 3 PM. Matinees are never my favorite, especially at the end of a long and intense week of daytime rehearsals and evening try-outs. Getting your voice in top shape that early in the day can be tricky, but hey—adrenaline can do wonders!

And I have to say, everyone was in top form that day. The show was incredibly well received—people were absolutely thrilled, and the press was just as enthusiastic!

One of the best things about a premiere is that, after all the preparation, the creative team steps back, and the show truly becomes ours. Now, we get to take Elisabeth on the road and share it with audiences across the country. I’m especially looking forward to performing in Maastricht, since that’s the region I come from!