ROCKET MAN

ROCKET MAN – The Elton John Biopical

Just in time for Sir Elton John’s 80th birthday on March 25, 2027, a new stage show, “Rocket Man – The Elton John Biopical,” will celebrate its world premiere in Cologne and then embark on a major tour of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland starting in May. “Flashy outfits, an unmistakable voice, and above all, his piano: Hardly any artist has shaped pop history as much as Sir Elton John. To mark the 80th birthday of this exceptional British artist, we’re bringing his extraordinary life story—and above all, his musical legacy—back to the stage once again. Live, colorful, emotional, and—of course—the show is packed with the inimitable singer’s greatest hits, performed by a magnificent lead actor, a five-piece live band, and a first-class ensemble,” says producer Oliver Forster.

On the Stage Icon and the Timeless Power of his Music
Elton John is one of the few artists whose music has long transcended individual eras and generations. His songs have become evergreens, and his melodies have become integral parts of international pop culture. The musician moved effortlessly between rock, rock ’n’ roll, pop, blues, and gospel, developing an unmistakable musical style over the decades. Elton John once succinctly summed up his own passion for music: “I live, eat, sleep, breathe music.” It is precisely this extraordinary musical energy that lies at the heart of “Rocket Man.” The production aims not only to commemorate the great successes of a global superstar but also to convey why his music continues to have such a powerful appeal to this day. Elton John’s work bridges generations and achieves something that few artists succeed in doing: creating songs that emerge from their time yet remain timeless. “Rocket Man” turns this enduring fascination into a shared experience and invites the audience not only to listen to Elton John’s music but to rediscover it together.

The Success Formula Behind Musical Biographies: “Biopicals”
Oliver Forster (COFO Entertainment), a successful producer and promoter from Passau, has built a large audience in German-speaking countries with musical biographies about international music legends. As a tour promoter, he has been involved in productions such as “ELVIS – The Musical,” “all you need is love! – The Beatles Musical,” and “Simply The Best – The Tina Turner Story.” In its in-house productions about global stars such as Michael Jackson (“BEAT IT!”), Frank Sinatra (“That’s Life”), and Falco (“FALCO – The Musical”), COFO Entertainment also relies on the combination of live musical performance and biographical storytelling. With “Rocket Man – The Elton John Biopic,” this concept is now being expanded to include the life story and musical legacy of Elton John.

C.J. Marvin as Elton John
The internationally acclaimed musician and Elton John impersonator C.J. Marvin shines as Elton John in his extravagant, colorful costumes and even plays the piano live on stage. C.J. was personally invited to Elton’s concerts in Milan at the Teatro-Tenda Palatrussardi. While waiting for the limousines with Elton and the band in the hotel lobby, C.J. sat down at the grand piano and began to play around a bit with excerpts from some of Elton’s songs. After hearing young C.J. Marvin’s impromptu performance, Elton John remarked, “You’re the best Elton I’ve ever heard.”

Two men, two rooms—and an extraordinary partnership
Elton John’s story is inextricably linked to Bernie Taupin. What began in 1967 with an unusual encounter evolved into one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in music history: Taupin writes the lyrics, Elton John composes the music—often working separately. From these two creative worlds emerge songs that ultimately reach millions of people and fill entire concert arenas. “Rocket Man” brings this extraordinary creative process to life, as well as the personal development behind the stage persona, and shows how quiet moments at the piano could evolve into a global spectacle. Dodger Stadium serves as a special connecting thread: In 1975, Elton John performed some of his most legendary concerts there in front of tens of thousands of people; in 2022, he returned to the same venue for his farewell concerts—nearly five decades of music history spanning these two performances.

(Information provided by the organizer. Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe GmbH assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.)