In September 2015, over the course of four sold-out shows, Ayreon’s legendary progressive rock concept album ‘The Human Equation’ was brought to life as a full-blown musical production at the Nieuwe Luxor Theater in Rotterdam. This limited run of performances was witnessed by die-hard fans from across the world, but now Arjen Lucassen’s story can be witnessed by all, as a recording of the final night of those special evenings is being released as both a DVD & Blu-ray package on the 17 June, 2016. ‘The Theater Equation’ is subtitled in nine different languages and includes nearly 90 minutes of bonus content.
Arjen comments: “Even today as I write this, I am amazed and touched by how hard everyone worked and how much love and care they generously gave to make it all happen. Sometimes the dream becomes reality!”
Watch the teaser trailer
The stage show stars Dream Theater frontman James LaBrie in his original roll as “Me” and features nearly the entire cast of vocalists from the original 2004 album. The main cast is supported by the 19 members of the Epic Rock Choir, which was put together specially for this event.
The Theater Equation is a unique document of an undertaking that was surely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
RELEASE DATES
EU and USA 17 June, 2016
PREORDERS
Preorders were carried out by the InsideOut shop, and began on 20 May, 2016
RELEASE FORMATS
Deluxe 48-page Art book (incl. Blu-ray, 2 DVDs and 2 CDs)
– Blu-ray and DVD 1 contain 5.1 audio mix
– Both Blu-ray and DVD 2 contain all bonus video content
Special Edition 2CDs+ 1 DVD Digipak
– DVD contains 5.1 audio mix, but no bonus video content
Stand-alone Blu-ray
– Blu-ray contains all bonus video content and 5.1 audio mix of the show
Digital double album (audio only)
CAST
James LaBrie as ‘Me’
Jermain van der Bogt (Wudstik) as ‘Best Friend’
Devon Graves as ‘Agony’
Heather Findlay as ‘Love’
Eric Clayton as ‘Reason’
Magnus Ekwall as ‘Pride’,
Marcela Bovio as ‘Wife’
Irene Jansen as ‘Passion’
Anneke van Giersbergen as ‘Fear’
Mike Mills as ‘Rage/Father’
Nienke Verboom as ‘Nurse’
Peter Moltmaker as ‘Doctor’
Anita van der Hoeven as ‘Mom’
BAND
Ed Warby: Drums
Jeroen Goossens: Flutes and woodwinds
Johan van Stratum: Bass
Maaike Peterse: Cello
Marcel Coenen: Guitars
Freek Gielen: Guitars
Erik van Ittersum: Keyboards/synths
Ruben Wijga: Keyboards/synths
Ben Mathot: Violin
The Epic Rock Choir
‘The Theater Equation’ will be available as a deluxe art book (ear book) version including a Blu-ray disc, 2DVD’s & 2CD’s. There will also be a special-edition 2CD & DVD digipack, and a stand-alone Blu-ray & digital download.
THE HUMAN EQUATION STORY
After a mysterious single-car accident, the victim – a man in his late 30s – lies comatose in the hospital. Before the accident he was a powerful businessman, wildly successful by any measure but also known for his cutthroat business tactics. Now he finds himself trapped in a prison that took him a lifetime to build: the prison of his own mind. Guarding the prison are his emotions, which have taken on vivid personas inside his mind. Some are friends, some are foes, and they all have their own agendas. Some aim to trick him or dominate him, others to comfort or inspire him. But the one objective they all share is to force him to face up to the demons of his past and the deep truths about who he is and how he’s lived his life, all of which he’s conveniently ignored until now. Fear, Rage, Agony, Love, Passion, Reason and Pride take turns engaging the man in this emotional warfare.
Two people hold vigil at the man’s bedside: his wife and his best friend. They are desperate to understand how the accident happened and to see even the tiniest sign that the man will regain consciousness. But the man’s recovery is not their only concern: is it possible that he somehow found out their secret, and that the “accident” wasn’t really an accident at all? Would he ever be able to forgive them? Will the man have the strength to face the truth about himself and the ones he loves? The story unfolds over his twenty-day emotional struggle with Fear, Rage, Agony, Love, Passion, Reason and Pride, in which each day of coma is represented by a song.