As of: March 28, 2024, 2:00 p.m
By: Diana Serb
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The new edition of the RTL musical “The Passion” was eagerly awaited. Contrary to expectations, Stefanie Hertel only got a small role. Ahead of the show, she explained why.
Kassel – For the second time, the Cologne broadcaster RTL staged a modern version of the Easter story. After Essen, this time the city center of Kassel was the venue for the performance on March 27, 2024. Pop singer Stefanie Hertel only played a small role and explains why she almost wasn't there at all.
Stefanie Hertel did not play Mary in “The Passion”.
TV Germany looked forward to the performance with great anticipation, and its modern presentation was critically discussed in advance. The idea and its implementation also received a lot of malice online on Wednesday evening. In 2022, DSDS winner and musical actor Alexander Klaws (40) played Jesus. This year Ben Blümel (42, “Engel”), who most people probably know as a singer under the stage name “Ben”, played the character. Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht (32) played Judas. Actor Hannes Jaenicke (64) led the narrator through the modern interpretation of the story, which also included pop songs and pizza.
The cast was diverse, from presenters and actors to “Let’s Dance” professional dancers. Pop singer Stefanie Hertel, (44), who now also appears in musicals and on TV, was also one of them. It has been discussed for weeks what role she would take on. It's clear to her fans: Stefanie Hertel could very well embody Jesus' mother Mary. With her appearance it was now clear that she was not playing the most prominent female role. Ex-“No Angels” singer Nadja Benaissa (41) took over. Hertel, on the other hand, was part of Jesus' entourage in a supporting role.
Other projects had priority for Stefanie Hertel
Schlager.de
told Hertel how this line-up came about. “When I was asked, I was actually on the verge of canceling! Because I’m involved in a thousand other projects,” says the Saxon native. She is still writing her herbal book and has a theater tour, so she didn't have much time for this task. “[...] A role for Maria would not have been possible in that time. This is a really big role that also requires a lot of preparation. But as a disciple you have a smaller role and so I can get to grips with it for now.”
Pop singer Stefanie Hertel in the TV show “Kölner Treff” in March 2024. © IMAGO/Julian Meusel/SVEN SIMON
In recent years, the pop singer, who became a GDR star as a child, has immersed herself more and more in the subject of acting. Most recently she took on smaller roles on TV; her specially produced play “All Paris Dreams of Love” premiered in Mannheim on April 3, 2024, followed by a tour. Your fans can look forward to seeing more of Stefanie Hertel on the theater stages in Germany soon.
Sources used
:
“The Passion” (RTL/RTL+), schlager.de