Theater in der Josefstadt

The Theater in der Josefstadt is a theater in Vienna in the eight district of Josefstadt. It was founded in 1788 and is the oldest still performing theater in Vienna. It is often referred to colloquially as simply "Die Josefstadt".

The history of the theater is tied to major figures in musical and theatrical history:
*Ludwig van Beethoven and Richard Wagner conducted there.
*Johann Nestroy and Ferdinand Raimund were connected to the theater as actors and poets.
*Johann Strauss I performed in the Sträußelsälen.
*In 1814, Ferdinand Raimund had his Vienna debut as Franz Moor in "Die Räuber" by Friedrich Schiller.
*In 1822, after the theater was remodeled and rebuilt, it was reopened with the overture "Die Weihe des Hauses" composed and directed by Ludwig van Beethoven.
*In 1829 Johann Nestroy debuted as an actor with the ""Die Verbannung aus dem Zauberreich oder Dreißig Jahre aus dem Leben eines Lumpen".
*From 1833 to 1840 Conradin Kreutzer was the theater conductor and on January 13, 1834, his romantic opera "Das Nachtlager in Granada" was first performed in the theater.
*On February 20 1834, Ferdinand Raimund's "Der Verschwender" was first performed with the poet in the roll of Valentin (with stage music by Kreutzer).
*Between around 1840 and 1860, famous dancers Fanny Elssler and the Spanish Pepita de Oliva performed in the theater.
*The first German-language performance of Ferenc Molnár's Liliom with Josef Jarno in the title role on February 28, 1913 played a key role in the piece's long-lasting appeal.

Directors (with their years of service)

* 1788 - 1812 Karl Felix Mayer
* 1812 - 1822 ?
* 1822 - 1824 Karl Friedrich Hensler
* 1824 - 1828 J. von Scheidlin
* 1828 - 1831 Carl Carl
* 1831 - 1837 Johann August Stöger
* 1837 - 1848 Franz Pokorny
* 1848 - 1865 ?
* 1865 - 1866 Johann Fürst
* 1866 - 1871 ?
* 1871 - 1877 Johann Fürst
* 1877 - 1899 ?
* 1899 - 1923 Josef Jarno
* 1924 - 1926 Max Reinhardt
* 1926 - 1933 Max Reinhardt and Emil Geyer
* 1933 - 1935 Max Reinhardt and Otto Preminger
* 1935 - 1938 Max Reinhardt and Ernst Lothar
* 1938 Robert Valberg
* 1938 - 1945 Heinz Hilpert
* 1945 - 1953 Rudolf Steinboeck
* 1953 - 1958 Franz Stoß and Ernst Haeussermann
* 1958 - 1977 Franz Stoß
* 1977 - 1984 Ernst Haeussermann
* 1984 - 1988 Heinrich Kraus (in September 1986 Boy Gobert was to become director, but died only a few months before)
* 1988 - 1997 Otto Schenk and Robert Jungbluth
* 1997 - 1999 Helmuth Lohner and Robert Jungbluth
* 1999 - 2003 Alexander Götz and Robert Jungbluth
* 2003 - 2004 Hans Gratzer
* 2004 - 2006 Helmuth Lohner
* 2006 - Herbert Föttinger

Famous ensemble members

*Albert Bassermann
*Klaus Maria Brandauer
*Attila Hörbiger
*Curd Jürgens
*Fritz Kortner
*Werner Krauß
*Wolfgang Liebeneiner
*Helmuth Lohner
*Karl Merkatz
*Fritz Muliar
*Johann Nestroy
*Susi Nicoletti
*Ferdinand Raimund
*Otto Schenk
*Hans Thimig
*Paula Wessely
*Bernhard Wicki

External links

* [http://www.josefstadt.org/ Theater in der Josefstadt - Official website]