Curtain Rises on Raimund Theater’s Makeover

The founding years

In the year of 1890, a group of Viennese joined together to create a "Viennese popular theatre club" outside the city centre. This was designed for a wide circle of visitors, especially from the "lower classes". At highly reduced, affordable prices one could view patriotic folk tales, both told and sung, join in singing games and experience relevant works all in the field of folk music.

Designed by the architect Franz Roth, the RAIMUND THEATER was finally opened on the 28th November 1893 with Ferdinand Raimund's - the namesake of honour - rarely performed magical play The tethered imagination.

As the first director, writer and critic Adam Müller-Guttenbrunn worked effectively until 1896 in the championing of the idea of a theater for the people, thereby making a name for himself through the nurturing of Viennese folk works. His aim was to establish the new house as a theatrical stage for these classical folk plays. A counterpart to the court’s Burgtheater on the one hand and for light entertainment and variety on the other. Even in the early years, big stage stars were to be seen at RAIMUND THEATER including "the" Eleonora Duse, Adele Sandrock, Alexander Girardi and the later world-famous Max Reinhardt.

The Operetta Theatre

Around the turn of the century, the Viennese public’s favour turned increasingly towards the operetta. Spoken theatre was barely able to lure an audience into the house. This development forced the operators of the theatre eventually to lease to a consortium, to which - among others - Wilhelm Karczag belonged. Having already leased the “Theater an der Wien” and the “Stadttheater” meant that he essentially held all of the Viennese operettas in his hands. 1908 thereby marks the move to Operetta within the RAIMUND THEATER.

The success was so overwhelming that some performances were often played for months en-suite. Operettas subsequently dominated the Schedule, works by Johann Strauss, Robert Stolz – whose Premier of The Glücksmädel was performed in RAIMUND THEATER, 1910 - ,and other composers of the time were seen. The greatest success however was celebrated with The House of three girls based on themes by Franz Schubert, with over 1200 performances from 1916-1927.

It was not until the later, 1921-1924, under director Rudolf Beer that theatrical spoken pieces were once again increasing performed at RAIMUND THEATER. Having been spared from destruction during the war of bombs, the theatre was able to immediately operate once again after the war and opened with The House of three girls on the 25th April 1945.

In 1948, Rudolf Marik took over as Director of the RAIMUND THEATER for a period of almost 30 years, during which time he built up its reputation as being the only internationally recognized stage within the German-speaking world that played solely operettas. The biggest stars of the genre, including Marika Rokk, Zarah Leander and Johannes Heesters performed here as well as some famous actors, such as Hansi Niese, Paula Wessely, Attila Hoerbiger and Karl Skraup who began their great careers here.

Home of Musical Theatre

It was not until 1976 that RAMINUD THEATER began occasionally adding musicals to its repertoire, such as Kurt Weills’ Lady in the Dark. Between 1984 and 1985 RAIMUND THEATER was renovated. In 1987, it was incorporated into the VBW and has since become a well-established venue for large musical productions.

A Chorus Line, was the very first Broadway hit to be performed in RAIMUND THEATER from 16th October 1987 until 1st July 1988. Thereafter, Les Misérables followed from 15th September 1988 until 31st March 1990, with Andrew Lloyd Webbers Phantom of the Opera close on its heels from 9th June 1990 until 30th June 1993. From 28th September 1995 until 29th June 1997 the first ever Disney production filled the stage with the spectacular musical, Beauty and the Beast.

On the 4th October 1997 Roman Polanskis Musical version of his Cult Film from the 60’s, TANZ DER VAMPIRE (Dance of the Vampires) celebrated its Premier. By 15th January 2000, more than 800.000 visitors had appreciated the internationally acclaimed musical in RAIMUND THEATER.

From 3rd March 2000 until 14th January 2001, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was performed, followed by the new version of the legendary Hippy Musical Hair from 10 March 2001 until 30 June 2002. On 29th September 2002 Rainhard Fendrich & Harold Faltermayer witnessed the Premier of their first Musical Wake Up! which ran until 1st January 2004. From 11th March 2004 until 1st January 2005 Dave Stewarts Barbarella followed as the next premier production. On 24th February 2005, the first german version of Romeo and Juliette was performed. The spectacular musical version of Shakespeare’s romantic drama ran until 8th July 2006, shortly followed by Michael Kunzes & Sylvester Levays Rebecca World tour Premier on 28th September 2006. For half a year from early 2008, the Queen Musical, We will rock you was our guest of honour only to be followed once more from September through to 30th December 2008 by the return of the World-class musical, Rebecca. On the 26th February 2009 Rudolf – Affaire Mayerling performed its first ever premier.

The Premier of ICH WAR NOCH NIEMALS IN NEW YORK (I’ve never been to New York) was performed in RAIMUND THEATER on 17th March. On 5th September 2012 we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the World-class Musical ELISABETH with its acclaimed debut performance, which remained on the Schedule until 1st February 2014. On 14th March 2014 MAMMA MIA! A musical comedy with 22 of ABBA’s greatest hits, celebrated it Premier at RAIMUND THEATER and it still running.