Theater in der Josefstadt

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The Theater in der Josefstadt is a theater in Vienna in the eight district of Josefstadt.

It was founded in 1788 and is therefore the oldest still performing theater in Vienna. Colloquially it is often referred to as simply Die Josefstadt.

The history of the theater is tied to major figures in musical and theaterical history. Ludwig van Beethoven and Richard Wagner conducted there, Johann Nestroy and Ferdinand Raimund were connected to the theater as actors and poets, and 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.

On January 13, 1834, the romantic opera Das Nachtlager in Granada by Conradin Kreutzer was first performed in the theater. From 1833 to 1840 Kreutzer was band leader in the theater.

On February 20, Ferdinand Raimund's Der Verschwender was first performed with the poet in the roll of Valentin (with the 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.

[edit] 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 (designated, should take over direction in September 2006)