The time has finally come – the world famous musical CATS returns to the Ronacher from May 26, 2021! After a break due to COVID-19, Andrew Lloyd Webber's masterpiece can be seen again every day except Mondays at the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien.

After record advance sales and completely sold-out performances, the show had to stop several times due to the Corona pandemic. Nevertheless, CATS has already been extended twice due to high demand and can now be seen at the Ronacher until June 27, 2021 and then again from September 11, 2021 for a third season.

Vanessa Heinz and Oedo Kuipers will play the roles of Kim and Chris in Cameron Mackintosh’s internationally acclaimed production of Boublil & Schönberg’s musical MISS SAIGON from autumn 2021. VBW Artistic Director Christian Struppeck brings the famous musical by the writers of LES MISÉRABLES as the opening production at the newly renovated Raimund Theater.

Vanessa Heinz is a winner of the 2019 “Bundeswettbwerb Gesang” singing competition, and Kim is her first starring role as well as her Vienna debut. For established musical star Oedo Kuipers, MISS SAIGON represents a return to the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien (VBW), having previously played the main role in the hit musical MOZART! at the Raimund Theater.

VBW Director of Musicals Christian Struppeck: “MISS SAIGON is one of the biggest hit musicals of our time. A moving love story, it has won countless awards internationally and attracted audiences of over 36 million all over the world. Vanessa Heinz and Oedo Kuipers are perfectly cast in the two main roles. Together with our first-class ensemble, who will be announced in the spring, they will make MISS SAIGON into an outstanding and exceptionally moving musical experience for our audiences.”

At the beginning of January, the eminent US entertainment industry magazine “BroadwayWorld” chose its favourite musicals of 2018/19. Vereinigte Bühnen Wien productions came first in eight out of 14 categories:

• Best Musical: CATS/Ronacher
• Best Musical in Concert: ELISABETH/Schloss Schönbrunn
• Best Actor in a Musical: DREW SARICH/JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR/Raimund Theater 
• Best Supporting Actor: STEPHEN MARTIN ALLAN/CATS/Ronacher
• Best Choreography: CHRISSIE CARTWRIGHT/CATS/Ronacher
• Best Set Design: JOHN NAPIER/ALAN WALKER/CATS/Ronacher
• Best Lighting Design: MICHAEL GRUNDNER/ELISABETH/Schloss Schönbrunn
• Best Revival: CATS/Ronacher

The musical theatre stars Maya Hakvoort and Mark Seibert will sing the roles of Elisabeth and Death in a large-scale concert performance of ELISABETH at Schönbrunn Palace. Maya Hakvoort has played the Empress Elisabeth over a thousand times in many different productions of the hit musical all over the world, but this will be her first time performing the role at the original historical location. Mark Seibert has played Death at the Raimund Theater, on a major tour of Germany and in the German-language visiting production in China, as well as in last year’s concerts in the palace forecourt.

The Vereinigte Bühnen Wien invited to the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs

In honour of the 150th anniversary of relations between Austria and Japan, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs welcomed as guests the Japanese ambassador His Excellency Kiyoshi Koinuma and Austrian businesses with close ties to Japan. As an important business and tourism partner to Japan, the VBW was invited to attend the celebrations, along with Vienna Airport and the Austrian Post.

We talked to the original director, Sir Trevor Nunn, about the world premiere and the world wide success of CATS.

The Vereinigten Bühnen Wien will present the world-famous show in a new version of the original production at the Ronacher from the autumn with its première in September 2019.

A worldwide phenomenon

CATS triumphantly swept the world straight after its première in London, revolutionising the musical world.  The legendary play has been recognised by all the major theatre awards, including seven Tony® Awards, one for "Best Musical", as well as three "Olivier Awards", three "Drama Desk Awards", one "Evening Standard Award" and many more.

More than 73 million visitors - and the success story continues

Worldwide, over 73 million people in 30 countries and 16 languages have seen this extraordinary musical. The German-language première ran continuously for seven years in Vienna. And there's no end to the success: just recently, a new CATS production in London and New York thrilled the audience. 

Dance, magic, mysticism and Grammy-awarded music

Breathtaking dance, legendary costumes, a magical stage design, Grammy-awarded, electrifying music and the moving world hit "Memory", which has meanwhile been sung by more than 150 world-famous artists (including Barbra Streisand and Céline Dion), make CATS an unforgettable experience. A magical theatre evening for the whole family.

On Saturday, September 22, 2018, the Ronacher opened its doors with for the We Are Musical: Musicalfest and cordially invited to a very exclusive afternoon in the theater. On this day an exciting entertainment program with many special attractions was offered.