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.

The VBW’s internationally successful production ELISABETH, penned by the crack team of Michael Kunze & Sylvester Levay, will be performed on 5 and 6 July 2019 as an exceptional concert experience in the grand forecourt of Schönbrunn Palace.

The famous historical setting provides a unique and dignified backdrop for the concert version of the musical, which tells the dramatic and moving story of the life, loves and tribulations of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. With first class soloists and a top ensemble, accompanied by the full VBW Orchestra, the audience can look forward to one of the event highlights of 2019. This is the first time a concert version of the most successful German-language musical of all time has been staged at the original location. The cast will be announced later this year, advance booking opens on 12 October 2018.

BODYGUARD - The Musical will celebrate its Austrian premiere at the 27 September 2018 at the Ronacher.

Andreas Kammerzelt (appearances include JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and LUTHER) is PR agent "Sy Spector". The "Stalker" will be played by Maximilian Ortner.

BODYGUARD - The Musical will celebrate its Austrian premiere at the 27 September 2018 at the Ronacher.

Rachel’s sister "Nicki Marron" is Ana Milva Gomes, who has appeared on various TV shows (including “Dancing Stars”) as well as in musicals at the Raimund Theater and the Ronacher (MOZART!, MAMMA MIA!, SISTER ACT, and many others). Rachel’s manager "Bill Devaney" will be played by the actor Martin Muliar, in his second leading role in a VBW musical after MAMMA MIA! 

BODYGUARD - The Musical will celebrate its Austrian premiere at the 27 September 2018 at the Ronacher.

Soul diva Rachel Marron will be played by the singer, dancer and actress Patricia Meeden, known for her collaboration with Xavier Naidoo in “The Voice of Germany”. Her bodyguard Frank Farmer will be played by the popular actor, presenter and TV star Jo Weil – a hit with audiences in film and TV roles alike (such as “Verbotene Liebe/Forbidden Love”, “Tatort/Crime Scene”, “Alles was zählt/All That Counts”). 

Spectacular choreography, songs from the Grammy-winning film soundtrack, and many other global chart-toppers – sung in English – guarantee the audience an outstanding live experience. The musical’s exciting and emotional storyline and songs like One Moment in Time, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, I Have Nothing, Queen of the Night, The Greatest Love Of All and Saving All My Love will give theatre-goers goose bumps. This unforgettable show is topped off with one of the most moving ballads of all time, I Will Always Love You.

As of the 2022/2023 season, the Norwegian opera director Stefan Herheim will take over as artistic director of the Theater an der Wien. The present artistic director, Roland Geyer, will stay in place at the stagione opera house until Herheim takes over. The artistic director of musicals for the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien (VBW), Christian Struppeck, has had his contract extended for a further five years as of the 2020/21 season.  This appointment reaffirms the VBW’s commitment to an innovative programming concept for its opera house and to continuity within the nationally and internationally successful musicals division.