- "Anatevka" premiere celebrated - most tickets sold
With the musical classic "Anatevka," the current Domstufen-Festspiele in Erfurt are expecting a successful season. 82 percent of the tickets for the performances until August 25th have already been sold, a spokesperson for Theater Erfurt reported. "The advance sales are very pleasing for us." The open-air tribune can accommodate up to 2,100 guests each time. The theater hopes to match the visitor record of the Domstufen-Festspiele in 2022 with 44,500 guests.
The premiere of the play on Friday evening in front of the impressive backdrop of the cathedral and Severikirche was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience, who rose to their feet to clap. Around 100 performers brought the performance to life, with Máté Sölyom-Nagy from the ensemble of the Erfurt Theater playing and singing the lead role of Tevye. The stage set on the steps of the cathedral is dominated by an eight-meter-long overturned milk can - a symbol of a world gone awry.
Rain drama at the second performance
The audience at the second performance on Saturday had less luck with the weather than the premiere guests - they experienced a rain drama, as the theater spokesperson put it. The performance had to be interrupted several times and eventually had to be abandoned about half an hour before the end of the play. "The ensemble tried to show as much as possible."
"If I Were a Rich Man"
The Broadway musical tells the story of Tevye, a Jewish milkman living in a small fictional village called Anatevka in 1905. Songs like "If I Were a Rich Man" are sure to get stuck in your head. The musical explores universal themes such as tradition, family, generational conflicts, tolerance, empathy, and solidarity, as well as the expulsion of Jews and their will to survive in difficult times.
The piece, originally titled "Fiddler on the Roof" and composed by Jerry Bock with lyrics by Joseph Stein, is based on stories by Sholem Aleichem, a Jewish writer from present-day Ukraine.
Connection to Erfurt
The musical fits well thematically in Erfurt: Historical sites of Jewish life in Thuringia's state capital, including the old synagogue, have been part of UNESCO World Heritage for nearly a year.
"Anatevka" was directed in Erfurt by Ulrich Wiggers, with choreography by Kati Heidebrecht. The set design was by Leif-Erik Heine, and the costumes by Jula Reindell. According to the theater, there are a total of 20 planned performances.
The spokesperson reported that the ensemble has prepared several rain scenarios. For example, if necessary, it is possible to restart at certain points in case of interruptions, which also serve to protect singers and dancers on wet steps. If a performance has to be canceled or less than 40 minutes can be played, the audience will receive a refund for their tickets.
Domstufen-Festspiele
The following rain scenarios have been prepared by the ensemble for potential interruptions during the performances of "Anatevka" at the Domstufen-Festspiele. If a performance needs to be canceled or less than 40 minutes can be played, audience members will be refunded for their tickets.
Despite the rain drama at one of the performances, the musical "Anatevka" has remained a significant draw for theater-goers at the Domstufen-Festspiele, with advance sales exceeding expectations.
