- The Theatre Erfurt appears content with holding festivals akin to cathedral-level grandeur.
The math checks out: The timeless melody "Anatevka" is drawing a plethora of spectators for the ongoing Domstufen-Festival at the Theater Erfurt. "We're getting fantastic reviews and we're projecting a 99% attendance rate," shared Theater representative Steffi Becker. Tickets for the forthcoming shows through until Sunday are running low. The outdoors arena in front of the Domstufen holds space for 2100 guests every evening.
In contrast, last year's staging of Hector Berlioz's opera "Faust's Damnation" ranked at approximately 65% attendance. The sluggish attendance rates of the outdoor shows the previous season created a deficit of roughly one million euros within the theater's budget.
Thus far, only a single full cancellation
The theater seems to be on the receiving end of some favorable weather this year too. According to Becker, only one performance has been fully called off so far. The performance last Sunday was axed due to the downpour. "It wouldn't have been secure," she stated. Guests were given the option to request a refund for their tickets or pick a new show date.
The musical spin a narrative about Tevye, a Jewish dairy farmer living in the imaginary village of Anatevka, Russia in 1905 alongside his daughters. It delves into themes common to us all such as acceptance, family dynamics, and multigenerational squabbles. "It's an evening full of merriment and wit, but it also leaves the audience pondering," Becker underlined.
The work, initially titled "Fiddler on the Roof" and crafted by Jerry Bock with lyrics from Joseph Stein, is rooted in the stories of Jewish writer Sholem Aleichem originating from Ukraine at present. It went on to achieve global fame with iconic songs like "If I Were a Rich Man."
Despite the excellent attendance, the performance last Sunday was unfortunately canceled due to heavy rain, leaving guests with the option of requesting a refund or rescheduling. The ongoing Domstufen-Festival's successful run also includes a Sunday show, with tickets almost sold out.
