The Theater des Westens (Theatre of the West) is one of the most famous theatres for musicals and operettas in Berlin, Germany, located at Kantstraße [de] 10–12 in Charlottenburg. It was founded in 1895 for plays. The present house was opened in 1896 and dedicated to opera and operetta. Enrico Caruso made his debut in Berlin here, and the Ballets Russes appeared with Anna Pavlova. In the 1930s it was run as the Volkstheater Berlin. After World War II it served as the temporary opera house of Berlin, the Städtische Oper (Municipal Opera). In 1961 it became the first theatre in Germany to show musicals. Since then it has become the "German equivalent of Broadway extravaganzas", putting on plays and musical comedies.[1]
From 1922, the house was again used as an opera house, called "Große Volksoper" (Great People's Opera), under the direction of conductor Leo Blech. Short lived, the opera house closed in 1924.[2] The theatre then showed a mixed program, under frequently changing management. The dancer Mary Wigman and her company were a great success in 1926. Hans Lüppschütz took over, presenting traditional works including Die Fledermaus and Alt Heidelberg along with new productions. He engaged prominent actors, such as Fritzi Massary in Eine Frau von Format (1927) by Michael Krasznay-Krausz [de], Max Adalbert in Das Ekel (1928) and Josephine Baker in Bitte Einsteigen (1928).[6]
The theatre was reopened on 23 December 1934 as the Volksoper with Albert Lortzing's Der Waffenschmied. It presented as part of Kraft durch Freude "leichte Muse" (light entertainment),[2] directed by Karl Jöken and his wife Edith Schollwer. Examples include performances such as Alles für Eva, Junger Wein, Lockende Flamme and So zwitschern die Jungen. It had to be closed after an air raid in 1944.[2]
When the opera was moved to a new building in 1961, the Theater des Westens specialised in operettas and the new musical. The opening and first musical production was Loewe's My Fair Lady on 1 October 1961,[2][3] This first performance of the work in German was conducted by Franz Allers who had already conducted the world premiere, the leading roles were performed by Karin Hübner and Paul Hubschmid.[9]
In 1978, the stage technology was improved. In 1981, a restoration of the interior was begun according to the architectural plans of Bernhard Sehring, the facade was restored in 1988.[2] From 1984, Götz Friedrich was intendant and Helmut Baumann artistic director. They concentrated on musicals and were successful with Guys and Dolls and La Cage aux Folles.[3] In 1988 Friedrich staged Porgy and Bess with an "all black-opera". In a united Germany, the theatre faced strong competition and had difficulties in staging an attractive program.
On 24 September 2002, the Senate of Berlin agreed to sell the theatre to Stage Entertainment, while the ownership of the building itself remained in the city.[10] Renovations which began in January 2003 were estimated to have cost 10 million Euros.[11] On 26 September 2003 the theatre opened again with Les Misérables.[12] Stage Entertainment has no ensemble but presents productions of German and international companies.
Das Charlottenburger Opernhaus von 1912 bis 1961, Dissertation by Detlef Meyer zu Heringsdorf, published by Deutsche Oper Berlin 1988, ISBN3-926412-07-0
Deutsches Bühnen-Jahrbuch, published by the Genossenschaft Deutscher Bühnenangehöriger Verlag: Bühnenschriften-Vetriebs-Gesellschaft
References
^ abSieg, Caroline; Anderson, Christopher J; Anderson, Christopher N. (2 November 2011). Frommer's Germany. John Wiley & Sons. p. 131. ISBN978-1-118-16905-6. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
^"Ballet Histories". Russian ballet History Collection. Kosta, Barbara (2009). Willing Seduction: The Blue Angel, Marlene Dietrich, and Mass Culture. New York: Berghahn Books. pp. 174–175. ISBN978-1-84545-572-9.