Follies in the Volksoper: Farewell to shine and memories!

Follies in the Volksoper: Farewell to shine and memories!

The Volksoper in Vienna is currently the scene of musical production "Follies", which attracts numerous visitors on April 13, 2025. The play, which was premiered in 1971, addresses the return of former show girls, who meet 30 years after their fame for a final party in their former theater. Nostalgic reviews of the past are thrown and the characters question their life decisions.

The action takes place in the fictional year 2055 after the theater was demolished after a war and a dictatorial regime. The central character Sally Durant, played by Ruth Brauer-Kvam, comes from Bregenz to the demolition party. This setting not only commemorates the transience of fame, but also addresses aging and accepting time. "Follies" also offers musical highlights beyond history: the characters have individual numbers that stand out from the ensemble pieces.

The creative implementation

director Martin G. Berger, together with a creative team, including stage designer Sarah-Katharina Karl and costume designer Alexander Djurkov Hotter, created an impressive staging. Light and video art by Alex Brok and Vincent Stefan complement the overall picture. In other leading roles, Drew Sarich can be seen as Ben and Bettina Mönch as Phyllis. Side characters like Hattie (Julia Koci), Stella (Stefanie Dietrich) and Carlotta (Sona Macdonald) provide additional emotional depth.

The Volksoper is used as a fictitious scene for the performances, creating a connection between reality and artistic representation. Staging like these illustrate how musicals take up and process cultural issues over the years - a development that has already originated in the beginning of the genre in the late 19th century. The integration of dance, vocals and acting has made the musical a dynamic and complex genre that deals with social trends and also uses technological innovations.

A look into the future of the musical

The future of the musical is characterized by constant change, which is characterized by social developments and technological progress. The audience expects increasingly diverse topics and styles, which stimulates the industry for innovative solutions. According to das-wissen.de , social issues such as equal rights and environmental problems have found its way into the pieces. In addition, technological innovations such as holographic projections, LED walls and interactive elements revolutionize the stage performance.

The performances of "Follies" at the Volksoper take place on several dates, including April 17, 25 and 30 and the 1st, 14th, 17th, 23rd and 27th of May 2025. This gives the opportunity for many to dive into the nostalgic and emotional world of the musicals and to deal with the universal issues of aging and acceptance.

like The Kleine Zeitung not only represents a look back in the past, but also asks about your own life and that to think related decisions. Musicals thus remain an important part of the culture that enables the audience to experience an emotional connection through music and theater.