Drew Sarich News

Heading into the 2022 theatre season, Austria has a wealth of productions that deserve your attention. In this feature, I break down some of the shows that I will definitely be getting tickets to see. From Saigon to Rydell High, a ton of shows to choose from, so go out there and get your tickets before they're gone!

This is the last chance to vote for the 2021 BroadwayWorld Austria Awards! The 2021 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

Time is running out to vote for for the 2021 BroadwayWorld Austria Awards! The 2021 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

Our readers set the nominees, and now voting is open for the 2021 BroadwayWorld Austria Awards! The 2021 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

Our readers set the nominees, and now voting is open for the 2021 BroadwayWorld Austria Awards! The 2021 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

THE SECRET PARTY has landed in Austria. Wolfgang Ebners VINDOBONA transformed into a 1968 Paris Night Club. The One Person Musical revue, written for four Characters is an homage to the Master of Modern Chansons, Jacques Brel. His music inspired millions of people and artists like David Bowie.

The Raimund Theater is open again, more beautiful than ever before. After almost 2 years of refurbishment, the house is ready to welcome back its audience. There might be no better way to open a house with a splendid gala. A journey through the theatre's history from operetta to the golden area of musicals with familiar faces on stage. VBW's very own artistic director, Christian Struppeck, the Master of the house together with Musical Diva Ana Milva Gomes acted as the hosts of the gala. The stage has been home to many great actors from past and present. Many shows have been developed in the house in Viennas 6th district, some of them went down as the greatest musicals in Austrian musical history. Being part of the Reopening from such a historical and magical place is like a once-in-a-lifetime event. Celebrities together with musical theatre lovers followed Struppeck's invitation to the Grand Reopening.

On June 25th and 26th Anet­ta Szabo, Ant­je Koh­ler, Tan­ja Petra­sek, Ste­fan Blei­ber­schnig, and Mar­tin Pasching also known as CulinarICAL ALLSTARS are filling the stage of the VINDOBONA with Musical Meldodies.

Here it is, your catchy tune! Two words, that's all Stephen Sondheim needs. He, Sondheim is a master of lyrics, a composing genius, a living Musical Legend. Nobody apart from him, is able to play and juggling with words to create the most amazing and sometimes horrible to learn, lines in musical theatre. The Volksoper has its own history with Sondheim shows. After A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM and SWEENEY TODD, it is time for Sondheim number three, INTO THE WOODS, directed by Olivier Tambosi and Simon Eichenberger. As mentioned before, it is good to be back in a theatre, and it is safe to be in the auditorium again. (click here to read about the Voksoper Covid 19 prevention concept)

Winners have been announced for the 2020 BroadwayWorld Austria Awards - which were back bigger than ever, celebrating the best in local theatre of the past decade!

Premiering November 19th and available through November 29th on the streaming platform Broadway On Demand, this this carefully curated concert will feature your favorite songs, scenes and never-before-seen archival footage from some of their most beloved productions.

The first ever New Works Virtual Festival will stream video readings of 20 new non-musical scripts (19 plays, 1 teleplay) featuring the work of a diverse group of writers and all-star cast members.

Filming via Zoom has begun for New Works Virtual Festival. From Sunday October 25th to Saturday the 31st, the NWVF will stream video readings of 20 new scripts of non-musical pieces (19 plays, 1 teleplay) featuring the work of a diverse group of writers and all-star cast members. 4 new play scripts have been announced by the team.

From Sunday October 25th to Saturday the 31st, the New Works Virtual Festival will stream video readings of 20 new scripts featuring the work of a diverse group of writers and all-star cast members.

The New Works Virtual Festival, now scheduled to take place from Sunday October 25th to Saturday the 31st, will stream video readings of 20 new scripts featuring the work of a diverse group of writers and all-star cast members.

Of course, it's different but let's hope for the best, it will stay with us from now on. Things have changed, getting into the theater and into your seat might be different but hey, you still get the chance to enjoy live theatre and that's rare these days. Chapeau to the Vienna Volksoper and their team. Their Covid-19 prevent concept made it possible to reopen the house again. SWEET CHARITY, the Musical based on Fellini's movie 'Nights of Cabiria', is telling the story of the taxi dancer Charity Hope Valentine. When you are talking about SWEET CHARITY names like Bob Fosse, Gwen Verdon, Shirley MacLaine are coming to your mind. Fosse created a masterpiece, his choreographies are something unique, and of course something you can't replicate. Director Johannes von Matuschka and his Choreographer Damian Czarnecki decided to create something un-Fosse. When you are used to Rich Mans Frug's Magic and all the Fosse Stuff, you might be disappointed. Nevermind the dance numbers are entertaining bur forget the missing Fosse magic. Enjoy the star of the evening. Austria's very own Lisa Habermann, starring as Charity Hope Valentine is something you can't miss this theatre season, undoubtful a first-class Leading Lady. Habermann is the Charity HOPE Valentine of our time! Charmingly, cheeky, and adorable from the very first minute. Peter Lesiak's performance as Oscar Lindquist brought back memories from the days when Mel Brooks THE PRODUCERS was in town and he was performing his heart out as Leo Bloom. Seems like nothing has changed since then. He is as brilliant as ever. The cast is full of first-class artists like Caroline Frank ( Helene), Julia Koci (Nickie), or Drew Sarich ( Daddy Brubeck) who was dressed as a mash-up from Hedwig and Frank'n Furter a transcendent preacher in a surreal staging. The show lost some of its tempo in Act 2, it felt like slowing down after Drew Sarich's psychedelic performance.

From Sunday October 18th to Saturday the 24th, the first-ever New Works Virtual Festival (NWVF) will stream video readings of 20 new scripts featuring the work of a diverse group of writers and all-star cast members. All proceeds will be donated to the Actors Fund.

Frank Wildhorn and more than sixty members of the Wildhorn Musical family simultaneously world premiered a video featuring 53 singers from 12 countries, representing 17 of his musicals, performing the powerful, “Finding Wonderland,” from the Broadway musical, Wonderland on Friday, July 10th at 9am ET. 

Frank Wildhorn, the American composer, and eighty members of the Wildhorn Musical family will simultaneously world premiere a video featuring 53 singers from 12 countries, representing 17 of his musicals, performing the powerful, 'Finding Wonderland,' from the Broadway Musical, Wonderland. Wildhorn, who has been posting popular 'Living Room Concerts,' brought together stars including Jeremy Jordan, Laura Osnes, Capathia Jenkins, Constantine Maroulis, amongst the cast from across the globe to support The World Health Organization's Covid19 Response Fund (covid19responsefund.org), the only global organization with a reach as wide as that of the cast on the video, while providing a musical love letter to the world at this unprecedented and unpredictable time.