Raimund Theater

The musical ICH WAR NOCH NIEMALS IN NEW YORK - (book by Gabriel Barylli/ Co-author: Christian Struppeck) based on an idea by Hera Lind' is a story of longings, dreams and the search for fulfilment in life. The central protagonist is Lisa Wartberg, a successful television presenter. Her career plans keep her fully occupied and as a result she neglects her mother Maria. The fun-loving old woman feels left out in the cold and decides on the spur of the moment to marry her new flame Otto Staudach under the Statue of Liberty in New York. The couple secretly board a liner.

While trying to detain her mother, Lisa meets Axel Staudach and his son Florian, who, like Lisa, is trying to prevent his parent from leaving. Once they are out at sea a tempestuous tale of mix-ups and realisations about one's self unfolds.

The musical ICH WAR NOCH NIEMALS IN NEW YORK stirs a longing for distant places and whisks the audience away on a light-hearted and romantic sea cruise. Incorporating the hits of Udo Jürgens such as "Aber bitte mit Sahne", "Mit 66 Jahren", "Vielen Dank für die Blumen" and "Ich war noch niemals in New York" this swinging musical boasts top-class show elements. Whereas Christian Struppeck and Glenn Casale directed the Hamburg premiere, Carline Brouwer takes on the task for the VBW version. The choreography will be placed in the capable hands of Kim Duddy, as it was in Hamburg.

An international leading team took four years preparing to put the production's maritime flair and the glamour of Broadway on the stage of the Hamburg Operetta House. Now, preparations are in full swing in Vienna to clear the decks of the cruise liner for action at the Raimund Theater. Set designer David Gallo lures us on deck and into the honeymoon suite of a luxury steamer. The brightly-coloured costumes by Yan Tax complete the illusion of a luxury cruise: sailors dance in front of the bow of a ship, passengers stroll along an endless deck or order a cake, that, in keeping with the song "Aber bitte mit Sahne", is served with cream on a large sundeck below the bridge.

Rehearsals for this captivating and highly amusing adventure in the middle of the Atlantic begin on 18th January, 2010. Construction of the stage set and production of the costumes in all have already started in the workshops of the VBW. The auditions have already taken place and the cast will be presented at the beginning of December in the Raimund Theater.