| Johann Strauss Theater | |
| City: | Wieden |
| Country: | Austria |
| Coordinates: | 48.1954°N 16.3685°W |
| Mapframe-Marker: | theatre |
| Type: | Theatre |
The Johann Strauss Theater in Wieden, part of Vienna, Austria, was built in 1908 especially for operettas. It had a hall for 1,200 spectators in Baroque Revival style. After many successful world premieres such as Die Csárdásfürstin, played more than 500 times, it was demolished in 1960.
The Johann Strauss Theater was built at 8 in Wieden in 1908 when Viennese operetta was highly successful. The architect built a theatre dedicated to operetta for 1,200 spectators in Baroque Revival style. It was opened on 30 October 1908[1] with 1001 Nacht, an arrangement of Indigo und die vierzig Räuber by Johann Strauss, made after he died.
The world premiere of Emmerich Kálmán's Die Csárdásfürstin in 1915 was followed by more than 500 performances. Alexander Girardi starred in Kálmáns Der Zigeunerprimas, premiered in 1912. In 1925, Lehár's Paganini was first performed. Josephine Baker appeared in her revue Schwarz auf weiß in March 1928.
The theatre faced financial problems due to the Great Depression in 1929 and the growing attraction of sound film. Therefore the architect transformed the house into a cinema for 1,400 people in 1931. Named Scala, it was opened on 30 September 1931. It was also used for Varieté performances.
Between 1948 and 1956, when the dirtict was under Soviet occupation, the hous was used for drama theatre in ambitious staging, such as with Karl Paryla and Therese Giehse in Brecht plays, but the Vienna press ignored them for political reasons.
After Soviet occupation, the house existed only for a short time; the last performance was held on 30 June 1956. It was demolished in 1959/60.
Several operettas were first performed at the theatre: