The program includes six productions with dance, theater and music. There will also be three events in November as part of THEATERnachSOMMER. The organizers presented this year's festival programme on the premises of OIE AG.
Andreas Berg has been Ulrich Gagneur's successor on the OIE Board since July 1, 2023. He welcomed the guests and pointed out that he himself has been active in an amateur theater for several years. "In this respect, I am very much looking forward to the THEATERSOMMER. It is an important cultural festival that inspires people in the region and beyond." He is also delighted that OIE AG has been supporting THEATERSOMMER for more than 20 years and is naturally happy to do so again this season.
Lord Mayor Frank Frühauf emphasized that the THEATERSOMMER is continuing a good tradition, as the festival is the highlight of the city's cultural program. "I am therefore delighted that the team from the Department of Culture, led by our cultural officer Annette Strohm, is once again putting on such a great program this year." He thanked the sponsors - in addition to OIE AG, these are Kreissparkasse Birkenfeld, Effgen Schleiftechnik, the Bürkle Foundation and the state of Rhineland-Palatinate - as well as the cooperation partners for their commitment. "The sponsors' support ensures that the admission prices remain moderate."
Annette Strohm, Head of Cultural Affairs, presented the individual productions. "After the dry spell of the coronavirus pandemic - during which the THEATERSOMMER still took place - this year's festival is 'light on its feet' with lots of music."
At the opening on Saturday, August 12, 2023, visitors can ask themselves the question: What would the 1920s sound like today? The answer is provided by Goldmeister and their band: they mix German hip-hop classics with the swing of the 1920s in Gatsby style on the stage at the Historische Weiherschleife.
In cooperation with the Blue Note association, a musical matinee with the Bluespapas will take place at Schloss Oberstein. Three accomplished blues musicians, including Idar-Oberstein native Bernd "Snoopy" Simon, will bring the blues in all its different facets to the stage with their concentrated stage experience and great enthusiasm.
The Sebastian Weber Dance Company invites everyone to a free dance mob on Christuskirchplatz in Oberstein. Company director Sebastian Weber practises simple choreographies from the award-winning piece 'Cowboys' with the participants, which are then danced to live music. "A dance concert for everyone who wants to join in. The great music of the Werner Neumann Electric Trio alone is worth going to," emphasized Annette Strohm.
The music program is rounded off by the Matti Klein Soul Trio and Max Mutzke. Whether rock, pop, soul or funk - Max Mutzke has numerous musical facets. And the soul trio's groove jazz offers plenty of addictive potential. When the four musicians perform together at the Historische Weiherschleife, the audience can look forward to a rousing concert experience.
The NN Theater is once again a guest in the theater part. At the Weiherschleife, the ensemble presents the play 'Molière - Drama, Dirt and Don Juan'. True to Molière's motto: "The task of comedy is to make people better by amusing them", NN presents a lively, humorous and touching play with live music as usual.
Finally, an unprecedented Schinderhannes musical will be performed at the Idar-Oberstein fair. The story of Schinderhannes is freely told, but is based on historical events. The cult band 'Die Crackers' and comedian Sven Hieronymus are among those guaranteeing a unique evening. The event is organized in cooperation with the Herrstein-Rhaunen National Park Association.
"In order not to overload the summer with events, several of the productions have been taking place as THEATERnachSOMMER in the fall for the past few years," explained cultural officer Strohm. That's why a concert with members of the band Mnozil Brass, a show beyond gravity and a concert by the Rheinische Philharmonie are still on the program in November.
The THEATERSOMMER program
- Saturday, August 12, 2023, 8 p.m. at the Historic Weiherschleife: 'Welcome to the Twenties' concert with Goldmeister and the Ragtime Bandits
- Sunday, August 13, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Oberstein Castle: Matinee with the Bluespapas
- Saturday, August 19, 2023, at 8 pm on Christuskirchplatz: Cowboy Concert Dance-Mob with the Sebastian Weber Dance Company and the Werner Neumann Electric Trio
- Friday, August 25, 2023, at 8 pm at the Historische Weiherschleife: 'Molière - Drama, Dirt and Don Juan' with the NN Theater
- Friday, September 1, 2023, at 8 pm at the Historische Weiherschleife: Concert with Matti Klein Soul Trio and Max Mutzke
- Saturday, September 2, 2023, at 8 pm at the Idar-Oberstein Exhibition Center: 'Schinderhannes - wild & free', 21 wild years - a musical in 23 pictures
- All information about THEATERSOMMER can be found at www.kultur.io. Tickets are available at www.ticket-regional.de and the associated advance booking offices. Holders of the Volunteer Card and the OIE Card as well as theater subscribers receive a 10 percent discount.