Marie Rötzer has officially taken over as artistic director of the Theater in der Josefstadt in Vienna, launching her tenure with Arthur Schnitzler’s rarely staged Komödie der Verführung. According to reports from the venue and Austrian media, the 59-year-old director succeeds long-time leader Herbert Föttinger, marking a major structural and artistic transition for the institution.
Opening Production and Staging Choices
The premiere of Schnitzler’s Komödie der Verführung received a mixed response from critics, who noted that the three-hour adaptation by Hungarian director Ildiko Gaspar felt drawn out despite interpolations of Emmerich Kálmán’s operetta music from Csardasfürstin. The narrative follows a wealthy pre-World War I society drinking, dancing, and flirting while a looming geopolitical crisis approaches. According to reviews, the production utilized a live-cinema concept that stretched the action across the entire building—from dressing rooms and foyers to hallways and restrooms—with live cameras projecting the footage onto the stage. While the staging leaned heavily on modern multimedia aesthetics, standout performances came from Johanna Mahaffy and musician Flora Lili Matisz, who utilized a loop station and violin melodies to drive the atmosphere.
Historic Leadership Change and Ensemble Shifts
Rötzer’s arrival breaks a tradition as she becomes the first woman to take over the artistic leadership of the house in its over 200-year history. Preceding her was a 20-year tenure under Herbert Föttinger, whose departure followed public scrutiny surrounding workplace culture reports published by Der Standard in 2024. Rötzer, who previously spent a decade leading the Landestheater Niederösterreich, has pledged to build an inclusive environment. According to her statements to the ORF, she is prioritizing an “angstfreier Raum” (fear-free space) backstage and during rehearsals, supported by an expanded code of conduct. Financially, commercial director Stefan Mehrens confirmed that the theater enters the 2026 fiscal year backed by public funding of 12,7 million euros from the City of Vienna and 10,7 million euros from the federal government.
Programming Vision and Ensemble Restructuring
Ahead of her debut, Rötzer restructured the resident acting company, reducing the permanent ensemble from 46 to 36 members. She attributed the reduction to standard turnover during a leadership transition and a lower overall number of performances. The revised roster welcomes new permanent members including Olivia Grigolli, Irem Gökcen, Lili Winderlich, Leonard Dick, and Johanna Martini, alongside guest artists such as Verena Altenberger and Andre Jung. Artistically, Rötzer plans to maintain the Josefstadt’s traditional focus on Austrian literature, actor-driven narrative theater, and contemporary works, balancing heritage with modern aesthetics as the venue enters its next chapter.
