The Theater in der Leopoldstadt opened in 1781. It soon became known as the 'Kasperletheater' (Punch-and-Judy-show), named after the performances of La Roche as Punch. For a time, musical comedies were played there (Salieri's Cosa Rara, 1787, which Mozart quoted in Don Giovanni, and Ditters von Dittersdorf Doktor und Apotheker, 1789).

It became famous with its popular Viennese low comedies by Bäuerle, Gleich, Hensler (who was director from 1803/1816), Meisl and others. F. Raimund became an actor at the theater and his first plays were performed there. Under the director Karl Carl, 1838-185)4 (who was also director of the Theater an der Wien from 1825 to l845) the Theater in der Leopoldstadt became again a main attraction for the Viennese audience. The performances featured such popular actors as Carl, Nestroy, Scholz and Treumann, as well as Nestroy's satirical comedies.

When the old building was demolished in 1847, the cast played at the Odeon (Wien 2), the largest dance hail in Vienna at that time. The new Carl-Theater was designed by Van der Nüll and Siccardsburg, later the architects of the Oper am Ring. The new Carl-Theater opened in 1847. After Carl's death in 1854, J. Nestroy took over as director and managed the theater until 1860. During his time Offenbach operettas made their Viennese debut in the Carl- Theater, beginning in 1858. When Nestroy left, the heydays of the Viennese popular comedy had passed. After some interim, the Carl-Theater nade a come-back with operettas for short periods. The theater was finally demolished in 1951.

Reference: Hadamowsky, Franz: Das Theater in der Wiener Leopolds:adt 1781 -1860. Wien 1934. (Kataloge der Theaterversammiung der Naticnalbibliothek in Wien. 3 Bde.)

It superseded the nearby Freihaustheater (1787 - 1801), where many Mozart operas had their first performance, among them the Zauberflöte. Schikaneder, the director, commissioned the Theater an der Wien to be built. It opened in 1801. Beethoven's Fidelio was first performed here and Grillparzer's Ahnfrau as well as Kleist's Käthchen von Heilbronn. Lortzing's, Weber's, and the first Rossini operas were performed here.

Under the direction of Karl Carl (1825 - 1845) the theater became one of the leading popular theaters, with the actors Nestroy and Scholz. Many of Nestroy's plays were performed here. Under Franz Pokorny (1845 - 1850) Flotow's Alessandro Stradella inaugurated the tradition of light operas. The Theater an der Wien became the theater for operettas: from J. Strauss, Millöcker, up to Lehar, Kalman, and Oscar Straus. From 1945 to 1955 the Vienna Opera played here, until the Oper am Ring was rebuilt. Since then, the Theater an der Wien serves as Wiener Festspielhaus for operettas, musicals, and plays.

Reference: Bauer, Anton: 150 Jabre Theater an der Wien. Wien 1952.-Hadaxnowsky, Franz: Das Theater an der Wien. Wien 1962.

Opened in 1788, the Theater in der Josephstadt frequently shared directors (Hensler from 1822-25, Carl from 1825-1828, and then Pokorny from 1837-1848) and casts (Raimund from 1814, W. Scholz and Nestroy) with the other two theaters. The repertoire changed with the directors, ranging with from an emphasis on Italian operas from 1832/1834, and again under Pokorny, to a variety of dramas and comedies at other times.

The old house was demolished in 1822 and the new theater was opened with Beethoven conducting the 'Consecration of the House', composed for this occasion. Later, the composers Kreutzer, Lortzing and Franz von Suppé were engaged at the Theater. Raimund's play Der Verschwender (with Raimund as Valentin) was first performed here in 1834.

From 1899 under Franz Jarno, the repertoire consisted mostly of modern plays. In 1923 Max Reinhardt took over and introduced his intimate Reinhardt style. Outstanding actors played even minor parts. Hofmannsthal's Der Schwierige premiered here in 1924. Since then sophisticated comedies and intimate dramas (Kammerspiele) have characterized the repertoire. The Theater in der Josephstadt today enjoys a reputation of one of the best theaters in Vienna.

Reference: Bauer, Anton: Das Theater in der Josefstadt zu Wien. Wien 1957.