The 20-year anniversary tour

Personal, close, and hilariously grooving - an evening with Michael Krebs is an event. The gifted songwriter and comedian has been on stage for 20 years now. To celebrate this milestone, he is currently on a grand anniversary tour. Michael Krebs promises to deliver a rousing evening on stage, packed with many of his hits and uproarious stories. Of course, there will also be new songs. After all, the evening is called "More Must Come" and not "It's enough." And because the Swabian exile loves interacting with the audience and improvisation, each evening will be unique. Already during his music studies in Hamburg, Michael Krebs was the class clown. However, the songwriter only learned that music and irony are his personal dream team on stage. On extensive tours in the German-speaking region, he gained a reputation for being an inspiring live artist. Over the years, he has developed significantly both musically and thematically. From the playful comedy of the early years, much more depth has emerged, and his thematic spectrum has expanded into sociopolitical realms. His stylistic willingness to experiment led him from appearances at the Wacken Open Air, Nightwash, the 3sat Festival, to support shows for Alligatoah and Alfred Biolek. Alongside Marc-Uwe Kling and Julius Fischer, he founded the "Arbeitsgruppe Zukunft" (Future Working Group). Krebs has released numerous albums solo and with his band, the "Pommesgabeln des Teufels" (Devil's Forks), and has won over 20 comedy, cabaret, and music awards. In 2023, he was nominated for the German Music Authors' Prize.

Foyer and bar open at 6:00 PM. Entrance to the hall from 6:30 PM.

Dive into the “Anatomy of Happiness”

Human happiness is closely related to the body. How closely is revealed by the KÖRPERWELTEN permanent exhibition in Heidelberg. Here, the anatomist Gunther von Hagens developed the method of plastination at the University of Heidelberg, a groundbreaking technique for preserving bodies.

Today, KÖRPERWELTEN is one of the most popular exhibitions in the world. Curious people around the globe explore the mysteries of human existence. But it is not just the anatomy of the body that is central – rather, it is about raising awareness and understanding the significance of the body in relation to one's own happiness. The exhibited plastinates create a new awareness for a responsible approach to one's own body and a healthy lifestyle. What moves us? What drives us? And how does happiness actually work? All these questions and many more are answered in the “Anatomy of Happiness” and just as many are raised anew. The human body never ceases to amaze and inspire us.

Last admission: 5:00 PM

Danny and Helen's romantic dinner is interrupted when Helen's brother Liam bursts into the room covered in blood. Not his blood, he says. A boy has been stabbed on the street, and Liam just helped him. Danny wants to call the police. Helen stops him, as Liam has a criminal record, it's better not to draw attention to him. Danny is persuaded to protect his brother-in-law and doesn't realize the fatal tangle of half-truths, lies, and love he is getting involved in.

In a chamber play, "Orphans" raises societal questions about guilt, responsibility, and civic courage, revealing how quickly values like morality and helpfulness are discarded once personal interests and entanglements take precedence.

Musical-Magics - "It´s Showtime"

Under this motto, the most successful musical gala in the region is embarking on its 22nd tour. As every year, the show presents the world of musicals in all its facets. In addition to the most famous musical songs from "The Phantom of the Opera," "Tanz der Vampire," "Wicked," "The Lion King," and more, the new program will feature songs from newer productions such as "Moulin Rouge," "Robin Hood," "Tina - The Tina Turner Musical," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Abenteuerland - The Pur Musical," to be heard and, above all, seen.

Timeless musical classics and current productions united in a breathtaking show. That is the secret of success of Musical Magics. Wonderful costumes and the unique sound of the seven-piece LIVE band, along with the excellent performers, will make the hearts of musical fans soar. Lively rock and pop numbers invite participation, emotional ballads lead to swooning, and dramatic melodies evoke deep feelings.

Musical Magics lets the audience participate in the most moving scenes of musical history and guarantees an unforgettable evening for young and old alike this season as well. With an entertaining and humorous charismatic host guiding through the varied program, your very own favorite piece is sure to be included.

Treat yourself to a break from everyday life and experience extraordinary Musical-Magics moments. Musical-Magics promises a show that will excite you and have you talking about it for a long time to come. Be there when it's time to say: Curtain up! It's Showtime!

Michael Thinnes and his team are looking forward to seeing you!

Doors open: 6:30 PM

International Accordion Festival

Sound poetry with air pressure and airflow - Innovative, intoxicating, and refreshingly different - the Accordionale is a tribute to a beloved but often underestimated instrument.

Here, the accordion shows all its charm, temperament, and spirit as a soloist or a portable orchestra on a strap.

Since 2009, the Dutchman Servais Haanen has been gathering musicians from various countries every year to create a surprising ensemble mix across all styles. This year's program includes:

Island sounds from wild Sardinia with Organetto and Launeddas, classical-contemporary treasures, Scottish high-speed folk, heavenly directions, and Dutch sound aesthetics, unconventional cello, and a moderation with cult status.
Pulsating alternations of solo and ensemble pieces and exciting interactions between the musicians are at the heart of every Accordionale.
As different as the personalities, cultural backgrounds, and playing styles may be - the common language of music creates a lively communication that does not care about borders and separations.
Improvisational talent, spontaneity, and the joy of playing together connect the musical wealth of individuals in the ensemble into something new, something that has not been heard before.

Entrance at 7:30 PM

Experience the hits of the incomparable Swedish cult band ABBA,
one of the most successful bands of all time with around 400 million records sold!

Accompanied by an exquisite multi-course menu, we will take you back to the time of
bell-bottoms and platform shoes.

In authentic costumes, our artists bring back the disco era with hits like "Dancing Queen"
and "Mamma Mia", among others.

Become part of an unforgettable evening, up close with Anni-Frid, Björn, Benni, and Agnetha,
and embark on a journey into the musical world of ABBA.

Doors open at 6:30 PM.

by Dlé | Premiere

Ladies and gentlemen, step right up for the father of Europe, the Karl of all Karls, the most famous Aachener and mythical ruler! From the pen of the trio Dlé comes a rap spectacle that sheds new light on the legends, anecdotes, and theories about the Frankish king, all wrapped up in rich beats and cheeky verses.

"Head over heels, Carolina Braun, Jonas Dumke, Tim Knapper, Stefanie Rösner, and Philipp Manuel Rothkopf dive into the emperor's not always noble attire, five magnificent artists on stage juggling world history until the lively audience following along in rap almost gets dizzy." Aachener Zeitung

JIM BUTTON AND LUKE THE ENGINE DRIVER
The enchanting family musical based on the novel by Michael Ende
By Christian Berg and Konstantin Wecker

Everyone knows Michael Ende's loving, exciting story of Jim Button and Luke the engine driver, the lovable residents of the island of Lummerland, ruled by King Alfons the Quarter to Twelve. The "Augsburger Puppenkiste" immortalized this children's book classic with its magical production.

The musical version of this wonderful story of friendship has been popular for over 20 years, celebrating its premiere in 1999 and delighting around two million small and big visitors. Successful author Christian Berg and singer-songwriter legend Konstantin Wecker have created an equally thrilling and sensitive musical based on Michael Ende's novel, with memorable, atmospheric melodies, clever dialogues, and child-friendly humor. Ten excellent, sophisticated children's songs to sing along with were specially written for this piece.

The idyllic life on the "Island of Two Mountains" Lummerland is disrupted when the postman mistakenly delivers a package containing a black baby. The orphaned child, named Jim by Luke the engine driver, is raised by the shopkeeper Mrs. Waas. The problem: when Jim Button grows up, he must build a house - there is no space left on the tiny island. To avert the looming overpopulation, King Alfons the Quarter to Twelve decides that the likable locomotive Emma must be abolished.

Since Luke the engine driver cannot part with his Emma, he reluctantly decides to leave Lummerland with Emma. Jim Button, on the other hand, does not want to leave Luke and decides to accompany his friend. On their journey, they experience the most thrilling adventures, meet unusual creatures like the illusionistic giant Mr. Tur Tur, and save the princess of China, Li-Si, from the clutches of the terrible dragon teacher Mrs. Mahlzahn. In the end, a solution is found for their return to Lummerland.

Children and adults - everyone is invited to participate! The production's long-standing success is surely due in part to the fact that the special effects do not come from a box of technical wonders, but are created by the audience. The viewers become the rain, the sea, the mirage, the background choir, and much more. Both young and old children, parents and grandparents - all are encouraged to participate and in one way or another are integrated into the action, taking home not only the realization that nothing beats true friendship but also some catchy tunes.

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Discounts available for children aged 4 to 14 and groups of 10 or more people.

Children up to and including 3 years of age have free admission without a seat.

Doors open at 4:00 PM.

Welcome to the realm of knowledge in the Baroque era: Stepping onto creaking floorboards into the quiet grandeur of our historical library hall, one is immediately enveloped by the collective knowledge of the Early Modern period. Like stage sets in a Baroque theater, the original bookshelves jut into the space, housing around 50,000 books from all fields of knowledge. Behind unassuming book spines lie remarkable treasures, such as the first German Bible printed in America.

At the end of the 17th century, the orphanage's library was established as one of the first public libraries in Germany. Primarily through donations, book exchanges, and their own publications, the library grew so rapidly that within a few years, it was comparable to significant German university libraries. In 1728, it received its own building, which is considered the oldest surviving secular library structure in Germany. Not only in recent times has the library been visited by guests and researchers from around the world: Albrecht von Haller, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe all admired its bibliophilic treasures. We present a selection of them for you in rotating cabinet exhibitions in the former reading room of the library.

10 am - 5 pm

The Art and Natural History Chamber is considered the oldest German museum room. It was established by August Hermann Francke for educational purposes and is now once again set up according to the original museum concept of the 18th century in its historical location in the attic of the Historical Orphanage.

Eighteen richly decorated collection cabinets house approximately 3000 natural specimens, curiosities, and artifacts. They provide a unique impression of a Baroque cabinet of curiosities. Unlike modern museums, the chamber follows an encyclopedic collecting approach. A distinction is made between natural specimens and artifacts. The natural specimens are divided into rocks, plants, and animals, while the artifacts are categorized into visual arts, calligraphy, coins, everyday culture, and clothing. The goal was to create a mirror image of the world: a microcosm that made the macrocosm as the wonderful creation of God tangible.

In a series of events, art projects take place around the Art and Natural History Chamber. In the so-called "Contemporary Reflections on the Art and Natural History Chamber," foundations invite artists to engage in an artistic dialogue with the chamber.

Detailed information

Tue-Sun 10am-5pm

Palace-like, the orphanage rises on Franckeplatz. Then as now, it is the centerpiece of the Francke Foundations. Erected in 1698 as the first building of the school city, it represents a new facet of European Baroque, combining confident representation without extravagant ornamentation and setting the tone for orphanage architecture.

Today, the orphanage is our museum and cultural center. Right from the start, two permanent exhibitions guide you through the history of the foundation and the global impact of Pietism. On the first floor, the former prayer and singing hall surprises with its bright architecture. Today, it enjoys an excellent reputation as a concert hall due to its fantastic acoustics. In the adjacent conference rooms, a photo exhibition showcases the impressive renovation work since the foundations were reestablished in 1991. The second floor is reserved for our changing special exhibitions, which provide insight into important themes of the foundation's history from both a historical and contemporary perspective. Passing through the art and natural history collections in the attic, you reach the balcony via a narrow wooden staircase. Here, a wide view opens up over the impressive ensemble with school buildings from three centuries. There is also a splendid panorama of the Old Town of Halle from here. In the basement, children can explore their own paths in the Krokoseum.

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

What power does the word have? For Halleschen Pietismus, the word was of central importance. On the ground floor of the Historical Orphanage, we show you how August Hermann Francke's reform movement could spread around the world.

Francke developed central reformative goals of Martin Luther's with Halleschen Pietismus. His approach was as clear as it was revolutionary: Every person should find God through their own Bible reading. However, for this to happen, everyone - boys and girls alike - had to learn to read, everyone should be able to afford their own Bible and it should be printed in their own native language. Therefore, Francke established schools for all social classes, printed millions of German-language People's Bibles, and created an international network through which the Bible was translated into many other languages. His educational initiative allowed a broad population to engage with the word. In the 18th-century evangelical parsonages, the authors of the Romantic and Enlightenment periods were highly regarded. A culture of self-reflection spread in Pietism, which was reflected in diaries and personal testimonies, giving us remarkable insights into the spiritual life of people of that time. Symbolically, the power of the word is also evident in the meticulously restored pulpit from the Church of St. Ulrich in Halle, where Francke preached from 1715 and which you can admire in the exhibition.

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

4 talers and 16 groschen are considered the founding capital of the Francke Foundations. How an unparalleled school city grew from this unexpected donation to a simple pastor in Glaucha can be discovered on the ground floor of the Historical Orphanage. A multimedia installation and numerous extraordinary objects will transport you into the fascinating founding and impact history of Francke's work. Because what began with a school for the poor and an orphanage, developed in a few decades into a true reform project that was based on education: Over 2,000 students learned in various schools, specially constructed economic buildings, a hospital, and a pharmacy guaranteed the care of over 3,000 people on the premises, unique cultural-historical collections in the library and chamber of wonders were established, and Francke's ideas were spread within and outside Europe. August Hermann Francke wanted nothing less than a "world change through personal change." Discover everything he set in motion through this.

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday, 16.05.2025, 8:00 p.m.

The Pubertier - Comedy

They were sweet. They were cute. Every baby tooth was celebrated as a milestone. But at some point, children morph from cheerful, curious, and nice-looking girls and boys into grumpy, sullen, and hysterical pubescents. Rosy child faces turn into pimple plantations. Noses, legs, and backsides grow at an alarming pace, voices sound like out-of-tune bagpipes. And communication becomes impossible anyway when the brain is temporarily closed due to renovation.

Pubescents prefer poorly ventilated rooms where garbage piles up. The female pubescent stands out through excessive consumption, unintelligible monologues, and multiple complaints, while the male pubescent impresses with fascinating insights on topics such as girls, the environment, and politics as well as enduring enthusiasm for inedible food and peculiar music. They grow like bamboo and sport hairstyles that urgently want to tell us something. But what?

Yet there is a good core. Somewhere in the pubescent lies an adult being full of reason and kindness. One just has to be patient until it has wriggled through mountains of clothes and empty pudding cups to see the light of day.

Look forward to a comedy based on the novel by Jan Weiler. The stories from his bestsellers are now finding their way to the stage of the Brunnentheater.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m.

Champagne reception from 7 PM

The Criminal Dinner 'Alpine Crime' - a delicious 3-course meal in a stylish ambiance framed by an exciting criminal case, taking place at RESTAURANT AMAZONICA (WILHELMA STUTTGART).

'Alpine Crime'
Hüttentoni, your host, is shocked and somewhat puzzled. How could this happen? Why? And who was it? Besides you, only a handful of personalities from the valley have gathered for a summit meeting here at the hut. Since a sudden change in weather in the mountains is not unusual, it happens as it must: Hüttentoni himself will have to solve this treacherous murder with you, the guests of tonight's evening, because with this snowstorm that came out of nowhere, the murder investigation team cannot land by helicopter in the mountains. Luckily, this also means there is no escape for the murderer from the crime scene. Or is there still a possibility of another crime?

The 3-course meal will be served by the gastronomy team at RESTAURANT AMAZONICA (WILHELMA STUTTGART). The Crime Dinner will open at 7:00 pm, promising thrills for both nerves and taste buds. Entry is at 6:30 pm.

Entry: 6:30 pm / Course meal and play are included in the price / Table and seat assignments will be made on-site

We all access the internet daily through web browsers. The question of how browsers determine what we experience online has fascinated artists early on. Based on a research project by the KIT Institute for Art and Architectural History on browser art, the exhibition »Choose Your Filter!« provides insights into 30 years of browser development. Here, you can discover and try out browser visions through interactive installations. 

Wed to Fri from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Sat and Sun 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM