Legendary Munich Lach- und Schießgesellschaft is starting anew

Legendary Munich Lach- und Schießgesellschaft is starting anew Article by dpa • 11 hours • 2 minutes reading time André Hartmann, artistic director, speaks at a press conference. After turbulent times, the Munich Lach- und Schießgesellschaft is about to make a fresh start. After turbulent times, the Munich Lach- und Schießgesellschaft is about to make a fresh start. The opening is to be celebrated on Monday, and the first program on the legendary cabaret stage in Schwabing is to be presented on Tuesday. With the new lachundschiessveranstaltungs-gesellschaft, the Munich Lach- und Schießgesellschaft is on solid ground, the organizers announced. They succeeded in acquiring the naming rights and thus securing the name Munich Lach- und Schießgesellschaft, which has stood for sharp-tongued political cabaret for more than half a century - with the name Dieter Hildebrandt at the forefront. Political, socially critical, at a high level The opening is scheduled for Monday, and the first program will be presented on Tuesday on the legendary cabaret stage in Schwabing. The new artistic director, the musical cabaret artist André Hartmann, is focusing on three main areas: political, socially critical, at a high level. That is Hildebrandt's legacy in a nutshell. He does not want to talk about a left-wing stage, but rather he would like those who would like to live in a democracy to come, said Hartmann. The naming rights have been acquired - Dieter Hildebrandt was also part of the ensemble. After several performances in November, things are set to really get going in January 2025 in the "Laden" with almost 80 seats, with two evenings a week starting at 7:56 p.m. - in keeping with the year the cabaret institution was founded in 1956. Present at three venues after a dry spell Ulrich Spandau is the commercial director of the Munich Lach- und Schießgesellschaft. After several performances in November, things are set to really get going in January 2025 with two evenings a week. Performances are also set to continue in parallel in the Silver Hall of the Deutsches Theater with 160 seats - previously an interim venue - and in the Drehleier in Haidhausen. The aim is to be present throughout the city. "This is urgently needed after a long dry spell in which we were written off," said Hartmann. He does not want to change anything about the current ensemble of Christl Sittenauer, Sebastian Fritz and Frank Klötgen, but he does want to give young cabaret artists a chance. Hartmann is also aiming for cooperation with other satire ensembles. On Tuesday, cabaret artist Matthias Deutschmann will perform the program at the first performance. The Lach- und Schießgesellschaft filed for bankruptcy in February 2023. This was preceded by a tough struggle for the future of the stage by the partially feuding former shareholders, including cabaret artist Bruno Jonas. Hartmann will officially take up his voluntary job as the new director at the beginning of November. The traditional house began in 1956 with Hildebrandt, Klaus Havenstein, Hans Jürgen Diedrich, Ursula Herking and director Sammy Drechsel, among others. Despite some crises and changes in the team, the theater became a legend. Hildebrandt in particular was always a guarantee of a full house with his performances. After his death in 2013, it became increasingly difficult to fill the small hall. In the meantime, a sponsoring association called "Laden-Hüter" has been set up, headed by Munich's former mayor Christian Ude. Sponsors will be needed, especially at the beginning, said Hartmann. But they hope to be able to manage without them after a certain time.