With two musical highlights, today's press conference audience of around 40 guests was perfectly set in the mood for the 33rd DomStufen-Festspiele. Ks. Katja Bildt performed Mary Magdalene's song I Don't Know How to Love Him, while Ks. Máté Sólyom-Nagy performed Herod's Song, accompanied on the piano by Leonie Bulenda.

From 7 to 30 August 2026, Theater Erfurt will once again present Andrew Lloyd Webber’s first major Broadway hit, Jesus Christ Superstar, on the cathedral steps, returning after 21 years. Directed by Peter Lund and featuring stage designs by Hank Irwin Kittel, who is concluding his 24-year tenure as Head of Design at Theater Erfurt with this production, the performance will take audiences on a journey through time, from the historical Christmas story to a televised American church service. Yet one thing remains unchanged over the course of 2,000 years: the message of Jesus continues to be misunderstood, manipulated and misused. "Through seven oversized picture frames, we aim to recount the enduring tale of the marginalisation of minorities throughout the centuries, as it appears we have yet to grasp the concept of loving our neighbours as ourselves — perhaps even less so today than ever before," says director Peter Lund.

"The basic idea for the stage design is inspired by the Stations of the Cross, which depict the Passion journey of Jesus in individual scenes. To this end, we have positioned seven enormous, illuminated picture frames that appear to 'dance' their way up the cathedral steps. Slightly tilted, they embody the various locations along this journey. At the centre stands the Last Supper table, which transforms into the grand show stage. After the break, the frames contain curtains that serve as projection screens, enhancing the overall concept visually. Additionally, a 'stairway to heaven' can be extended for certain scenes, leading up to the arcades,” Kittel explains.

The costumes were designed by Ulrike Reinhard. In keeping with the overall concept, the costumes in this production blend historical and contemporary elements. "For example, the disciples at the Last Supper will be depicted as if in a 15th-century painting, and then again as part of a multicultural, queer, modern community that stands for tolerance, love and peace. Yet even after 2,000 years, this community is still viewed with suspicion, marginalised and persecuted in many parts of the world," says Ulrike Reinhard.

Clemens Fieguth, the musical director who is conducting the DomStufen-Festspiele for the fourth time, is particularly looking forward to the production's great technical and emotional range, combined with the maximum stage presence of the musical guest performers, the soloists from Erfurt, and of course, the opera chorus. "Musically, it will be a real firework display. Webber knows the strengths of the orchestra and band exactly and makes outstanding use of their diverse possibilities and effects,” says Clemens Fieguth.

The choreography is entrusted to none other than Bart De Clercq, a renowned figure in the dance world. Last year, he won the 2025 German Musical Theatre Award in the 'Best Choreography' category for his work on the musical The White Rose at the Festspielhaus Neuschwanstein in Füssen. "Powerful rock music creates space for energetic, contemporary choreography in spectacular, large-scale scenes. Sparks are meant to fly. At the same time, the seriousness of the story calls for a harsher, more radical — and sometimes restrained — movement language in certain moments,” says Bart De Clercq, who was unfortunately unable to attend in person today.

Audio description for blind and visually impaired guests will be offered for the first time on 22 and 25 August 2026. Portable radio receivers will also be available for audience members with hearing impairments.

Don't leave it too long – almost half of the tickets for the 21 performances have already been sold! The DomStufen- Festspiele is an extraordinary event that no culture lover should miss. Such cultural highlights are only possible thanks to the continued support of our sponsors and partners, for whom we are very grateful. Special thanks go to our principal sponsor, Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe Hessen-Thüringen, and its affiliated partners. They have supported the DomStufen-Festspiele since its inception and have traditionally provided their premises for the press conference.

Younger audiences can look forward to the children's production, Der Bärbeiß, based on a book by Annette Pehnt and featuring music by André Kassel. We are delighted that QUNDIS is supporting the production once again, in cooperation with the University of Music Weimar (HfM Weimar). For the first time, the performance venue will move from the Domplatz to the shaded Severiwiese. The grandstand offers 300 unreserved seats with excellent views of the stage across a total of 20 performances.