Tickets for Maria Theresa

Tickets for the musical Maria Theresa are available in Austria through the official event partner, blueticket.at. Immerse yourself in imperial Vienna! Book tickets for the visually stunning Maria Theresa musical and experience Austrian history up close. All dates here!

A tribute to the Empress at the Ronacher

Vienna, the city of the Habsburgs and great musicals, is creating a modern and opulent tribute to one of its most important figures: Maria Theresa. With this original production by Vereinigte Bühnen Wien (VBW) at the Ronacher Theater, the life of the only female ruler of the Habsburg Monarchy is brought to the stage as an epic musical.

It's a captivating blend of timeless history and contemporary staging, recounting power, passion, and historical change through powerful music and compelling lyrics.

The Ronacher stage: Intrigue, reforms, and a powerful woman

The musical at the Ronacher portrays Maria Theresa (1717–1780) not only as a ruler, strategist, and mother of 16 children, but also as a woman who redefined the rules of politics in a male-dominated world.

The production focuses on the turbulent years of her reign, which she began in 1740 as a young and inexperienced monarch after the death of her father, Charles VI. The show illuminates how she defended her legacy against all odds—from court intrigues to armed conflicts with Frederick II of Prussia.

Audiences experience the dramatic moments of her reign, during which she:

• Enforced the Pragmatic Sanction, which secured her succession to the throne.
• Introduced sweeping reforms in administration, the military, education, and social policy.
• Leaded her country through wars and crises with strategic foresight, combining familial care with political acumen.

The Maria Theresa musical at the Ronacher is therefore not just a history lesson, but a captivating theatrical experience about courage, vision, and the unwavering strength of a pioneer.

The historical figure: Empress Maria Theresa

Maria Theresa of Austria was the only woman from the Habsburg dynasty to rule as Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Bohemia and Hungary. She was not Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, as this office was reserved for men, but she held the title of Roman-German Empress through her husband, Francis I Stephen (from 1745), and was always popularly referred to as Empress.

Her 40-year reign (1740–1780) marks an era of enlightened absolutism and the rise of the Habsburg Monarchy to a major European power.

Maria Theresa's reforms: She fundamentally modernized the state, introduced a centralized administration, and improved the school system (introducing compulsory education) and the legal system.

Personal details about the Empress: Her marriage to Francis Stephen was a love match, which was unusual for the time. Her death in 1780 left a great void and led to the sole rule of her son, Joseph II.

To this day, she is considered one of Austria's most important and popular rulers.

Following in Maria Theresa's Footsteps: Statues and Sights in Vienna

Vienna is still rich in artifacts and monuments that commemorate the great monarch. Visiting these locations enhances the musical experience:

The Maria Theresa Monument

Where: Maria Theresa Square in the 1st district, between the Museum of Art History and the Museum of Natural History.

Significance of the Monument: This monumental memorial, unveiled in 1888, is the largest and most important monument of the Habsburg Monarchy. It depicts the enthroned Empress, surrounded by prominent figures of her time (statesmen, military leaders, and artists such as Mozart and Haydn).

Schönbrunn Palace

Significance: The palace was Maria Theresa's summer residence and the setting for many family and political events. She received the palace from her father and had it expanded to its present form. Many rooms are still preserved in the style of their time and offer insights into her life.

The Imperial Crypt

Where: Beneath the Capuchin Church on Neuer Markt (New Market).

Significance: This is the Imperial Crypt, the traditional burial place of the Habsburgs. Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis Stephen, rest in a magnificent double sarcophagus by Balthasar Ferdinand Moll, one of the most beautiful in the crypt.

The Hofburg Palace

Significance: The Hofburg Palace was the winter residence of the imperial family. Even though Maria Theresa only resided there temporarily, the buildings and the associated institutions (such as the Spanish Riding School) are inextricably linked to the imperial family.