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Kasperl and Pezi: Golden honors for Vienna's puppet stars!
On September 18, 2023, Kasperl and Pezi were awarded the Golden Town Hall Man in the Vienna City Hall for their 75th anniversary.
Kasperl and Pezi: Golden honors for Vienna's puppet stars!
A remarkable moment for culture was celebrated in the heart of Vienna on September 18, 2023. Kasperl and Pezi, the two most famous puppets in Vienna, were awarded the Golden Town Hall Man in the City Senate Hall of the Vienna City Hall. This honorable event took place on the occasion of their 75th anniversary, and what was special about it: For the first time, not people but dolls were honored, like meinkreis.at reported.
Mayor Michael Ludwig, himself a big fan of the two characters, gave a moving speech in which he emphasized the importance of Kasperl and Pezi for Viennese culture. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen also took part with a greeting. The ceremonial speech by Franz Schuh, a renowned Austrian writer, was chosen, whose eulogy brought people to the stage and thrilled the audience. The mayor's speech was rounded off with the joyful words “Krawuzi Kapuzi”, which brought smiles to the audience, as did the The press reported.
Puppet shows in Vienna – a tradition
Puppetry has a long history in Vienna. The Urania Puppet Theater, which was founded in 1949 by Hans Kraus and Marianne Plössl, looks back on a venerable past. The performances initially took place in the “Zum Rochuskeller” guesthouse until they moved to the Urania in Vienna in 1950, where they are still an integral part of cultural life today. The first television show with Kasperl and Pezi was broadcast in 1955 and they have enjoyed amazing popularity ever since.
The characters Kasperl and Pezi have an incredible utilization of 120 percent. This is made possible primarily through the sale of castle tickets, which enable children to sit on adults' laps and experience the puppet show up close. Every year, more than 50,000 Viennese attend the performances, which have brought great joy to young and old for generations austria-forum.org.
The future of puppet theater
After the founders, Manfred Müller took over the management of the puppet theater in 2000, followed by André Heller, who took over the direction in 2018. Alexandra Filla has been the principal since 2019 and, with Florian-Raphael Schwarz as Kasperl, brings a breath of fresh air to the traditional institution. The two puppeteers represent not only the art of puppetry, but also the heart and soul of character representation, making the theater the premier destination for popular entertainment for many.
The first big birthday party for Kasperl and Pezi will also take place on September 20, 2023 in the Urania. Not only is the venerable anniversary celebrated here, but it is also a sign that good stories and puppetry are still very popular.