Name: Everyman – A Musical about Learning to Die
Start: 2026-06-21T21:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-06-21T21:30:00+02:00
Location: Hof der Alvensleben-Kaserne

Everyman in the courtyard of Alvensleben Barracks: Musical theater about glory, faith, and the final judgment

In summer 2026, the Staatstheater Cottbus will bring Hugo von Hofmannsthal's work to the open-air stage in a musical adaptation: Everyman – A Musical about Learning to Die combines the weight of the classic mystery play with the present of musical theater. The premiere is scheduled for Friday, June 19, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the courtyard of Alvensleben Barracks; the next performance will follow on Sunday, June 21, 2026. ([m.staatstheater-cottbus.de](https://m.staatstheater-cottbus.de/de/programm/repertoire/artikel-jedermann.html))

A classic that shines anew in the open air

The Cottbus version places the rich man, who hits his limits with money, relationships, and possessions, in a present that dissects every facade of security. The material is based on an English mystery play, premiered in Berlin in 1911, and has been firmly established in Salzburg since 1920; Peter Lund and Wolfgang Böhmer linguistically and musically adapt the story to the present time, without losing the philosophical core. ([m.staatstheater-cottbus.de](https://m.staatstheater-cottbus.de/de/programm/repertoire/artikel-jedermann.html))

Musical dramaturgy between pathos and irony

Wolfgang Böhmer and Peter Lund have developed a form from the old morality play that lies between opera, musical, and rock opera; the musical lexicon describes the music as stylistically open, with echoes of oratorio, musical comedy, and popular sound colors. This very contrast provides the friction for the production: Life sounds vibrant before it collapses in the face of finitude. ([wolfgangboehmer.com](https://www.wolfgangboehmer.com/komposition/oper-musiktheater/jedermann-2014/?utm_source=openai))

Open-air theater with a special atmosphere

House director Tomo Sugao stages the piece in the courtyard of Alvensleben Barracks as an open-air spectacle and the season's grand finale. The location itself is part of the effect: Since 2009, summer theater has been performed here; the former drill ground is now a green theater landscape with 350 seats. The courtyard opens one hour before the performance begins, and catering is provided. In case of adverse weather conditions, a decision will be made on-site; a break of up to 15 minutes is possible. ([m.staatstheater-cottbus.de](https://m.staatstheater-cottbus.de/de/programm/repertoire/artikel-jedermann.html))

Accessibility and practical information

The summer theater area is suitable for wheelchairs, and there is a hearing loop available. For visits, the Staatstheater recommends prior registration by email or phone. The performances start at 7:30 PM, with entrance via Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 38 in 03046 Cottbus. ([m.staatstheater-cottbus.de](https://m.staatstheater-cottbus.de/de/programm/repertoire/artikel-jedermann.html))

What visitors can expect

Anyone attending this theater evening will experience an intense stage experience between existential escalation and musical power. Here, acting, choral singing, allegory, and summer theater atmosphere come together. This is precisely where the strength of this evening lies: Everyman not only shows the fall of a rich man, but the moment when theater becomes a mirror of one’s own life. Experienced live, this performance reveals its full power. ([m.staatstheater-cottbus.de](https://m.staatstheater-cottbus.de/de/programm/repertoire/artikel-jedermann.html))