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Reinhardt Seminar: New strong woman at the helm

Dramaturge Alexandra Althoff will be the new director of the Max Reinhardt Seminar.

(Bild: APA/HEINZ HOLZMANN)

The new head of the Max Reinhardt Seminar has been appointed: Alexandra Althoff, Deputy Artistic Director of the Burgtheater until 2022 and currently Chair of the Nestroy Jury, will take over the renowned institute for acting and stage direction on March 1.

Althoff indirectly succeeds Maria Happel, who resigned from her position in June after students raised accusations in an open letter. Since then, Tamara Metelka has been managing the institution on an interim basis.

Panel of experts largely exonerates Happel
The Reinhardt Seminar is affiliated with the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) as an institute. Last November, a panel of experts commissioned by the responsible mdw rector Ulrike Sych to clarify the case, which revolved around abuse of power, failure to deal with MeToo allegations and teaching outside of protected spaces, largely exonerated Happel from the university's point of view.

Maria Happel resigned last June following allegations.

(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

"Ensuring the high quality of education"
"I am delighted to be able to contribute my experience as a dramaturge, theater director and theater maker to the management of the Max Reinhardt Seminar and would like to thank the institute for its broad support," Alexandra Althoff is now quoted as saying in a press release: "In close cooperation with the students, teachers and staff, I would like to ensure the high quality of education at the Max Reinhardt Seminar and exploit the artistic potential of this renowned institution."

I am delighted to be able to contribute my experience as a dramaturge, theater director and theater maker to the management of the Max Reinhardt Seminar and would like to thank the institute for its broad support.

Alexandra Althoff

After studying in Giessen, Leipzig and Amsterdam, German-born Alexandra Althoff worked as a dramaturge at Schauspiel Köln, Schauspielhaus Bochum and Schauspiel Frankfurt, but was also engaged by the Salzburg Festival, the Residenztheater Munich and the Berliner Ensemble. From 2019 to 2022, she was Deputy Artistic Director at the Burgtheater under Director Martin Kušej. Since the 2022/23 season, she has chaired the jury for the Nestroy Prize. She worked as a lecturer at the Reinhardt Seminar from 2013 to 2018 and was appointed Senior Artist last year.

Steffen Jäger becomes deputy
In her new role as director, Althoff will be supported by a deputy director, Steffen Jäger. Jäger worked as a lecturer at the Reinhardt Seminar from 2012 to 2021, teaching the basics of role design, and took over a professorship for ensemble work/role design in 2023.