Ronacher, Theatre venue in Innere Stadt, Vienna, Austria

The Ronacher is a theatre between Himmelpfortgasse, Seilerstätte and Schellinggasse in Vienna's 1st district. Its reddish-brown stone facade carries columns, statues and carved detail, with "RONACHER" lettering on the curved corner and a glass structure on top. Ferdinand Fellner the Younger rebuilt it from May 1887 to April 1888 as a concert and ball house; the main staircase uses steps from the Kaisersteinbruch quarry.

The Wiener Stadttheater opened on 15 September 1872 with Schiller's Demetrius, staged for a private company founded by journalist Max Friedländer and theatre director Heinrich Laube. After the fire of 16 May 1884, fire regulations barred rebuilding it as a playhouse. Anton Ronacher bought the ruin in 1886 and had Ferdinand Fellner the Younger build a concert and ball house from May 1887 to April 1888.

Anton Ronacher took over the burnt-out house in 1886 and reopened it in 1888 as a concert and ball house with tables and chairs instead of theatre rows; guests could drink, eat and smoke during performances. From 1890, variety artists drew a suburban audience and pushed the aristocracy away. The building later housed a ballroom and a hotel, and from 1928 the RAVAG radio station broadcast music programmes from converted rooms.

When visiting, keep in mind that the theater is an active performance venue, so opening hours vary depending on what is being staged. It helps to check ahead for current shows and plan your visit around the schedule.

The theater was among the first entertainment venues in Vienna to systematically use electric lighting, showcasing modern technology for the time. This innovation helped establish its reputation as a forward-thinking establishment.