Riemergasse 11 -
a long and winding road

Many times the plan to move "Porgy & Bess into the Rondell space” hung in the balance. It was Vienna’s first smoker movie theater and a "legend” as a porno cinema. In 1991 it closed its doors for good – Big Sleep for "Deep Throat” – the end for the innercity "Lust Resort”.

When former cultural minister Rudolf Scholten entered the stage (of the bldg.’s history), he had different things in mind, than the tirening "loin mechanic” of Rondell’s past. He thought about gathering all Independent Theatergroups under one roof – the only problem – those free Underground Theatergroups feared to loose their independence and autonomy. Rondell was a sleeping beauty for a couple of years to come.

In 1997 Mr. Scholten’s successor Peter Wittmann made an attempt to get rid of the "old burden” Rondell and decided after a long and often difficult discussion (political and in the media) in favor of Porgy & Bess in May 1998.-