Blue at the Music Theater in the Revier: Utopian music theater conquers Gelsenkirchen

Blue – a utopian music theater in the spirit of Yves Klein and Werner Ruhnau

With Blue, the Music Theater in the Revier opens a space between architecture, music, and artistic vision. The world premiere for the season opening of the new management will guide the audience on September 20, 2026, at 5:00 PM through the forecourt and foyers deep into a house that is itself part of the narrative. The piece by Kommando Himmelfahrt connects to the historical collaboration of Yves Klein and Werner Ruhnau and transforms it into a contemporary stage experience full of color, movement, and acoustic tension. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/_meta/veranstaltungskalender/96475-blau))

A theater building as a co-player

Hardly any place is more suitable for this music theater than the MiR itself. The building bears the signature of Werner Ruhnau, whose glass, light-filled architecture is still considered formative today; the large blue wall reliefs by Yves Klein are among the most striking images of the house. In this environment, theater emerges not only on but with the stage, with the space, with the theater atmosphere. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Kultur/Theater_und_Musik/Musiktheater_im_Revier_MiR/index.aspx))

A utopia that lives on

The evening takes up the idea of a “school of sensitivity” that Klein and Ruhnau once designed as an open, more sensitive societal vision. The music theater collective Kommando Himmelfahrt carries this thought into the present and transforms historical art history into a vibrant music theater with contemporary relevance. This does not result in a museal piece of remembrance but a production that poses art as a societal question. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/_meta/veranstaltungskalender/96475-blau))

Walk through a blue Gesamtkunstwerk

The audience reaction will likely be characterized by curiosity and wonder: The spectators wander through the theater, encounter the founding fathers of the house, experience play, music, and blue interventions. The finale at the Bal bleu with sparkling blue drinks sets a festive closing point that transforms the evening into a sensual, slightly intoxicating format. For culture enthusiasts, a rare stage experience emerges here, blending performance, concert, and urban narrative. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/_meta/veranstaltungskalender/96475-blau))

Why this theater evening is worth it

Blue connects musical energy, architectural brilliance, and art historical depth into an unusual evening in the Ruhr area. Those interested in directing, space dramaturgy, and the history of music theater will experience an event that goes far beyond a classical performance. This utopian music theater promises color, attitude, and a strong artistic gesture. A must-see live. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/_meta/veranstaltungskalender/96475-blau))

Official channels of Music Theater in the Revier:

• Instagram: no official profile found
• Facebook: no official profile found
• YouTube: no official profile found
• Website: https://musiktheater-im-revier.de

Sources:

• City of Gelsenkirchen – Blue, event calendar
• City of Gelsenkirchen – Music Theater in the Revier
• Music Theater in the Revier – Season 26.27 / Blue
• City of Gelsenkirchen – Yves Klein at MiR
• City of Gelsenkirchen – Research project on Yves Klein