Premiere of Halbblut” thrilled over 7,000 spectators in Bad Segeberg!

Premiere of Halbblut” thrilled over 7,000 spectators in Bad Segeberg!

The premiere of “Halbblut” took place in Bad Segeberg on June 29, 2025, which now marks the 72nd production of the renowned Karl May Games. The performance was celebrated with standing applause in front of over 7,500 enthusiastic spectators. ln-online.de reports that the production was well received and offered an emotional performance that included an exciting mix of Wild West atmosphere, action, humor and impressive acting.

The prominent cast, with stars like Francis Fulton-Smith and Sonja Kirchberger as Charles and Donna Leveret, added to the show's appeal. Kirchberger was convincing in the role of a greedy southern lady who effortlessly switched between flirting and anger. The humor of the performance was subtler and less silly than in previous productions, with many gags supplemented by references to pop culture, such as "The Flash". The slapstick duo Alexis Kara (Dr. Jefferson Hartley) and Stephan A. Tölle (Professor Obadiah Timpe) also provided humorous moments.

Strongly staged

The production included spectacular action elements: horse stunts, exciting fight scenes and impressive acrobatics kept the audience excited. Particularly noteworthy are the strong female roles embodied by Alina Arenz (Sally Ann) and Philomène Authelet (Chung Li). Arenz impressed with her outstanding performance of “Stand by your man,” while Authelet shone in thrilling fight scenes. Emotional moments were created primarily by Sascha Hödl (Ik Senanda) and Joshy Peters (Chief Tokvi-Kava), which deeply touched the audience.

Another highlight of the premiere was the emotional farewell to Harald P. Wieczorek, who went into his well-deserved retirement after 46 seasons with an emotional monologue. Alexander Klaws, who plays the role of Winnetou, relies on peace and tolerance in his portrayal and thus ensures deeper messages in the midst of the action-packed scenarios.

Criticism and outlook

The performance's setting impressively transformed as the story progressed into a ballroom, complete with dancers and Confederate soldiers. But despite the successful production, there were also dark sides. Critics commented on the lack of black actors, which was particularly notable given the thematic mention of slavery. Overall, however, “Halbblut” was described as contemporary and conscious of tradition and was liked by the very mixed audience.

The Karl May Festival has developed into a cultural phenomenon since the 1960s. The productions are based primarily on the works of Karl May, with some being faithful to the original and some being freely interpreted. Numerous performances take place every year in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. karl-may-wiki.de points out that most theaters are able to present their own ensembles and regional actors are happy to be hired.

Furthermore, the Karl May Festival is particularly known for its high standards of horses and cavalry. The current production has once again shown that this open-air summer theater is very popular with young and old and that the anticipation for future performances is already noticeable.