2025 is serving up an impressive feast of theater and music. From legendary Hungarian tales reimagined as grand musicals, to side-splitting comedies, operettas, candlelit concerts, and cult cartoons leaping from screen to stage—there’s no escaping the drama this season.
Gárdonyi’s Epic Reborn: “Stars of Eger” Rocks On
One of Hungary’s most beloved stories, Stars of Eger (Egri csillagok), returns as an all-new musical, marking 100 years since Géza Gárdonyi’s death and the 25th anniversary of its stage adaptation. This spectacular production transports the audience straight into the 1500s, as conquering Turkish armies ravage Hungary. Young Gergely Bornemissza and Éva Cecey are captured by the sinister, one-eyed Jumurdzsák, who plans to sell them as slaves. But the children manage to escape, stealing Jumurdzsák’s lucky talisman—after which his fortunes take a nosedive. Years later, the Turkish armies lay siege to Eger Castle, led by the indomitable István Dobó. Gergely and Éva’s lives—forever entwined with their old captor—are drawn back into the chaos, in a story of heroism, betrayal, love, revenge, and immortal victory.
The show features a who’s-who of Hungarian theater—Géza Egyházi and György Berecz as Dobó, Attila Csengeri as Jumurdzsák, and Gergely and Éva played alternately by János Ondrik, János Szemenyei, and Ágnes Kuczmann. A creative dream team handles pyrotechnics, costumes, lighting, epic set design, and choreography to create a show bursting with energy. With a cast of dozens and music so stirring it could rouse the dead, “Stars of Eger” is history reimagined.
Whimsy, Mystery and Song: Adventures for All Ages
For a dash of magic, try the half-fairytale, half-musical adventure on October 27. Radio hosts, hedgehogs, grannies, and aristocrats collide in a 125-minute stage joyride (with intermission). The universe is wild, but the cast—Dávid Péter Cseh, Emma Henczi, and Enikő Zorgel among others—deliver it all with a wink. Director György Böhm brings every outlandish character brilliantly to life, promising both big laughs and starry-eyed wonder for the whole family.
Lost in Translation: Comedy Spoils the Perfect Weekend
Think your weekend plans are foolproof? Robin Hawdon’s One Lover Is Already Too Many (Szeretőből egy is sok) will make you think again. Just one tiny slip of the tongue, and the most intricate, carefully-laid plans topple like a house of cards. Add in an avalanche of misunderstandings and chaos, and pretty soon, no one gets what they want. The farce takes over on November 5, as the cast—including Anna Trokán, Dániel Suhajda, Bernadett Gregor, and Endre Beleznay—dives into a hilariously escalating mess. If you ever needed proof that too much of a good thing is a recipe for disaster, this is it.
Morricone by Candlelight: A Night to Remember
Classics meet enchantment on November 24, with Ennio Morricone’s legendary film scores played live under the shimmering light of hundreds of candles. Let the string quartet guide you through tension, melancholy, and pure joy, with music from Once Upon a Time in the West, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The Hateful Eight, The Untouchables, and more. This isn’t just a concert—it’s an immersion, where sound and flickering light combine for a magical, emotional experience you’ll never forget.
An Operetta Life: The Music of Imre Kálmán
On November 30, “You Wretched Life…” (Te rongyos élet…) celebrates composer Imre Kálmán’s electric story and century-old global hits, in a whirlwind of backstage gossip and musical bite. Featuring Ibolya Nagy, Attila Csengeri, and Elvira Haraszti, the operetta sparkles with beloved tunes: You Wretched Life (Te rongyos élet), Budapest Women (Pesti nők), Beautiful City Kolozsvár (Szép város Kolozsvár), and more. Written by creative polymath Zsolt Meskó and staged with lavish costumes, this is both a loving tribute and a dizzying, bittersweet musical ride.
Rats, Cats and Heroic Mice: Cat City Hits the Stage
On December 3, the cult cartoon Cat City (Macskafogó) claws its way onto the stage as a flamboyant musical. Based on Béla Ternovszky’s beloved 1986 film, Róbert Szikora’s reboot is packed with laugh-out-loud songs and action. Mice teeter on the edge of extinction as mafia cats close in, but washed-up secret agent Grabowski sets off to save mousekind and rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter. Expect gangster showdowns, unlikely cat-mouse alliances, wild adventures, and a finale filled with heart. With Tamás Mészáros as Grabowski, Attila Csengeri as Mr. Tájföl, and a huge supporting cast, it’s nostalgia, action, and comedy all in one.
Candlelit Elegance: Debrecen’s Seductive Musical Night
December 5 transforms the holiday season into something alluring, as Attila Csengeri, Andrea Mahó, and Gábor Kovács offer an evening that weaves together musical theater legends with timeless passion. The soundscape shimmers with classics from The Phantom of the Opera, Romeo and Juliet, and Cats—perfect for lovers of glamour and song. Dress code: black, white, gold, or red. Love, they promise, is the only thing that survives the ages.
Truth Bare and Bold: “The Naked Truth” Reveals All
On December 10, the musical comedy The Naked Truth (Meztelen igazság) strips away more than just clothing. Six wildly different women sign up for a pole-dancing class—claiming it’s for fitness or fun, but the truth soon tumbles out. Surprising friendships, confessions, self-acceptance, and one daring plan to bare it all—for charity. Expect laughter, girl power, and a musical lesson in loving your own skin. Starring Paula Barbinek, Piroska Kokas, and more unforgettable women, it’s a bold, liberating ride.
