Chocolat - Ann-Kathrin Kramer, Harald Krassnitzer und Les Manouches Du Tannes
3/13/2027
at 7:00 PM
/ Graz
Chocolat
with Ann-Kathrin Kramer, Harald Krassnitzer & Les Manouches Du Tannes
This "Chocolat" is an enchanting fairy tale for adults, a classic screwball comedy, with captivating live music in the style of Django Reinhardt. The story: A young single mother opens a pâtisserie in the church square of a small village in southern France, a small temple for the finest chocolates. For the village pastor, this kind of "seduction" is absolutely unacceptable. He rigorously forbids the members of his congregation from having any dealings with the young woman - and becomes her main adversary. In an extremely amusing way, two lifestyles collide that couldn't be more different: the aversion to all that is foreign on one side, and openness and enjoyment on the other. This story is told by a virtuosic quartet consisting of accordionist Valentin Butt and violinist Roland Satterwhite - and by the fascinating actor couple Ann-Kathrin Kramer and Harald Krassnitzer. She has been among the crème of German-speaking actresses for more than twenty years. He has portrayed the wonderful Vienna "Tatort" commissioner for many years. The grumpy one and the charming seductress - two characters that are virtually tailored for the two likable actors. A fascinating mix of acting, reading, and concert.
Cast
Vianne Rocher - Ann-Kathrin Kramer
Francis Reynaud - Harald Krassnitzer
Les Manouches Du Tannes:
Bass - Matthew Adomeit
Accordion - Valentin Butt
Guitar - Yasir Hamdan
Violin - Roland Satterwhite
Lighting Design - Birte Horst
Sound - Michael Schömer / Bastian Ellermeyer
Video - Jürgen Menzel
Text Processing, Direction - Martin Mühleis
Production
Ann-Kathrin Kramer, Vianne Rocher
Ann-Kathrin Kramer had her first film role in 1993. Since then, she has appeared in numerous film and television productions, including as Maren Rieger in "Die Konkurrentin" and in the role of Manuela in the successful film "Das merkwürdige Verhalten geschlechtsreifer Großstädter zur Paarungszeit," where she starred alongside Christoph Waltz. The Grimme Prize was awarded to "Abgehauen," a television film by Frank Beyer based on a screenplay by Ulrich Plenzdorf, which dealt with the actual events surrounding the expulsion of the songwriter Wolf Biermann from the GDR.
She then participated in well-received TV productions such as the two-part film "Im Schatten der Macht" and the television crime drama "Die Nonne und der Kommissar." She had a historical role in 2010 alongside Armin Rohde in the fairy tale film "Der Meisterdieb" as Countess Greta. In 2013, Ann-Kathrin Kramer embodied the teacher Ines Erdmann in "Alles für meine Tochter," who had given her daughter up for adoption and sees her again after many years in her classroom. For years, Ann-Kathrin Kramer has been one of the most sought-after and popular German TV actresses. Recently, she had leading roles in the highly regarded television film "Aus dem Leben," in which she plays a teacher who recovers after a stroke, in "Die Frau am Meer" and "Mona & Marie," as well as in the international miniseries "Two sides of the abyss."
Harald Krassnitzer, Francis Reynaud
He was "Peer Gynt" in Ibsen's namesake drama, he acted in Heiner Müller's "Die Hamletmaschine" and Sophocles' "König Ödipus," in Goethe's "Faust" and Schiller's "Räuber." However, Harald Krassnitzer became widely known as "Der Bergdoktor," in the role of the popular titular character of the ZDF series. In Miguel Alexandre's "Der Pakt," Harald Krassnitzer made his film debut in 1996 alongside young Daniel Brühl. Two years later, he appeared in the Sat.1 thriller "Hurenmord" for the first time alongside Ann-Kathrin Kramer in the title role of the priest Thomas Fauser.
For 21 years, he has been working in the "Tatort" series as investigator Moritz Eisner. In 2000 and 2008, he was awarded the "Romy," the Austrian Film Prize, as "Most Popular Series Actor." In 2014, he received the "Grimme Prize" for his acting performance in the episode "Angezählt." Countless television plays have benefited from Harald Krassnitzer's performance. Among other roles, he played one of the resistance fighters of July 20, 1944, in Jo Baiers' "Stauffenberg" (2004). From 2005 to 2009, he portrayed the title role in the Austrian television series "Der Winzerkönig." At the end of January 2020, it was announced that he would be back in front of the camera for a winter special of the revived "Bergdoktor" series from 2008. In April 2020, he was seen in the episode "Kleine Fälle" of the ZDF comedy series Über Land as judge Hans Bachleitner.
Matthew Adomeit, Bass
Matt Adomeit is an American jazz bassist, composer, and mandolinist who currently lives in Berlin. Influenced in his youth by classical music, American, and traditional Irish folk, these influences shape his playing in jazz. Matt is active both as a sideman and as a bandleader and regularly performs all over Europe. He is a member of bands such as Steel Sheep, the Gerhard Ornig Trio, the Rick Hollander Quartet, the Ed Kröger Quintet, and Mn'Jam Experiment.
Valentin Butt, Accordion
Valentin Butt was born in St. Petersburg. He studied accordion at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" Berlin and is a prizewinner and successful participant in numerous national and international competitions and festivals. He regularly collaborates with the Berlin Philharmonic and has been involved as a musician, composer, and musical director at major Berlin theaters such as the Schaubühne, the Deutsches Theater, and the Berliner Ensemble for years. Recently, he played with the ensemble Quillo at the Berlin State Opera in the premiere of the opera "Hans im Glück" with music by David Robert Coleman. He also shares the stage in literary-musical programs with actors such as Angela Winkler. Additionally, Valentin Butt is involved as a studio musician in radio play and film music recordings. He is a member of several bands, including SkaZka Orchestra, Di Meschugeles, and Holler my Dear.
Yasir Hamdan, Guitar
Yasir Hamdan was born in Munich in 1977. His father is from Eritrea, and his mother is from former Yugoslavia/Hungary. After school, he toured for several years with a professional theater across Germany and played in various crossover bands, first on electric bass, double bass, and then guitar. In 1998, he completed an acting study in Bremen. Through intensive engagement with Eastern European music and Manouche jazz, his interest in composition also grew. His music today sounds like timeless folklore from nowhere.
Roland Satterwhite, Viola
The American violinist, violist, and singer Roland Satterwhite met Valentin Butt in Berlin. Since 2008, the musician has been living in the German capital. He also covers a wide range of musical creation - from solo evenings, where he sometimes uses electronic sound effects to interpret his own compositions, to songs inspired by the tradition of Delta blues and West African Kora and griot music. In his viola playing, he has developed a unique, almost guitar-like, playing technique, which he primarily uses in his trio Tolyqyn. He is a member of the "Berlin Babylon" – Orchestra Moka Efti, and Roland Satterwhite regularly tours worldwide in various formations.
Martin Mühleis, Text Processing, Direction, and Production
The director and producer Martin Mühleis has celebrated great successes with stage adaptations of literary works in recent years. His adaptations of Erich Kästner’s works have become some of the most successful literary stage productions in Germany with over 500 performances. His adaptation of Albert Camus’ autobiographical novel "Der erste Mensch" premiered on 5.01.2018 at the Staatstheater Braunschweig. His latest work, the stage monologue "Ich bin Astrid aus Småland," is the first stage autobiography of the great Swedish children's author Astrid Lindgren authorized by her family.
His production "Ahab" was premiered by the Staatskapelle Dresden, and regarding his stage ballad "Seide" with Joachim Król, the Berliner Zeitung stated: "One can only wish that the author Alessandro Baricco experiences this once. This form shows what is possible to make literature popular."
In his stage works, Mühleis has developed a unique form, described as "an architecture of language, music, lighting design, and acting," as noted by the Berliner Tagesspiegel. He manages to adapt literature for the stage without altering its structure, rhythm, and language. In this way, original stage works emerge from the literary sources that engage the audience as co-creators.
Hallo, ich bin Maya.
