European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 04, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The English theater s new Home at Kaise Strasse 52 in Frankfurt Featt a modern furnishings and stage equipment. \. English theater has new Home Frankfurt troupe moves downtown amps photos by Michael Abrams by de Reavis staff writer the Good news is that Judith Rosenbauer s English theater has new Art Deco premises a a veritable jewel the Flaky Side of the hews is that it is located on Kaise Strasse in the Middle of Frankfurt s red Light District. No. 52, to be exact. The move is part of the City s strategy to reconquer the Low life area that spreads five blocks Long and four wide from the main train station toward the Center of town. Rosenbauer the theater s managing director says she likes Quot the Grimy downtown  Quot it s a bit reminiscent of the new York or London theater districts Down Here Quot she says. Quot i m sure it will work Quot Kaise Strasse had to lose a Peep show to gain the theater that Rosenbauer a native new yorker began running 11 years ago. The City Hopes the theater will not Only add Quot South Quot to the sleeve but attract other so called legitimate Type business. And putting its Money where its Mouth is the City moved its own tourist information office next door to the theater. Kaise Strasse after All is Frankfurt s calling card a the first impression travellers get when they step outside the main train station. Frankfurt Banks have also worked together to Deal with the eyesore area in their own Way by making offers few can resist. They Are buying up the area and either moving in themselves or renting to respectable businesses. Rosenbauer first got involved with the Frankfurt theater scene while she was teaching at the International school in nearby Ober Ursel. She met noted German director Hans Neuenfelt who gave her a Small part in a play he was doing in Frankfurt s City theater. Soon after she became associated with a local English language theater group called cardboard clowns. The group which had been started in the mid 70s, performed in a warehouse in Frankfurt Sachsenhause. Rosenbauer was first an actress then a partner in the operation. In 1979 she moved the troupe to a converted factory in the West end of town and changed the name to the cafe theater. Its current name came with the move to Kaise Strasse which came As something of a Surprise. The building and its splendid furnishings had been donated to the City by the owner a a businessman with multiple holdings in the Peep show and bordello business. The City then approached Rosenbauer who at first hesitated then jumped at the Chance. Unfortunately the generous businessman was forced to flee the country before the theater s grand opening sept 7. That added an ironic twist to Rosenbauer s selection for the opening night performance Neil Simon s rumours. The theater has become an institution in a City that has a great variety of Heaters and entertainment competing for customers. In the 11 years of its existence it has performed More than 50 plays. Rosenbauer has proved that the Best town for a theater is a town that has an Active theater going population. If they visit one they la visit 10, the thinking goes. German High schools Are one of the mainstays of her theater. The others Are Frankfurt s Large English speaking population a business types Etc. A and the German business Community. Rosenbauer wishes More service members would come to the performances. Quot we be never really been Able to attract the go and his family As we hoped Quot Rosenbauer said. Quot perhaps they la find the new premises More to their  the English theater receives an annual $260,000 subsidy from the City which provides More than $300 6 stripes Magazine october 4, 1990