diff --git a/packages/react/src/components/MiniRepl.jsx b/packages/react/src/components/MiniRepl.jsx
index fd803ac1..4649969a 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/components/MiniRepl.jsx
+++ b/packages/react/src/components/MiniRepl.jsx
@@ -13,7 +13,15 @@ import { logger } from '@strudel.cycles/core';
 
 const getTime = () => getAudioContext().currentTime;
 
-export function MiniRepl({ tune, hideOutsideView = false, enableKeyboard, drawTime, punchcard, canvasHeight = 200 }) {
+export function MiniRepl({
+  tune,
+  hideOutsideView = false,
+  enableKeyboard,
+  drawTime,
+  punchcard,
+  canvasHeight = 200,
+  theme,
+}) {
   drawTime = drawTime || (punchcard ? [0, 4] : undefined);
   const evalOnMount = !!drawTime;
   const drawContext = useCallback(
@@ -111,7 +119,7 @@ export function MiniRepl({ tune, hideOutsideView = false, enableKeyboard, drawTi
         {error && <div className={styles.error}>{error.message}</div>}
       </div>
       <div className={styles.body}>
-        {show && <CodeMirror6 value={code} onChange={setCode} onViewChanged={setView} />}
+        {show && <CodeMirror6 value={code} onChange={setCode} onViewChanged={setView} theme={theme} />}
       </div>
       {drawTime && (
         <canvas
diff --git a/packages/react/src/components/MiniRepl.module.css b/packages/react/src/components/MiniRepl.module.css
index cbbb5a3b..257268a8 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/components/MiniRepl.module.css
+++ b/packages/react/src/components/MiniRepl.module.css
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 .container {
-  @apply rounded-md overflow-hidden bg-[#222222];
+  @apply overflow-hidden;
 }
 
 .header {
-  @apply flex justify-between bg-slate-700 border-t border-slate-500;
+  @apply flex justify-between bg-lineHighlight border-t border-l border-r border-lineHighlight rounded-t-md overflow-hidden;
 }
 
 .buttons {
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@
 }
 
 .button {
-  @apply cursor-pointer w-16 flex items-center justify-center p-1 bg-slate-700 border-r border-slate-500  text-white hover:bg-slate-600;
+  @apply cursor-pointer w-16 flex items-center justify-center p-1 border-r border-lineHighlight text-foreground hover:bg-background;
 }
 
 .buttonDisabled {
-  @apply w-16 flex items-center justify-center p-1 bg-slate-600 text-slate-400 cursor-not-allowed;
+  @apply w-16 flex items-center justify-center p-1 opacity-50 cursor-not-allowed border-r border-lineHighlight;
 }
 
 .error {
diff --git a/packages/react/src/components/style.css b/packages/react/src/components/style.css
index 8f09e0f7..f2db01cc 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/components/style.css
+++ b/packages/react/src/components/style.css
@@ -12,7 +12,3 @@
 .cm-theme-light {
   width: 100%;
 }
-
-.cm-line > * {
-  background: var(--background);
-}
diff --git a/packages/react/src/index.js b/packages/react/src/index.js
index e8a4c447..40b9fa8d 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/react/src/index.js
@@ -6,4 +6,5 @@ export { default as useHighlighting } from './hooks/useHighlighting';
 export { default as usePostMessage } from './hooks/usePostMessage';
 export { default as useStrudel } from './hooks/useStrudel';
 export { default as useKeydown } from './hooks/useKeydown';
+export { default as strudelTheme } from './themes/strudel-theme';
 export { default as cx } from './cx';
diff --git a/website/src/components/HeadCommon.astro b/website/src/components/HeadCommon.astro
index 98143374..796f96db 100644
--- a/website/src/components/HeadCommon.astro
+++ b/website/src/components/HeadCommon.astro
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import { settings } from '../repl/themes.mjs';
 
 const { BASE_URL } = import.meta.env;
 const base = BASE_URL;
+
+const { strudelTheme } = settings;
 ---
 
 <!-- Global Metadata -->
@@ -28,14 +30,28 @@ const base = BASE_URL;
 <script src="./make-scrollable-code-focusable.js" is:inline></script>
 
 <script src="/src/pwa.ts"></script>
+<!-- this does not work for some reason: -->
+<!-- <style is:global define:vars={strudelTheme}></style> -->
+<!-- the following variables are just a fallback to make sure everything is readable without JS -->
+<style is:global>
+  :root {
+    --background: #222;
+    --lineBackground: #22222250;
+    --foreground: #fff;
+    --caret: #ffcc00;
+    --selection: rgba(128, 203, 196, 0.5);
+    --selectionMatch: #036dd626;
+    --lineHighlight: #00000050;
+    --gutterBackground: transparent;
+    --gutterForeground: #8a919966;
+  }
+</style>
 {pwaInfo && <Fragment set:html={pwaInfo.webManifest.linkTag} />}
 
-<script define:vars={{ settings }}>
-  // const themeStyle = document.getElementById('theme');
+<script define:vars={{ settings, strudelTheme }} is:inline>
   const themeStyle = document.createElement('style');
   themeStyle.id = 'strudel-theme';
   document.head.append(themeStyle);
-
   function getTheme(name) {
     if (!settings[name]) {
       console.warn('theme', name, 'has no settings');
@@ -50,7 +66,8 @@ const base = BASE_URL;
     // set css variables
     themeStyle.innerHTML = `:root {
       ${Object.entries(settings)
-        .map(([key, value]) => `--${key}: ${value};`)
+        // important to override fallback
+        .map(([key, value]) => `--${key}: ${value} !important;`)
         .join('\n')}
     }`;
     // tailwind dark mode
@@ -60,7 +77,7 @@ const base = BASE_URL;
       document.documentElement.classList.add('dark');
     }
     // persist theme name
-    localStorage.setItem('strudel-theme', name);
+    localStorage.setItem('strudel-theme', name || 'strudelTheme');
   }
   setTheme(localStorage.getItem('strudel-theme'));
   document.addEventListener('strudel-theme', (e) => setTheme(e.detail));
diff --git a/website/src/docs/MiniRepl.css b/website/src/docs/MiniRepl.css
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e9b49af8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/website/src/docs/MiniRepl.css
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+.cm-activeLine {
+  background-color: transparent !important;
+}
+
+.cm-theme {
+  background-color: var(--background);
+  border: 1px solid var(--lineHighlight);
+  padding: 2px;
+}
diff --git a/website/src/docs/MiniRepl.jsx b/website/src/docs/MiniRepl.jsx
index e80a3d80..33aa4523 100644
--- a/website/src/docs/MiniRepl.jsx
+++ b/website/src/docs/MiniRepl.jsx
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ import { evalScope, controls } from '@strudel.cycles/core';
 import { initAudioOnFirstClick } from '@strudel.cycles/webaudio';
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { prebake } from '../repl/prebake';
+import { themes } from '../repl/themes.mjs';
+import './MiniRepl.css';
+
+const theme = localStorage.getItem('strudel-theme') || 'strudelTheme';
 
 let modules;
 if (typeof window !== 'undefined') {
@@ -34,7 +38,14 @@ export function MiniRepl({ tune, drawTime, punchcard, canvasHeight = 100 }) {
   }, []);
   return Repl ? (
     <div className="mb-4">
-      <Repl tune={tune} hideOutsideView={true} drawTime={drawTime} punchcard={punchcard} canvasHeight={canvasHeight} />
+      <Repl
+        tune={tune}
+        hideOutsideView={true}
+        drawTime={drawTime}
+        punchcard={punchcard}
+        canvasHeight={canvasHeight}
+        theme={themes[theme]}
+      />
     </div>
   ) : (
     <pre>{tune}</pre>
diff --git a/website/src/layouts/MainLayout.astro b/website/src/layouts/MainLayout.astro
index 8fd78ccb..f4cf091a 100644
--- a/website/src/layouts/MainLayout.astro
+++ b/website/src/layouts/MainLayout.astro
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ const currentFile = `src/pages${currentPage.replace(/\/$/, '')}.mdx`;
 const githubEditUrl = `${CONFIG.GITHUB_EDIT_URL}/${currentFile}`;
 ---
 
-<html dir={frontmatter.dir ?? 'ltr'} lang={frontmatter.lang ?? 'en'} class="initial">
+<html dir={frontmatter.dir ?? 'ltr'} lang={frontmatter.lang ?? 'en'} class="initial dark">
   <head>
     <HeadCommon />
     <HeadSEO frontmatter={frontmatter} canonicalUrl={canonicalURL} />
diff --git a/website/src/pages/index.astro b/website/src/pages/index.astro
index 24365321..8d673c37 100644
--- a/website/src/pages/index.astro
+++ b/website/src/pages/index.astro
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import HeadCommon from '../components/HeadCommon.astro';
 import { Repl } from '../repl/Repl.jsx';
 ---
 
-<html lang="en">
+<html lang="en" class="dark">
   <head>
     <HeadCommon />
     <title>Strudel REPL</title>
diff --git a/website/src/repl/Footer.jsx b/website/src/repl/Footer.jsx
index bf7e3019..26104e6f 100644
--- a/website/src/repl/Footer.jsx
+++ b/website/src/repl/Footer.jsx
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ export function Footer({ context }) {
           <FooterTab name="samples" />
           <FooterTab name="console" />
           <FooterTab name="reference" />
-          <FooterTab name="settings" />
+          <FooterTab name="theme" />
         </div>
         {activeFooter !== '' && (
           <button onClick={() => setActiveFooter('')} className="text-foreground" aria-label="Close Panel">
@@ -167,13 +167,13 @@ export function Footer({ context }) {
             </div>
           )}
           {activeFooter === 'reference' && <Reference />}
-          {activeFooter === 'settings' && (
+          {activeFooter === 'theme' && (
             <div className="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 md:grid-cols-4 lg:grid-cols-6 xl:grid-cols-8 gap-2 p-2">
               {Object.entries(themes).map(([k, t]) => (
                 <div
                   key={k}
                   className={classNames(
-                    'border-2 border-transparent cursor-pointer p-4 bg-background rounded-md',
+                    'border-2 border-transparent cursor-pointer p-4 bg-background bg-opacity-25 rounded-md',
                     theme === k ? '!border-foreground' : '',
                   )}
                   onClick={() => {
diff --git a/website/src/repl/Repl.css b/website/src/repl/Repl.css
index 11d61f53..0c5cfecc 100644
--- a/website/src/repl/Repl.css
+++ b/website/src/repl/Repl.css
@@ -14,3 +14,7 @@
   padding-top: 12px !important;
   padding-left: 8px !important;
 }
+
+.cm-line > * {
+  background: var(--lineBackground);
+}
diff --git a/website/src/repl/themes.mjs b/website/src/repl/themes.mjs
index 45057dd4..14ddc54d 100644
--- a/website/src/repl/themes.mjs
+++ b/website/src/repl/themes.mjs
@@ -30,8 +30,10 @@ import {
   xcodeLight,
 } from '@uiw/codemirror-themes-all';
 
+import strudelTheme from '@strudel.cycles/react/src/themes/strudel-theme';
+
 export const themes = {
-  // none: 'none',
+  strudelTheme,
   abcdef,
   androidstudio,
   atomone,
@@ -63,24 +65,26 @@ export const themes = {
   xcodeLight,
 };
 
+// lineBackground is background with 50% opacity, to make sure the selection below is visible
+
 export const settings = {
-  none: {
-    background: '#222',
-    foreground: '#FFFFFF',
-    lineHighlight: '#00000059',
-  },
   strudelTheme: {
     background: '#222',
-    foreground: '#FFFFFF',
-    caret: '#FFFFFF',
-    selection: '#49483E',
-    selectionMatch: '#49483E',
-    gutterBackground: '#272822',
-    gutterForeground: '#FFFFFF70',
-    lineHighlight: '#00000059',
+    lineBackground: '#22222250',
+    foreground: '#fff',
+    // foreground: '#75baff',
+    caret: '#ffcc00',
+    selection: 'rgba(128, 203, 196, 0.5)',
+    selectionMatch: '#036dd626',
+    // lineHighlight: '#8a91991a', // original
+    lineHighlight: '#00000050',
+    gutterBackground: 'transparent',
+    // gutterForeground: '#8a919966',
+    gutterForeground: '#8a919966',
   },
   abcdef: {
     background: '#0f0f0f',
+    lineBackground: '#0f0f0f50',
     foreground: '#defdef',
     caret: '#00FF00',
     selection: '#515151',
@@ -91,6 +95,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   androidstudio: {
     background: '#282b2e',
+    lineBackground: '#282b2e50',
     foreground: '#a9b7c6',
     caret: '#00FF00',
     selection: '#343739',
@@ -99,6 +104,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   atomone: {
     background: '#272C35',
+    lineBackground: '#272C3550',
     foreground: '#9d9b97',
     caret: '#797977',
     selection: '#ffffff30',
@@ -110,6 +116,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   aura: {
     background: '#21202e',
+    lineBackground: '#21202e50',
     foreground: '#edecee',
     caret: '#a277ff',
     selection: '#3d375e7f',
@@ -120,7 +127,9 @@ export const settings = {
     lineHighlight: '#a394f033',
   },
   bbedit: {
+    light: true,
     background: '#FFFFFF',
+    lineBackground: '#FFFFFF50',
     foreground: '#000000',
     caret: '#FBAC52',
     selection: '#FFD420',
@@ -132,6 +141,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   bespin: {
     background: '#28211c',
+    lineBackground: '#28211c50',
     foreground: '#9d9b97',
     caret: '#797977',
     selection: '#36312e',
@@ -142,6 +152,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   darcula: {
     background: '#2B2B2B',
+    lineBackground: '#2B2B2B50',
     foreground: '#f8f8f2',
     caret: '#FFFFFF',
     selection: 'rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1)',
@@ -153,6 +164,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   dracula: {
     background: '#282a36',
+    lineBackground: '#282a3650',
     foreground: '#f8f8f2',
     caret: '#f8f8f0',
     selection: 'rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1)',
@@ -163,7 +175,9 @@ export const settings = {
     lineHighlight: 'rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1)',
   },
   duotoneLight: {
+    light: true,
     background: '#faf8f5',
+    lineBackground: '#faf8f550',
     foreground: '#b29762',
     caret: '#93abdc',
     selection: '#e3dcce',
@@ -175,6 +189,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   duotoneDark: {
     background: '#2a2734',
+    lineBackground: '#2a273450',
     foreground: '#6c6783',
     caret: '#ffad5c',
     selection: 'rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1)',
@@ -185,6 +200,7 @@ export const settings = {
   eclipse: {
     light: true,
     background: '#fff',
+    lineBackground: '#ffffff50',
     foreground: '#000',
     caret: '#FFFFFF',
     selection: '#d7d4f0',
@@ -197,6 +213,7 @@ export const settings = {
   githubLight: {
     light: true,
     background: '#fff',
+    lineBackground: '#ffffff50',
     foreground: '#24292e',
     selection: '#BBDFFF',
     selectionMatch: '#BBDFFF',
@@ -205,6 +222,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   githubDark: {
     background: '#0d1117',
+    lineBackground: '#0d111750',
     foreground: '#c9d1d9',
     caret: '#c9d1d9',
     selection: '#003d73',
@@ -213,6 +231,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   gruvboxDark: {
     background: '#282828',
+    lineBackground: '#28282850',
     foreground: '#ebdbb2',
     caret: '#ebdbb2',
     selection: '#bdae93',
@@ -224,6 +243,7 @@ export const settings = {
   gruvboxLight: {
     light: true,
     background: '#fbf1c7',
+    lineBackground: '#fbf1c750',
     foreground: '#3c3836',
     caret: '#af3a03',
     selection: '#ebdbb2',
@@ -235,6 +255,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   materialDark: {
     background: '#2e3235',
+    lineBackground: '#2e323550',
     foreground: '#bdbdbd',
     caret: '#a0a4ae',
     selection: '#d7d4f0',
@@ -247,6 +268,7 @@ export const settings = {
   materialLight: {
     light: true,
     background: '#FAFAFA',
+    lineBackground: '#FAFAFA50',
     foreground: '#90A4AE',
     caret: '#272727',
     selection: '#80CBC440',
@@ -259,6 +281,7 @@ export const settings = {
   noctisLilac: {
     light: true,
     background: '#f2f1f8',
+    lineBackground: '#f2f1f850',
     foreground: '#0c006b',
     caret: '#5c49e9',
     selection: '#d5d1f2',
@@ -269,6 +292,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   nord: {
     background: '#2e3440',
+    lineBackground: '#2e344050',
     foreground: '#FFFFFF',
     caret: '#FFFFFF',
     selection: '#3b4252',
@@ -280,6 +304,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   okaidia: {
     background: '#272822',
+    lineBackground: '#27282250',
     foreground: '#FFFFFF',
     caret: '#FFFFFF',
     selection: '#49483E',
@@ -291,6 +316,7 @@ export const settings = {
   solarizedLight: {
     light: true,
     background: '#fdf6e3',
+    lineBackground: '#fdf6e350',
     foreground: '#657b83',
     caret: '#586e75',
     selection: '#dfd9c8',
@@ -301,6 +327,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   solarizedDark: {
     background: '#002b36',
+    lineBackground: '#002b3650',
     foreground: '#93a1a1',
     caret: '#839496',
     selection: '#173541',
@@ -311,6 +338,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   sublime: {
     background: '#303841',
+    lineBackground: '#30384150',
     foreground: '#FFFFFF',
     caret: '#FBAC52',
     selection: '#4C5964',
@@ -322,6 +350,7 @@ export const settings = {
   tokyoNightDay: {
     light: true,
     background: '#e1e2e7',
+    lineBackground: '#e1e2e750',
     foreground: '#3760bf',
     caret: '#3760bf',
     selection: '#99a7df',
@@ -333,6 +362,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   tokyoNightStorm: {
     background: '#24283b',
+    lineBackground: '#24283b50',
     foreground: '#7982a9',
     caret: '#c0caf5',
     selection: '#6f7bb630',
@@ -344,6 +374,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   tokyoNight: {
     background: '#1a1b26',
+    lineBackground: '#1a1b2650',
     foreground: '#787c99',
     caret: '#c0caf5',
     selection: '#515c7e40',
@@ -355,6 +386,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   vscodeDark: {
     background: '#1e1e1e',
+    lineBackground: '#1e1e1e50',
     foreground: '#9cdcfe',
     caret: '#c6c6c6',
     selection: '#6199ff2f',
@@ -368,6 +400,7 @@ export const settings = {
   xcodeLight: {
     light: true,
     background: '#fff',
+    lineBackground: '#ffffff50',
     foreground: '#3D3D3D',
     selection: '#BBDFFF',
     selectionMatch: '#BBDFFF',
@@ -377,6 +410,7 @@ export const settings = {
   },
   xcodeDark: {
     background: '#292A30',
+    lineBackground: '#292A3050',
     foreground: '#CECFD0',
     caret: '#fff',
     selection: '#727377',
@@ -400,6 +434,7 @@ function getColors(str) {
   return colors;
 }
 
+// TODO: remove
 export function themeColors(theme) {
   return getColors(stringifySafe(theme));
 }
diff --git a/website/tailwind.config.cjs b/website/tailwind.config.cjs
index ef88517e..877a2acd 100644
--- a/website/tailwind.config.cjs
+++ b/website/tailwind.config.cjs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ module.exports = {
         highlight: '#bb8800',
         // codemirror-theme settings
         background: 'var(--background)',
+        lineBackground: 'var(--lineBackground)',
         foreground: 'var(--foreground)',
         caret: 'var(--caret)',
         selection: 'var(--selection)',