Teatr Muzykal'noi Komedii (Musical Comedy Theatre)

Description:

• The theatre in its present form has existed since the 17th of September 1929, following the union of the Leningrad and Kharkov troupes. It gained loyalty amongst St Peterburgers during and after the Blockade of World War Two because it was the only theatre to stay open for the entirety of that terrible period. It brought unimaginable pleasure and hope to its citizens who willingly traded their daily bead rations for tickets. Twenty premieres took place during this time, a new play every six weeks. The theatre began its life on the 18th of December 1910 with fashionable operettas in which the best local actors took part. The performances were staged in a house owned by the actress E Patotskaia of the Alexandrinskii theatre, which had been given to her by Grand Duke Nicholas. The theatre has performed such notable works as 'The Gypsy Princess' by Kalman and 'The Merry Widow'; its musicals have put it in the top three of its type in post-WWII Russia. For the theatre's 70th birthday the foyer was rebuilt in its original form.
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