Keeping the Mark: Rozovsky talked about his possible successor

Andrey Platonov, accompanied by neural networks, a play about robots and passionate Carmen, productions based on Bradbury's novel and The Golden Calf — in the 44th season, the troupe of the Nikitsky Gate Theater will not be bored. After all, its artistic director Mark Rozovsky, although he is preparing to celebrate his 90th birthday, does not intend to slow down his creative work. He recruited eight young artists, announced the renovation of the Old Stage, and urged the actors to discipline, ethics, and service. The master assures that, despite his age, he has enough energy for rehearsals. Although he is still thinking about a successor and is sure that someone from the current theater team should take his place, and an outsider "would be unacceptable." What else happened at the opening of the 44th season of the theater is in the Izvestia report.

Robots, Carmen and "disaster with a touch of celebration"

Although the gathering was scheduled for 3 p.m., the troupe pulled up only 10 minutes later. But almost in full force. Happy, rested and tanned, they shared their vacation experiences. According to one of the theater's traditions, administrators with black top hats were on duty at the entrance, in which there were cut pieces of paper for voting for the best artist of the season.

Without waiting for the troupe, which had missed each other, to fall silent on its own, Mark Rozovsky, the chief helmsman of the Nikitsky Gate Theater, took the stage and announced the start of the 44th season. According to a long-established tradition and to deafening applause, he handed over a bottle of sparkling wine to the "permanent cupbearer", Honored Artist of Russia Andrey Molotkov. He opened it with a pump and poured the contents into a glass the size of a small aquarium. He sprinkled the remains on the stage, took a symbolic sip and passed the container through the rows.

Among the giant metal pipes — the elements of the scenery for the new play — Rozovsky announced plans. The first premiere will be "R.U.R" based on the play by Karel Chapek directed by the master himself. The work was written more than 100 years ago, but today, when AI becomes a full-fledged human co-author, the playwright's prophecy sounds especially relevant. Besides, the world owes the word "robot" to Chapek. The premiere on the New Stage will take place on August 27 and 28.

This is followed by another story about the time of change. "Epiphany Gateways" will be the artistic director's directorial experiment based on the work by Andrey Platonov. Rozovsky's assistant in creating soundtracks was the neural network, which was directed by Semyon Rozovsky and Mariam Kupovetskaya.

After scenic reflections on technology and the place of man in the modern world, the audience is waiting for one of the classic stories about love and passion. Mark Rozovsky will direct "Carmen" based on the famous novel by Prosper Merimet.

Another encounter with classics is "The Cherry Orchard" based on the play by Anton Chekhov. The production is timed to coincide with the anniversary of the artistic director, who will turn 90 on April 3! The story of the clash between the outgoing and the future, the idle nobility and the enterprising bourgeois promises to be a conversation about the conflict of generations.

Rozovsky himself considers the upcoming anniversary to be a "catastrophe with a touch of celebration."

— There are many plans. But everything will be... E. B. J. — if I'm alive," the director says ironically.

He is well aware of the peculiarities of his age, but assures that he is full of energy, conducts rehearsals with great energy, and in terms of the number of his premieres, "rarely any theater" can compete with him. Although he is still thinking about a successor.

— I'll give you a somewhat poetic comparison. We're at the front. If the soldier who went on the attack or the platoon commander who led the way is killed, someone from the team must take his place. I think that someone from the outside in our company would be unacceptable. Even if a very talented person comes," the director told Izvestia.

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Electronic know-how and two new musicals

In the second half of the season, the theater will begin preparing for two musicals at once. Both will be directed by Rozovsky's students, actors Yana Prygankova and Igor Skripko, who have just completed their artistic director's course at the I.I.T. Kobzon.

After her successful stage debut last season, Prygankova will focus on "Fahrenheit," a musical based on Ray Bradbury's dystopia "Fahrenheit 451." And Igor Skripko is the "Golden Calf" according to Ilf and Petrov.

— Of course, we understand that we will be compared with Lenkom. And maybe we won't have such riches, but we won't make a mistake," Rozovsky assured from the stage.

The theater season is not just about new posters. "At the Nikitsky Gate" continues its touring life. On August 15, the play "I am Maya" about Maya Plisetskaya will be shown in Kirov as part of the festival "On Seven Hills". Directed by Igor Skripko, the play by Mark Rozovsky.

In November, the theater is going to Nizhny Novgorod and Cheboksary with "Songs of our Yard". This is a special year for the play: it turned 30 in 2026. In December, "At the Nikitsky Gate" will travel to St. Petersburg, where it will show the audience "Amadeus" based on the play by Peter Schaeffer and "I am Maya".

The theater is also waiting for technical innovations. In September, the Rampapa internal system will be launched, through which artists will be able to order tickets for themselves and their loved ones. Previously, counter stamps were issued via private messages. The program was developed and written by the chief administrator of the theater, Mark Rozovsky's son Semyon.

— This is a scene from our play "Jobs"! I never thought that my son would be like Steve Jobs," Rozovsky instantly noted, while Semyon stood on stage at the presentation of his own product with a tablet in his hands.

"That's right, Semyon Jobsovich,— Yana Prygankova jokes into the microphone.

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An important milestone is the renovation of the Old Stage. It's in full swing right now. But closer to November, according to the artistic director, the space will work again.

— We will have a new stage, new chairs and a new zoom, — said Rozovsky.

The artistic director talked not only about plans and achievements, but also about problems. He again called on the artists to be disciplined, explained that he does not tolerate betrayal of the theater for the sake of money, and noted that their work is not service, but service.

Maxim Yakimov was particularly outstanding this season. For the role of Donald Baker in the play "These Free Butterflies" by Yana Prygankova, he received an internal award from the theater.

In conclusion, as in the previous season, Mark Rozovsky introduced eight new artists to the team — four from Valeria Lanskaya's course at GITIS, three from Sergey Bezrukov's course at VGIK, and one from Shchukin.