Description of the attraction
The Variety Theater opened in June 1954 in the building where the Alkazar restaurant was located, on Mayakovsky Square. The theater was created by a group of Moscow variety artists, headed by People's Artist of the RSFSR N. P. Smirnov-Sokolsky. In 1961, the Variety Theater moved to a new building on Bersenevskaya embankment. There he is today.
Various groups performed on the stage of the Variety Theater: the orchestras of Leonid Utesov, Oleg Lundstrem and Eddie Rosner, the Leningrad Theater of Miniatures of Arkady Raikin. On the stage of the Variety Theater, the famous Theater of two actors - Alexander Menaker and Maria Mironova was born and existed for a long time. Many artists who later became very popular began their solo performances here: Sofia Rotaru, Evgeny Petrosyan, Valery Leontyev, Alexander Serov, Irina Otieva, Sergey Penkin, Oleg Gazmanov, Elena Vaenga, Julian and many others.
Such foreign stars as Marlene Dietrich, Edith Piaf, Salvatore Adamo, Dean Reed, Jacques Brel, Marina Vlady, Charles Aznavour, Pierre Richard, Mireille Mathieu, BB King and many others performed on the stage of the Variety Theater.
All-Russian and All-Union contests of pop artists were held at the Variety Theater. It hosted creative and anniversary evenings of composers, artists and creative teams, sang Mark Bernes and Isabella Yurieva, composer Leonid Derbenev performed his music, Mikhail Zadornov read his humorous works. Gennady Khazanov, Efim Shifrin, Klara Novikova, Evgeny Petrosyan staged their performances on the stage of the theater, which contributed to the development of pop art.
Many famous and beloved artists took part in many performances: Alisa Freindlich, Larisa Udovichenko, Oleg Basilashvili, Mikhail Derzhavin, Vitaly Solomin, Evgenia Simonova, Chulpan Khamatova, Tatyana Vasilyeva, Valery Zolotukhin, Alexander Abdulov, Vladimir Menshov. An international project - the musical "Chicago" was carried out at the Variety Theater. Its producers were A. Pugacheva and F. Kirkorov.
The Variety Theater opened its jubilee fiftieth season in a renewed form: the wardrobe and foyer of the theater were re-equipped, a theater cafe was opened, chairs were replaced in the auditorium, the stage was equipped with modern light and video-sound equipment.
The Moscow State Variety Theater is a popular theater. Famous people in the country are frequent guests among its spectators. The theater constantly carries out new productions, it has its own recognizable and unique style.
