Variety theater history of the building. Variety Theater - History

It opened on June 5, 1954 on Mayakovsky (Triumphal) Square, where the popular Moscow variety show Alcazar operated in the 10s, and where a pop theater under the same name operated in 1925-1927. In connection with the creation here on Triumfalnaya Square(in the building of the 2nd State Circus) of the Moscow Music Hall, the Alcazar premises were given to the Moscow Satire Theater. After the closure of the Music Hall (1936), the capital's stage did not have its own venue. Its first artistic director, N. Smirnov-Sokolsky, did a lot to create MTE.
In 1961, MTE moved to a building on Bersenevskaya embankment and opened on February 18 with the “We invite you to a housewarming” program, led by B. Brunov and E. Radov. Among the participants: K. Shulzhenko, R. Zelenaya, A. Shurov and N. Rykunin and others. After the death of Smirnov-Sokolsky MTE in different time was directed by A. Tutyshkin, I. Sharoev, P. Vasiliev, and from 1970 by Konnikov, who staged here a number of variety theatrical programs “Bird-Three”, “The Song Remains with the Man”. Since 1983 main director and thin the director of the theater is Boris Brunov.
Performances were staged with theater actors- “Woman with a Flower and Windows to the North” by E. Radzinsky with T. Doronina, “Random Waltz” by S. Alexievich with E. Bystritskaya and others. By the end of the 80s. the performances “Three Questions”, “Round Moon” based on plays by V. Koklyushkin with the participation of young E. Shifrin and K. Novikova, “Bird’s Flight” by M. Zhvanetsky performed by V. Ilchenko and R. Kartsev, Kartsev’s solo performance “My Odessa” were staged " and others. The Petrosyan Theater continues to operate stably. The number of national teams decreased in the 80s and they were replaced solo concerts(A. Pugacheva, I. Kobzon, L. Dolina, S. Rotaru, K. Semenova, O. Gazmanov and others) and author’s evenings (M. Zhvanetsky, M. Zadornov and others).

Moscow state theater The bandstand opened in June 1954. New theater received a building on Mayakovsky Square, which once housed the Alcazar restaurant, and then the Satire Theater. The creator of the Variety Theater was a group of leading Moscow pop artists led by People's Artist of the RSFSR N.P. Smirnov-Sokolsky. In February 1961 N.P. Smirnov-Sokolsky cut the scarlet ribbon for the second time - the Variety Theater moved to Bersenevskaya Embankment, where it operates to this day.

The theater gave the audience unforgettable meetings with the Leningrad Theater of Miniatures under the direction of Arkady Raikin, the orchestras of Leonid Utesov, Oleg Lundstrem, Boris Rensky, Eddie Rosner. The Variety Theater is proud that the Theater of two actors, Maria Mironova and Alexander Menaker, began its life on its stage. On this stage, such stars as Alla Pugacheva, Sofia Rotaru, Valery Leontyev, Evgeny Petrosyan, Gennady Khazanov, Alexander Serov, and later Philip Kirkorov, Igor Sarukhanov, Irina Otieva, Alexander Novikov, Andrei Bandera, Elena Vaenga, Denis Maidanov took their first steps. The first solo concerts of Oleg Gazmanov, Sergei Penkin, and Yulian were also held at the Variety Theater. IN different years performed here foreign stars, including Edith Piaf, Mireille Mathieu, Marlene Dietrich, Dean Reed, Salvatore Adamo, Marina Vladi, Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour, BB King, Pierre Richard, Glenn Hughes, Jean Tatlyan... All-Union and All-Russian competitions pop artists; anniversary evenings famous composers, artists and groups, including Isabella Yuryeva, Mark Bernes, Nikolai Rykunin, Leonid Derbenev, Sergei Zakharov, Semyon Farada, Mikhail Zadornov, the Ariel ensemble and others.

A significant contribution to the development of pop art was made by performances created on the stage of the theater by such pop masters as Gennady Khazanov (“Little things in life”, “Obvious and incredible”, “Little tragedies”, “The holiday that always ...”), Evgeny Petrosyan ( " Good word and the cat is pleased”, “Inventory”, “We are all fools”, “Country of Limonia, village of Petrosyaniya”, “When finance sings romances”), Klara Novikova and Efim Shifrin (“Round Moon”, “Solo for a Bed with a Creak”, "I laugh so as not to cry"). Many national and honored artists of Russia performed on the theater stage in various performances, including Alisa Freindlikh, Oleg Basilashvili, Vitaly Solomin, Larisa Udovichenko, Alexander Shirvindt, Mikhail Derzhavin, Vladimir Menshov, Vera Alentova, Tatyana Vasilyeva, Evgenia Simonova, Chulpan Khamatova, Elena Proklova, Valery Zolotukhin, Alexander Abdulov, Andrey Panin and others. 49th theater season was given to the musical "Chicago", produced by Alla Pugacheva and Philip Kirkorov. And in January 2009, the MSU variety studio “Our House” celebrated its 50th anniversary on the theater stage.

The performances of the Anton Chekhov Theater have been very popular among audiences for many years. The play “Dinner with a Fool,” in which Oleg Basilashvili and Gennady Khazanov shine, has been drawing a full house for more than 10 years. The 50th anniversary season opened with the premiere of Leonid Trushkin’s play “Mixed Feelings” with Inna Churikova and Gennady Khazanov in the lead roles. Leonid Trushkin’s play “Everything Like People” (premiered in October 2004), which features Gennady Khazanov, Galina Petrova, Boris Dyachenko, Inga Oboldina and other actors, is also sold out. The artistic director of the theater celebrates his 60th anniversary, National artist In Russia, Gennady Khazanov celebrated December 1, 2005 with the premiere of the play “Carrots for the Emperor,” where he plays the role of Napoleon.

The Variety Theater has been involved in charitable activities for many years, organizing concerts and festive evenings for veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Patriotic War, disabled people and pensioners, residents of boarding schools and orphanages. Among the spectators you can often find famous politicians, businessmen and athletes, TV presenters and directors, poets and composers, pop, theater and film artists. In the 50th anniversary season, the Variety Theater greeted the audience in a renovated interior. The foyer and cloakroom were refurbished, and a theater café was created. IN auditorium For the first time in 20 years, spectator seats were replaced. The theater today can be proud of its modern light, video and sound equipment.

This season the Theater has prepared a surprise for young viewers. Together with the Academy of Children's Musical, the theater staged modern musical"The Snow Queen". Artistic director theater, Gennady Viktorovich Khazanov, has long dreamed of “The Snow Queen”. Once upon a time, as a child, he saw this performance based on Andersen’s fairy tale and became “sick” of theater for the rest of his life. Therefore, when the leaders of the Academy of Children's Musical approached him with a proposal to collaborate in working on this fairy tale, Gennady Viktorovich gladly joined in creative process. Even in conditions of fierce competition for children's entertainment projects modern Moscow musical " The Snow Queen“certainly became a leader.

Only on the stage of the Variety Theater can you now see the famous and unique Clown Theater “Litsedei”. The clowning “Fly and Saw” consists of best rooms Leonid Leikin with the participation of others famous actors Theater "Lycedei" - Anvar Libabov, Viktor Solovyov, Anna Orlova and others. Russia has not yet seen many of these numbers!

Every season, the Variety Theater gives Muscovites and guests of the capital the opportunity to meet their favorite theater and film actors at their creative evenings. Here viewers can directly ask their questions to their favorite actors, get to know them as individuals and see all the facets of their talent. This season, a creative evening by Sergei Garmash was presented on the stage of the Variety Theater. There was great interest in meeting with the most sought-after and famous actress Chulpan Khamatova.

The theater is in a creative search, new performances and concerts are constantly appearing on its stage, creative evenings and anniversary programs for artists of various genres.

This one is wonderful stage area loved by many Muscovites. The variety theater in Moscow gives Russians interesting meetings, concerts, and performances. Theater troupes from many cities can show their masterpieces here, and rock and pop virtuosos can delight with their compositions and songs.

What made the famous stage famous?

The hall of the variety theater in Moscow watched the performances of many guest performers known to our audience. The establishment's new stage opened in 1961. Throughout the theater's tour, many great memories have accumulated. Some time ago the famous Mireille Mathieu performed there with her solo program. Edith Piaf shone on these stages, Marlene Dietrich conquered the hearts of the audience, and the famous Salvatore Adamo amazed. Many spectators were able to enjoy the virtuoso performance of Oleg Lundstrem's orchestra. Leonid Utesov also once led his orchestra here. Connoisseurs of Soviet cinema have repeatedly followed here the professionalism of such actors as Oleg Basilashvili, Alexander Abdulov, Alisa Freundlikh, Larisa Udovichenko, Chulpan Khamatova. The Moscow Variety Theater regularly hosts performances by famous comedians: Mikhail Zadornov, Evgeny Petrosyan and, of course, the artistic director of the institution, Gennady Khazanov.

Students of orphanages, pensioners, disabled people, veterans of the Great Patriotic War are regularly invited to special concert programs. After a recent renovation, the theater premises were simply transformed: new seats appeared, the foyer sparkled, the wardrobe became spacious, and new equipment was installed.

Main repertoire

If you look at the pop theater's poster, you can see great amount comedies, one-man performances, rock operas, concerts, productions with the participation famous actors. Konstantin Raikin often presents his one-man show “In His Own Voice” here. Children can enjoy here a wonderful musical"The Snow Queen". I. Churikova, A. Mikhailov, E. Vasilyeva regularly perform the main roles in the production of "The Old Maid". The magnificent rock opera "Juno and Avos" is presented by the Lenkom Theater.

Concerts of Andrei Makarevich and the Bi-2 group are popular and very popular among spectators. The artistic director himself often participates in many performances, for example: “Carrots for the Emperor”, “Everything is like people”, “Dinner with a Fool”, “Tight Turns”.

Location of the establishment

How to get to the Variety Theater in Moscow? The building is located at the address: Bersenevskaya embankment, 20/2. Finding a theater is very easy; it is better to use the metro. The final station to exit will be Borovitskaya station. After leaving it, you will need to turn right and go to Borovitskaya Square. The road will lead across the bridge. To avoid walking, you can use trolleybuses 1 or 33; you need to get off at the “Udarnik Cinema” stop. You can get to the theater from the Kropotkinskaya station. If you go from there on foot, you need to cross the Patriarchal Bridge. Those who wish can use the same 1 or 33 trolleybuses. It is worth recalling that tickets to the Variety Theater (Moscow) can be purchased not only at the box office, but also on the official website of the institution.

The Moscow State Variety Theater opened in June 1954. The new theater received a building on Mayakovsky Square, which once housed the Alcazar restaurant, and then the Satire Theater. The creator of the Variety Theater was a group of leading Moscow pop artists led by People's Artist of the RSFSR N.P. Smirnov-Sokolsky. In February 1961 N.P. Smirnov-Sokolsky cut the scarlet ribbon for the second time - the Variety Theater moved to Bersenevskaya Embankment, where it operates to this day.

The theater gave the audience unforgettable meetings with the Leningrad Theater of Miniatures under the direction of Arkady Raikin, the orchestras of Leonid Utesov, Oleg Lundstrem, Boris Rensky, Eddie Rosner. The Variety Theater is proud that the Theater of two actors, Maria Mironova and Alexander Menaker, began its life on its stage. On this stage, such stars as Alla Pugacheva, Sofia Rotaru, Valery Leontyev, Evgeny Petrosyan, Gennady Khazanov, Alexander Serov, and later Philip Kirkorov, Igor Sarukhanov, Irina Otieva, Alexander Novikov, Andrei Bandera, Elena Vaenga, Denis Maidanov took their first steps. The first solo concerts of Oleg Gazmanov, Sergei Penkin, and Yulian were also held at the Variety Theater. Over the years, foreign stars have performed here, including Edith Piaf, Mireille Mathieu, Marlene Dietrich, Dean Reed, Salvatore Adamo, Marina Vladi, Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour, BB King, Pierre Richard, Glenn Hughes, Jean Tatlyan... On the stage of the theater All-Union and All-Russian competitions of pop artists were held; anniversary evenings of famous composers, artists and groups, including Isabella Yuryeva, Mark Bernes, Nikolai Rykunin, Leonid Derbenev, Sergei Zakharov, Semyon Farada, Mikhail Zadornov, the Ariel ensemble and others.

A significant contribution to the development of pop art was made by performances created on the stage of the theater by such pop masters as Gennady Khazanov (“Little things in life”, “Obvious and incredible”, “Little tragedies”, “The holiday that always ...”), Evgeny Petrosyan ( “A kind word is also pleasant for a cat”, “Inventory”, “We are all fools”, “Country of Limonia, village of Petrosyaniya”, “When finance sings romances”), Klara Novikova and Efim Shifrin (“Round Moon”, “Solo for a bed with creaking”, “I laugh so as not to cry”). Many national and honored artists of Russia performed on the theater stage in various performances, including Alisa Freindlikh, Oleg Basilashvili, Vitaly Solomin, Larisa Udovichenko, Alexander Shirvindt, Mikhail Derzhavin, Vladimir Menshov, Vera Alentova, Tatyana Vasilyeva, Evgenia Simonova, Chulpan Khamatova, Elena Proklova, Valery Zolotukhin, Alexander Abdulov, Andrey Panin and others. The 49th theater season was devoted to the musical “Chicago,” produced by Alla Pugacheva and Philip Kirkorov. And in January 2009, the MSU variety studio “Our House” celebrated its 50th anniversary on the theater stage.

The performances of the Anton Chekhov Theater have been very popular among audiences for many years. The play “Dinner with a Fool,” in which Oleg Basilashvili and Gennady Khazanov shine, has been drawing a full house for more than 10 years. The 50th anniversary season opened with the premiere of Leonid Trushkin’s play “Mixed Feelings” with Inna Churikova and Gennady Khazanov in the lead roles. Leonid Trushkin’s play “Everything Like People” (premiered in October 2004), which features Gennady Khazanov, Galina Petrova, Boris Dyachenko, Inga Oboldina and other actors, is also sold out. The theater’s artistic director, People’s Artist of Russia Gennady Khazanov celebrated his 60th birthday on December 1, 2005 with the premiere of the play “Carrots for the Emperor,” where he plays the role of Napoleon.

The Variety Theater has been engaged in charitable activities for many years, organizing concerts and festive evenings for veterans of the Great Patriotic War, disabled people and pensioners, pupils of boarding schools and orphanages. Among the spectators you can often find famous politicians, businessmen and athletes, TV presenters and directors, poets and composers, pop, theater and film artists. In the 50th anniversary season, the Variety Theater greeted the audience in a renovated interior. The foyer and cloakroom were refurbished, and a theater café was created. For the first time in 20 years, the auditorium seats were replaced. The theater today can be proud of its modern light, video and sound equipment.

This season the Theater has prepared a surprise for young viewers. Together with the Academy of Children's Musical, the modern musical “The Snow Queen” was staged on the theater stage. The artistic director of the theater, Gennady Viktorovich Khazanov, has long dreamed of “The Snow Queen”. Once upon a time, as a child, he saw this performance based on Andersen’s fairy tale and became “sick” of theater for the rest of his life. Therefore, when the leaders of the Academy of Children's Musical approached him with a proposal to collaborate in working on this fairy tale, Gennady Viktorovich gladly joined in the creative process. Even in the conditions of fierce competition among children's entertainment projects in modern Moscow, the musical “The Snow Queen” has certainly become a leader.

Only on the stage of the Variety Theater can you now see the famous and unique Clown Theater “Litsedei”. The clowning “Fly and Pilite” consists of the best numbers of Leonid Leikin with the participation of other famous actors of the Litsedei Theater - Anvar Libabov, Viktor Solovyov, Anna Orlova and others. Russia has not yet seen many of these numbers!

Every season, the Variety Theater gives Muscovites and guests of the capital the opportunity to meet their favorite theater and film actors at their creative evenings. Here viewers can directly ask their questions to their favorite actors, get to know them as individuals and see all the facets of their talent. This season, a creative evening by Sergei Garmash was presented on the stage of the Variety Theater. There was great interest in meeting with the most sought-after and famous actress Chulpan Khamatova.

The theater is in a creative search; new performances and concerts, creative evenings and anniversary programs of artists of various genres are constantly appearing on its stage.

August 4th, 2016 , 11:14 am

The Moscow State Variety Theater, created in 1954 on the initiative of pop artists led by Nikolai Smirnov-Sokolsky, initially settled in the former Alcazar restaurant on Mayakovskaya Square. Seven years passed and the theater celebrated a housewarming party on Bersenevskaya Embankment, occupying the premises of the former Government House club.




In 1918, in connection with the transfer of the state capital from Petrograd to Moscow, hundreds of employees moved from the banks of the Neva to the banks of the Moscow River, aggravating the notorious " housing problem" The government apparatus was temporarily accommodated in hotel rooms at the National and Metropol, but the housing problem had to be solved somehow. Only almost ten years later, a commission was created for the construction of the House of the Central Election Commission and the Council of People's Commissars, chaired by the head of government Alexei Rykov.

On June 24, 1927, a decision was made to begin construction of a house for senior employees designed by architect Boris Iofan. The construction site occupied a block on an artificial island that was formed back in the 18th century after the construction of the Vodootvodny Canal. Previously, the Wine and Salt Yard was located on this site. Perhaps, in terms of ecology, the location next to the Central Power Station of the city tram was not chosen the best, but from the windows of the Government House there was a picturesque panorama of the Kremlin, and the Soviet elite could quickly get to work along the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge.

The facades of the new building overlooked Bersenevskaya Embankment and Vsekhsvyatskaya Street, which was soon renamed in honor of the writer Alexander Serafimovich. Architect Iofan proposed covering the walls with granite chips to get a red-pink color for the facades, but neither this proposal nor the sand color option found support. As a result, the building remained a gloomy gray, the color of ash. Even today, the House on the Embankment has been repainted twice, and perhaps Iofan would have liked the current version.


Construction. 1928: https://pastvu.com/p/290895 From the collection of the Museum of Moscow. At the time construction began, the banks were still earthen, but soon the embankment was dressed in granite and became a place for walks for the residents of the house; a pier for ships and even a swimming pool were equipped right there. A pier existed here before; stone and sand were delivered on barges, and peasants in bast shoes dragged building materials to the shore.


Construction. 1929: https://pastvu.com/p/3277


Construction. 1931: https://pastvu.com/p/26249 Photo: Boris Ignatovich


Central power station of the city tram. Small Stone Bridge. 1907-1910: https://pastvu.com/p/46597

The twelve-story building, designed for 505 apartments, occupied three hectares of land and at that time was one of the largest residential buildings in Europe, but it surprised not only with its size. On each floor there were two spacious apartments with oak parquet and artistic painting on the ceilings, made by restoration painters invited from the Hermitage. The residents moved into an apartment already furnished with all the necessary furniture, which the carpenters made according to the drawings of the house’s architect, Boris Iofan. However, the rich property was state property, with inventory numbers, and the new residents signed an acceptance certificate for the entire contents of the apartment. The entrances were equipped with elevators, and hot water supplied from the heating plant. Lawns with fountains were laid out in the courtyards (after the war, the fountains were dismantled and flower beds were installed). The buildings were not commissioned simultaneously, but as they were built.


Department store


Berth


Bersenevskaya embankment. Pool. 1945-1955: https://pastvu.com/p/3403


Service building - laundry


In the courtyard. 1954: https://pastvu.com/p/298775

For convenience and to save time, residents received ready-made meals and dry rations using coupons, so there was no need to cook their own food. Right there in the house were gym, department store, laundry, outpatient clinic, savings bank, post office, kindergarten and a nursery. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee club named after Rykov and a cinema for 1,500 spectators were intended for cultural leisure. It is clear that it was not ordinary Muscovites who lived here, but the elite, which in those days included party leaders and heroes Civil War, old Bolsheviks, outstanding scientists and writers, employees of the Comintern, heroes of the war in Spain.

The construction was supervised by People's Commissar of Internal Affairs Genrikh Yagoda, who did not fail to use new house in the interests of his department. On the ground floor there were safe apartments for security officers, and in entrance No. 11 there was only a staircase and windows - no apartments, no elevator. According to the conspiracy theory, the apartments of high-ranking officials who had barely celebrated their housewarming and immediately found themselves under the surveillance of the “competent authorities” were bugged from this entrance. In fact, the authorities were rushing the builders who did not meet the deadlines, and the empty entrance No. 11 could have been formed due to an emergency change in the layout of the privileged apartments of the neighboring entrances.

And the security officers actually worked in the house as concierges, elevator operators, and maids, collecting information about the mood and trustworthiness of the people they served. By the way, the first two floors were intended for communal apartments For large state service personnel.

In 1976, Yuri Trifonov’s story “The House on the Embankment” was published, in which the writer described the life and morals of the residents of the government building, many of whom were arrested in the 1930s and went from their comfortable apartments to Stalin's camps or were shot. The family of Yuri Trifonov also lived in this house and his parents ended up in the millstones in 1937-1938 Stalin's repressions. The book aroused great reader interest not only due to the talent of the author, but also due to the suppression of tragic pages during the Brezhnev era Soviet history. Few writers risked raising sensitive topics. After the release of the story, the Government House acquired a second name - “House on the Embankment.”

Of the current media personalities, Natalya Andreichenko, Alexey Batalov, Alexander Domogarov, and Natalya Ionova (Glukoza) live in the House on the Embankment. Back in 1994, the Moscow Government provided an apartment to Vladimir Gundyaev, who is now known as Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill. His extensive ancestral library is kept here, and the clergyman himself lives in the residence.

November 12, 1989 is considered the birthday of the local history museum “House on the Embankment”, about which its director Olga Romanovna Trifonova talks: “We are in former apartment, to put it roughly, a guard, and to put it politely, a guard at the first entrance, the most prestigious entrance of the House on the Embankment. After the redevelopment, the museum received another room where the interiors of the living room were recreated. The museum was organized by a resident of the house, a woman of fantastic energy, Tamara Andreevna Ter-Eghiazaryan. With time folk museum transformed into a municipal one, and then into a state one.

In the House on the Embankment lived both people who became victims, and the leaders of the Gulag, and the person who participated in the execution royal family(later Philip Goloshchekin was arrested on charges of Trotskyism and shot), everything was mixed up, as in the entire Russian history of the twentieth century. The house on the embankment is not only “a symbol of the terrible years of Russia,” but also a symbol of the creation new country, the people who created the industry lived here Soviet Union, and heroic polar pilots.

Yuri Trifonov wrote in the novel “Time and Place” great phrase: “These were times of greatness in small deeds.” These were scary times, but there were people who performed human actions. Creator Botanical Garden Nikolai Tsitsin once saw boys with baby. It turned out that the guys heard crying, secretly climbed into the neighbors’ sealed apartment and found a baby in the closet. The academician, favored by the authorities, did not pass by, took the child of the “enemies of the people” and ordered his housekeeper to take him to the village. So he saved one life. But other stories happened much more often - when neighbors wrote denunciations against each other and did a lot of things. And the children of arrested parents immediately became like lepers and shied away from them.

All exhibits were donated to the museum by the residents of the house. And I put the cap of the NKVDEShnik specially for fear, I ordered it from the cap workshop. In the center of the hall there is an installation dedicated to the people who died in 1937, and nice people from some factory in Ostankino helped find pieces of old-style barbed wire. Visitors are greeted by a stuffed penguin, once brought from a northern expedition by pilot Ilya Mazuruk (either the penguin climbed onto the plane itself, or the pilots captured the animal as a souvenir. By the way, in L. Ostrovsky’s book “The Zoo Today” the polar bear cub donated by Mazuruk to the Moscow Zoo is mentioned from Kotelny Island).

The largest apartments in the house consisted of seven rooms, for example, in one of them lived famous journalist Karl Radek (arrested in 1937, killed in prison). In general, the modesty of the time Soviet elite greatly exaggerated. Have you been to Gorki? Lenin lived in the palace. Stalin portrayed that he lived modestly, wearing only a tunic, but slept in silk nightgowns. But certain rules had to be followed. Residents of the Government House were provided with apartments with good quality oak furniture, but it could not be replaced with anything else. One day, the wife of historian Alexander Svanidze got rid of the provided headset and ran into trouble because an inspection took place once a year. I had to pay a huge amount. The special ration for the residents who were entitled to it included caviar, white and red fish.”

Museum address: Serafimovicha street, building 2
Official website: http://museum-dom.ru
Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10:00-18:30, Thursday 11:00-21:00, Saturday, Sunday 11:00-18:00
Days off: Monday and last Friday of the month
Entrance tickets: full 100 rubles, reduced 50 rubles
Every third Sunday of the month free visit
State local history museum"House on the Embankment" is part of museum association Museum of Moscow http://mosmuseum.ru

The variety theater moved to Bersenevskaya Embankment in 1961, but even earlier the site of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee club was used as a theater stage. For example, in the early 1930s, the director of the State New Theater F. Kaverin staged performances here. Later, this hall was called the Kalinin Club, in which numerous children's clubs worked - chess and checkers, "Skillful Hands" and others. The next stage of history - Children's theater, in which young artists staged adult plays, for example, Hamlet. Olga Trifonova recalls an incident when a boy, in an explanation scene with Ophelia, took his father’s real pistol out of his pocket (many residents of the house had an award weapon). Head theater studio with all precautions, she took away the unexpected firearms prop from the artist.

The Variety Theater website lists only some of the star performers who performed on the famous stage over the years: the theater gave viewers unforgettable meetings with the Leningrad Theater of Miniatures under the direction of Arkady Raikin, the orchestras of Leonid Utesov, Oleg Lundstrem, Boris Rensky, Eddie Rosner. The Variety Theater is proud that the Theater of two actors, Maria Mironova and Alexander Menaker, began its life on its stage. On this stage, such stars as Alla Pugacheva, Sofia Rotaru, Valery Leontyev, Evgeny Petrosyan, Gennady Khazanov, Alexander Serov, and later Philip Kirkorov, Igor Sarukhanov, Irina Otieva, Alexander Novikov, Andrei Bandera, Elena Vaenga, Denis Maidanov took their first steps. The first solo concerts of Oleg Gazmanov, Sergei Penkin, and Yulian were also held at the Variety Theater. Over the years, foreign stars have performed here, including Edith Piaf, Mireille Mathieu, Marlene Dietrich, Dean Reed, Salvatore Adamo, Marina Vladi, Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour, BB King, Pierre Richard, Glenn Hughes, Jean Tatlyan...

A significant contribution to the development of pop art was made by performances created on the stage of the theater by such pop masters as Gennady Khazanov (“Little things in life”, “Obvious and incredible”, “Little tragedies”, “The holiday that always ...”), Evgeny Petrosyan ( “A kind word is also pleasant for a cat”, “Inventory”, “We are all fools”, “Country of Limonia, village of Petrosyaniya”, “When finance sings romances”), Klara Novikova and Efim Shifrin (“Round Moon”, “Solo for a bed with creaking”, “I laugh so as not to cry”). Many national and honored artists of Russia performed on the theater stage in various performances, including Alisa Freindlikh, Oleg Basilashvili, Vitaly Solomin, Larisa Udovichenko, Alexander Shirvindt, Mikhail Derzhavin, Vladimir Menshov, Vera Alentova, Tatyana Vasilyeva, Evgenia Simonova, Chulpan Khamatova, Elena Proklova, Valery Zolotukhin, Alexander Abdulov, Andrey Panin and others.


Founder of the Moscow Variety Theater Nikolai Smirnov-Sokolsky