TSATRA has existed for over 80 years. The building of this theater is distinguished by special architecture. The auditorium here is the largest in the world, it is designed for more than 1,500 seats. The repertoire of the theater is rich and diverse, consists of classics and modern plays, as well as various concerts and festivals.
Theater History
The Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army was organized in 1929. The initiative for its creation belonged to the Political Administration of the Red Army (Red Army). At first, the theater consisted of several propaganda brigades that spoke to the troops, and then the brigades were united into one troupe. The theater’s birthday is considered February 6, 1930. It was on this day that the first performance took place.
In the 30s of the 20th century, there was a studio at the theater, where future actors were trained.
The building for the troupe was built in 1940. Prior to this, the troupe took their performances on tour or used the premises of the Red Banner Hall of the House of the Red Army. Almost the entire country built the Red Army Theater in Moscow. About forty factories from all over the Soviet Union were engaged in the production of stage constructions, motors, sophisticated electrical equipment, fittings, marble parts, glass, and many other things necessary for building a building.
Theater building
The Red Army Theater was built by the project of two architects - K.S. Alabyana and V.N. Simbirtseva. Their plan was to build a monument building. The theater was designed as a five-pointed star, which was the emblem of the Soviet Army. This appearance gives solemnity and significance. The TsTSA building is a kind of monument to the heroic Red Army.
The project of the scene belongs to engineer E. Maltsin. In the center of the building is a large auditorium, accommodating more than 1,500 people, which is surrounded by a half-ring foyer and a small hall. Inside the rays of the star, having the shape of a triangle, there are stairs, sideboards, art rooms and other rooms. Above the auditorium are rehearsal and decoration. The building is crowned by a turret, which in Soviet times was decorated with a statue of a warrior, in our time it was replaced by the flag of the Russian Federation.
The authors conceived in a special way the area near the theater. It is made in the form of a trapezoid, due to which it is inextricably linked with the building, it seems to grow into it and rises above it. This effect is also facilitated by the fact that the theater occupies the most elevated part of the territory and is set on a stylobate 4 meters high - thus emphasizing its importance as a monument. The dimensions of the theater are simply grandiose. The symbol of the five-pointed star is present not only in the general layout of the building, but also in some of its separate parts, for example, the columns that surround the Red Army Theater have a five-sided section.
About the theater
Even during the construction, the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army was conceived in such a way that it was possible to carry out grandiose large-scale productions in it. Tanks walked around the TsTSA stage, and cavalry galloped.
The troupe has always consisted and consists of talented actors, for example, Faina Georgievna Ranevskaya herself once shone here. The main director of the theater today is B.A. Morozov, having the title of People's Artist of Russia. The troupe repeatedly participated in theater festivals and in the World Theater Olympiad, for the performance "At the bottom" TSTSA received the theater award "Crystal Turandot".
The theater’s auditorium is of great interest because it is unique. It is designed so that all seats are equally comfortable, and the seats recline silently. The technical equipment of the stage is amazing: a smooth floor can be replaced by a relief; in the center are two rotating drums; there are 19 tables that can rise above the floor 2.5 meters up and fall under the floor to a depth of 2 meters; behind the stage is the tank entry. Picturesque ceiling painted by artists L.A. Bruni and V.L. Favorsky depicts a clear blue sky in which Stalin's "falcons" proudly roar.
The Red Army Theater is a miracle of Soviet engineering.
Repertoire
The repertoire of the theater of the Russian army is very rich. Over the years of its existence, the troupe has played more than 300 performances. To date, the repertoire of such productions:
- "The Testament of the Chaste Womanizer" (comedy);
- “Playing on the keys of the soul” (parable);
- “The fate of one house” (war drama);
- “Nightingale Night” (lyrical drama);
- “Tsar Fedor Ioannovich” (tragedy);
- “The Man from La Mancha” (musical);
- “Silver Bells” (tragicomedy);
- "Elinor and her men" (tragifars);
- Eternally Alive (drama);
- "Aibolit" (zoological oratorio);
- and other performances.
Also, various events are held here for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
Troupe
Actors of the Theater of the Russian Army are 77 talented professionals, including 17 Honored Artists of Russia, 9 - People's Artists of Russia and 2 - People's Artists of the USSR. Celebrities such as Vladimir Zeldin, Lyudmila Chursina, Olga Bogdanova, Larisa Golubkina, Alisa Bogart serve here. Many actors are awarded with state awards, medals, orders.
Vladimir Zeldin
Vladimir Mikhailovich in 2015 celebrated his centenary. He received a theatrical education at the Production and Theater Workshops at the ISSE, on the course of E. Lepkovsky. In 1940, he was invited by the legendary director
Ivan Pyryev to the main role in the film “Pig and Shepherd”. In 1941, the war began, and filming was suspended, the actor received a summons to the tank school with subsequent sending to the front. But soon the Minister of Cinematography ordered the filming to continue, all the artists who were busy in it received a reservation and were returned to work on the film. During the day - between the Nazi air raids - Vladimir Ivanovich acted in films, and at night he was on duty on the roof of the house and put out incendiary bombs that the Nazis dropped on Moscow.
From 1946 to the present day V.M. Zeldin serves in the Theater of the Russian Army. In addition, Vladimir Mikhailovich played more than 40 movie roles. The actor has the title of People's Artist of the USSR, is a laureate of several theater awards.
"Paula Negri"
In addition to their own productions, the performances in the theater of the Russian Army are also temporary, which are here at a party. For example, the musical "Paul Negri". This is a performance that became the founder of a new era in contemporary art. This musical uses 3D technology - actors on stage work against the backdrop of a 3D screen onto which projections are replaced, replacing the scenery. Spectators watch the performance in 3D glasses. The plot focuses on the fate of the Hollywood actress, who was a silent movie star, and her difficult relationship with one of the greatest directors of that time - Ernst Lubich.
The musical is based on real events. This actress of Polish descent was the first sex symbol in the history of cinema. Spectators who come to this performance will enjoy the love, passion, cruelty that reigns in the world of show business, as well as a sense of presence on the stage, airplanes and airships that seem real. The main roles in the production are played by well-known musical artists: T. Dolnikova, S. Wilhelm-Plashchevskaya and I. Ozhogin.
Theon is familiar to the viewer by her roles in the musicals Metro, Notre Dame de Paris (Esmeralda), Count Orlov (Elizabeth), and Warriors of the Spirit.
Everyone knows Svetlana Wilhelm-Plaschevskaya thanks to the role of Katya in the musical “Nord-Ost”.
Ivan Ozhogin is famous for his work in such musical projects as Nord-Ost, Cats, The Master and Margarita, The Phantom of the Opera, etc. For performing the role of Count von Krolock in the musical “Vampire Ball” he was awarded several top theater awards: “The Musical Heart of the Theater” and “Golden Mask”. In the musical “Paula Negri,” the brilliant vocalist Ivan Ozhogin plays the roles of director Ernst Lubich, Prince Mdivani, as well as Paula’s father in an episode showing her childhood.
KVN
The Theater of the Red Army welcomes on its stage the Club of Cheerful and Resourceful under the direction of A.V. Maslyakova. Here games of teams of the major league are organized. Filming of all issues takes place in TSATRA. KVN is an eternally young game that has already discovered many bright stars. It is no coincidence that Club teams compete in the theater building. KVN has already become one of the genres of theatrical art, which is a competition of teams on a given topic, their numbers are short variety miniatures.
Location
Not far from the metro station "Dostoevskaya" is the Moscow Theater of the Red Army. His address: Suvorov Square, house number 2.