On February 17, 2010, Distinguished Artist of Russia Maria Kuznetsova will celebrate her jubilee. The theater biography of this outstanding actress is inextricably intertwined with the Alexandrinsky Theater. A student of Igor Gorbachev, she was admitted to the company right after graduation in 1975. Her unique creative individuality along with colossal workability and mastership, her exceptional feeling of the partner and the ensemble allowed Maria Kuznetsova to turn into one of the leading young actresses after a short while: in the 1980s, she was engaged in nearly all performances of the Pushkin Theater and had been carrying a huge part of the theater’s repertoire. In the years of her work on the Alexandrinsky Stage, Maria Kuznetsova had played 70 roles.

On January 25, 2010, the Honorable Emblem of St. Tatiana Award Ceremony took place in the St. Isaacs Cathedral. Hertzen Pedagogical University endorsed Valery Fokin’s nomination in the category of “Educator of the Youth.” The Artistic Director of the Alexandrinsky Theater was honored “For the many years of enlightening and social activities.” Founders of the Honorable Emblem were: the Council of Rectors of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Eparchy, the Committee on the Youth Policies and Cooperation with Public Organizations, the Pokrov High School Association of the Spiritual and Moral Enlightening, the St. Petersburg Orthodox Seminary and the Committee on Science and Higher Education.

On January 23, 2010, the Alexandrinsky Theater performance “Uncle Vanya” directed by Andrey Serban gave start to the theater decade dedicated to the 150^th Birthday of Anton Chekhov. On the next day, January 24, another Chekhov’s performance was shown: it was “The Seagull” directed by Khrystian Lupa. In the course of the jubilee decade, the following plays will be presented: “The Three Sisters” of the Youth Theater on the Fontanka; “A Man in a Case” of the Bryantsev Youth Theater; “The Happy People” of the Theater in Liteiny; and “Chekhov. Vaudeville” of the Lensoveta Theater.

On January 16, 2010, Actress of the Alexandrinsky Theater will celebrate her jubilee. Her entire creative career is connected with the Alexandrinsky stage. She studied nuts and bolts of her profession here then still a student of Igor Gorbachev’s actor course. After graduation from the theater institute in 1983, she was admitted to the company. A temperamental, bright young actress with strong beautiful voice and good looks, Marina Roslova played the most various roles: from merchant woman Belotelova in A. Ostrovsky’s comedy “Balzaminov’s Marriage” (1984) to Marina and Akulina in L. Tolstoy’s play “The Power of the Dark” (1986); from Ganka in G. Zapolskaya’s cornball tragic comedy “Moral of Mrs. Dulskaya” (1987) to Raisa Filippovna and Zinka Pas d’Spain in N. Erdman’s comedy “A Suicide”(1988).

Yesterday, on January 13, 2010, the award ceremony for laureates of the firth youth theater award “Break-through” took place at the Comedian’s Shelter Theater. This award was founded by the Committee on Culture of the St. Petersburg Administration. The leading actors of the Alexandrinsky Theater and Dmitry Lysenkov were among the nominees. Yanina Lakovba was honored with the Award as “The Best Young Actress of a Drama Theater.” In the last season, she had played the role of Ksenia in the performance “Ksenia. The History of Love" by V. Levanov and the role of Sonya in the performance “Uncle Vanya.” The actress has also received a special prize of the MTS Telephone Compan, the general sponsor of the “Break-through” Award.

On January 13, 2010, had suddenly died Distinguished Artist of Russia Ludmila Gorbacheva. The actress had served at the Alexandrinsky Theater for more than 50 years. In the years of her work the actress had palyed more than 60 roles, among which were Nina (“The Years of Wondering” by A. Arbuzov, 1955), Girl (“The Optimistic Tragedy” by V. Vishnevsky, 1959), Irochka (“The Noble Nest” by I. Turgenev, 1959), Natasha (“A Lost Son” by A. Arbuzov, 1962), Ludmila (“Friends and Years” by L. Zorin, 1962), Beloved (“The Wild Captain” by Y. Smuul, 1965), Jane (“Maria Tudor” by V. Hugo, 1965). Her heroines were marked with charm of youth, sincerity and innocence, but with internal strength and personal integrity.

The “Choice of the 33” independent theater award was established in St. Petersburg by initiative of the Committee on Culture.

“We decided to launch this experiment because outcomes of professional awards, including the theater ones, often do not meet aspirations of many people. Jury and expert council’s members are often reproached in prejudices and lack of objectivity, along with a number of other sins. This is why we decided to establish an independent theater award,” – Anton Gubankov, Chair of the Committee, said to ITAR-TASS. Theater critics, directors and people professionally not affiliated with theater became members of the expert group.

On the eve of the New Year, the Alexandrinsky Theater published an album of the best views of the newly reconstructed theater. Photos of the best photographers show the Alexandrinsky Theater in its grand radiance with the five-circle auditorium and its gilded ornaments of the box barriers; the elegantly decorated public lobbies, walking galleries and enfilades of the Russian Drama Museum halls; the private apartments of the Royal family, offices of the Court Ministers and Director of the Imperial Theaters; dressing rooms of outstanding actors; details of the interior decorations, the antique furniture, chandeliers and mirrors created specifically for the Alexandrinsky Theater.

On December 1-10, 2009, a festival called “Andrey Moguchy’s Theater Space” will take place in St. Petersburg. It will be dedicated to the 20^th birthday of the Formal Theater established by Andrey Moguchy. Performances and festival events will be taking place on the stages of the Alexandrinsky Theater, Baltiisky Dom Festival Theater, Comedienne’s Shelter Theater, and also in the space of the Loft-Project ETAZHI Cultural Center. The festival program has two parts: “About the Theater” and “Not about the Theater.”