Evgeny Kapitonov joined the A.S.Pushkin Russian Academic Drama Theatre in 1999. He was already an experienced actor with extensive artistic knowledge. For over 30 years Kapitonov worked at the Gorky Academic Drama Theatre in the Crimea. At the Alexandrinsky Theatre he predominantly plays comical character parts. In the last six seasons he played twelve roles including Ermolay (‘Two Sorrels’ by A.Belinsky, 2000), Deacon (‘Tale of Tsar Saltan’ by A.S.Pushkin, 2000), Don Juan’s Father (Molière"s ‘Don Juan’, 2000), Schelkanov (‘Boris Godunov’ by A.S.Pushkin, 2000), O’Dowd (‘Vanity Fair’ by W.Thackeray, 2002), Kuteykin (‘The Minor’ by D.Fonvizin, 2003).

Tatyana Kuznetsova, the Distinguished Artist of Russia, will meet with theatre-goers on 29 March 2005 at 18.30 in the Theatre Hall at Dom Aktera (86 Nevsky Prospect). The event will celebrate her 20-year long theatrical career. Over these years the actress played a wide range of characters. The audience remembers and loves her fragile Anna Frank, sophisticated Marguerite Gautier, touching Gelsomina, classy Lyubov Ranevskaya… For Kuznetsova this will be her first experience of a direct dialog with her audience. The actress will play the fragments from her productions such as ‘Farewell to Clowns’ based on F.Fellini, "The Unnamed Star" by M.Sebasian, ‘Ornithology’ by A.Stroganov, and H.Ibsen’s ‘Nora’.

Vera Velyaminova, the Distinguished Artist of Russia, is celebrating her 80th Birthday on 26 March 2006. The theatrical career of this remarkable St.Petersburg actress is closely associated with the Alexandrinsky Theatre. In 1952, still a student of the Leningrad Theatre Institute, she was invited to play a small part of a young gipsy in The Living Corpse (The Man Who Was Dead) by Leo Tolstoy. The incredible voice, sincere performance, theatrical temperament and beauty of the young actress have been instantly noticed. The old gypsy song she performed in the play became the culmination of the scene. Later, she starred as Masha in The Living Corpse with Nikolay Simonov playing the part of Protasov. The young talented actress took part in many productions playing a wide range of roles - romantic, character and comical.

Valery Fokin, the Artistic Director of the Alexandrinsky Theatre has been awarded the Order of Service to the Fatherland, IV degree (by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 172 dt. 28.02.06) for his outstanding contribution to the development of Russian theatre.

This season happens to be celebratory not only for the Alexandrinsky Theatre, but also for its Artistic Director – the People’s Artist of Russia, the winner of the State Awards Valery Fokin, who celebrated his 60th Birthday on 28 February 2006.

Valery Forkin is one of the few leading theater directors in Russia who preserved a keen interest in the magical essence of the theatre. His style is recognizable, unique, and always fresh. Every production of his represents an attempt to address the timeless and bitter questions of human existence. His favorite authors - Dostoyevsky, Vampilov, Gogol, Chekhov, Kafka had a deep impact on his work from his first production Someone Else"s Wife and Husband under the Bed by Dostoyevsky staged in B. Shukin School of the Vakhtangov Theatre. After graduation from the School, Fokin worked for 15 years as a Director at Moscow’s Sovremennik Theatre.

A new Council for Culture and Arts has been established by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 15.02.06.

Valery Fokin the Artistic Director of the Alexandrinsky Theatre has been appointed a member of the Executive Committee of the Council. The Council will advise the President on proposed federal laws, distribution of the State Awards, and developments in the field of culture and arts in Russia and abroad.

Students of Professor Veniamin Filshtinsky of the St. Petersburg Theatre Academy Oleg Yeremin, Valentin, Zaharov, Aleksanrd Kudrenko, Andrey Matyukov, Ivan Osipov and Pavel Yurinov have been invited to join the Alexandrinsky Theatre. They will take part in the new productions of The Living Corpse (The Man Who Was Dead) by L.N. Tolstoy, N.F.B based on F.M.Dostoyevsky’s novel The Idiot and Sophocles" Edipus the Tsar. The debut of the young actors on Alexandinsky’s stage will take place next season, but their talent and professionalism is apparent from the students’ graduation performances at the Academy. One of the productions - Crime and Punishment based on F.M Dostoyevsky staged by a young director Alisa Ivanova has already become a memorable event of this theatrical season. One of the actors – Ivan Osipov will play a part of the Clark in the play The Double on 21 February 2006.