Theater

Thursday, December 20th

Betrayal (Predatelstvo): Harold Pinter's dissection of a woman's affair with her husband's best friend as seen in reverse time, from end to beginning. Directed by Vladimir Mirzoyev. Stars Maxim Sukhanov, Anna Churina and Andrei Merzlikin. Vakhtangov Theater. 7 p.m.

New Bridegrooms (Zhenikhi): Nikita Grinshpun stages Issak Dunayevsky's 1926 musical comedy set in the NEP era. Theater of Nations. 7 p.m.

Konstantin Raikin in his one-man concert performance. Satirikon Theater. 7 p.m.

MT Pick One Absolutely Happy Village (Odna Absolyutno Schastlivaya Derevnya): Pyotr Fomenko's beautiful dramatization of Boris Vakhtin's 1965 novella. Fomenko Studio. 7 p.m.

New Spanish Madness (Ispanskiye Bezumstva): Igor Konyayev stages Lope de Vega's play "The Maestro of Dance." Lenkom Theater. 7 p.m.

The Gift (Dar): Yevgeny Kamenkovich's adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov's final Russian novel. Fomenko Studio New Stage. 7 p.m.

MT Pick The Golovlyov Family (Gospoda Golovlyovy): Kirill Serebrennikov stages Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin's bitterly satirical novel about a cruel, backward family in the Russian provinces. Stars Yevgeny Mironov. Chekhov Moscow Art Theater small stage. 7 p.m.

MT Pick The Overcoat (Shinel): This interpretation of Gogol's story by director Valery Fokin and composer Alexander Bakshi stars Marina Neyolova as Bashmachkin. Sovremennik Theater Drugaya Stage. 7:30 p.m.

MT Pick The River Potudan (Reka Potudan): Sergei Zhenovach's delicate dramatization of Andrei Platonov's story about fragile love. Studio of Theatrical Art. 7 p.m.

Friday, December 21st

Doctor Zhivago: Yury Lyubimov's adaptation of Boris Pasternak's novel about a poet's ill-fated efforts to avoid involvement in the Russian Revolution. Music by Alfred Schnittke. Taganka Theater. 7 p.m.

Heard, Seen, Not Jotted Down (Podslushannoye, Podsmotrennoye, Nezapisannoye): an improvisational show by Yevgeny Grishkovets and Iosif Raikhelgauz. Contemporary Play School. 7 p.m.

Much Ado About Nothing (Mnogo Shuma iz Nichego): Yevgeny Pisarev's contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy. Pushkin Theater. 7 p.m.

Peer Gynt: Mark Zakharov's staging on the themes of Henrik Ibsen's verse drama. Choreography by Oleg Glushkov. Lenkom Theater. 7 p.m.

MT Pick Pushkin's Little Tragedies (Malenkiye Tragedii Pushkina): scenes from five short plays by Alexander Pushkin. Satirikon Theater. 7 p.m.

New The Games of Singles (Igry Odinokikh): Mikhail Tsitrinyak stages Neil Simon's play "Chapter Two" with Andrei Ilyin and Yelena Sotnikova in the leads. Vakhtangov Theater. 7 p.m.

MT Pick The Gentleman: Yevgeny Kamenkovich stages Alexander Sumbatov-Yuzhin's play about an ambitious, vain young man making his way in the world. Sovremennik Theater. 7 p.m.

New The Hunting of the Snark (Okhota na Snarka): Kirill Serebrennikov stages Lewis Carroll's nonsense poem describing the impossible voyage of an improbable crew to find an inconceivable creature. A Seventh Studio production. Platforma at the Winzavod Center of Contemporary Art. 8 p.m.

New The Squirrel (Belka): Yekaterina Granitova's adaptation of Anatoly Kim's 1985 novel about four young artists and their clash with reality. Theater Na Maloi Bronnoi. 7 p.m.

The Tale of Arden Forest (Skazka Ardenskogo Lesa): Yuly Kim's adaptation of Shakespeare's "As You Like It," written by Yuly Kim and directed by Pyotr Fomenko. Fomenko Studio. 7 p.m.

New The Triumph of Love (Triumf Lyubvi): Bulgarian director Galin Stoev stages Marivaux's classic comedy. Theater of Nations. 7 p.m.

Uncle Vanya (Dyadya Vanya): Mindaugas Karbauskis' staging of Anton Chekhov's play. Tabakov Theater production. Chekhov Moscow Art Theater. 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 22nd

MT Pick Auction (Torgi): Dmitry Krymov stages a bittersweet comedy about loss based on Chekhov's plays. School of Dramatic Art production. Project Otkrytaya Stsena. 7 p.m.

New Cyrano de Bergerac: Rostand's comedy about the romantic poet with the long nose and a heartful of unrequited love as staged by Georges Lavaudant.  Maly Theater. 7 p.m.

Doctor Zhivago: (See Fri. listing.) Taganka Theater. 7 p.m.

Figaro: Kirill Serebrennikov's staging of Beaumarchais' comedy stars Yevgeny Mironov and Lia Akhedzhakova. Theater of Nations. 7 p.m.

Heard, Seen, Not Jotted Down: (See Fri. listing.) Contemporary Play School. 7 p.m.

New R.R.R.: Yury Yeryomin's version of Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment." Mossoviet Theater. 7 p.m.

New Sister Nadezhda (Sestra Nadezhda): Alexander Marin stages the story of two sisters by Alexander Volodin. Tabakov Theater. 7 p.m.

New The Hunting of the Snark: (See Fri. listing.) Platforma at the Winzavod Center of Contemporary Art. 8 p.m.

MT Pick The Overcoat: (See Thurs. listing.) Sovremennik Theater Drugaya Stage. 7:30 p.m.

The Producers: The lively Russian version of Mel Brooks' musical as staged by Dmitry Belov. Et Cetera Theater. 7 p.m.

MT Pick The Seagull (Chaika): Yury Butusov stages a comedy based on Chekhov's play about conflicting generations of Russian actors and writers. Satirikon Theater. 7 p.m.

Uzbek: Talgat Batalov's experimental one-man performance about gastarbeiters in Moscow. Teatr.doc. 5 p.m.

New Vassa Zheleznova: Yury Klepikov directs Maxim Gorky's play about the forces destroying a traditional Russian family. Dzhigarkhanyan Theater. 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 23rd

New Almost. Meine (Pochtigorod): Sergei Golomazov stages John Cariani's nine short plays that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical place. Theater Na Maloi Bronnoi. 7 p.m.

New The Hunting of the Snark: (See Fri. listing.) Platforma at the Winzavod Center of Contemporary Art. 8 p.m.

The Last Clown (Posledny Kloyn): Andrei Sokolov stars as a fifty year-old bon vivant at death's door in a play by Bernard Slade directed by Sergei Artsibashev. Satire Theater. 7 p.m.

New The New Sorrows of Young W. (Noviye Stradaniya Yunogo V.): Mikhail Barkhatov's adaptation of Ulrich Plenzdorf's novel that tells the story of a young man, who wants to escape from his small middle-class environment. Preview. Chekhov Moscow Art Theater small stage. 7 p.m.

The Producers: (See Sat. listing.) Et Cetera Theater. 6 p.m.

MT Pick The Seagull: (See Sat. listing.) Satirikon Theater. 7 p.m.

The Suitcase Packers (Na Chemodanakh): Hanoch Levin's comedy with eight funerals as staged by Alexander Koruchekov. Mayakovsky Theater. 7 p.m.

The Year I Was Not Born In (God, Kogda Ya ne Rodilsya): Konstantin Bogomolov's staging based on Viktor Rozov's comedy "The Nest of the Wood Grouse." Tabakov Theater production. Chekhov Moscow Art Theater. 7 p.m.

New Vassa Zheleznova: (See Sat. listing.) Dzhigarkhanyan Theater. 7 p.m.

Monday, December 24th

A Time of Women (Vremya Zhenshchin): Yegor Peregudov's staging based on Yelena Chizhova's novel about several generations of Russian women. Sovremennik Theater Drugaya Stage. 7:30 p.m.

Happy New Year! (S Nastupayushchim!): Sergei Garmash and Leonid Yarmolnik co-star as two friends in Rodion Ovchinnikov's New Year story. Sovremennik Theater production. Estrada Theater. 7 p.m.

Orpheus: Jean Cocteau's play as directed by Vladimir Skvortsov. Et Cetera Theater Efros Hall. 7 p.m.

Prima Donnas: Yevgeny Pisarev directs a comedy by Ken Ludwig. Chekhov Moscow Art Theater. 7 p.m.

MT Pick The Gronholm Method (Metod Gryonkholma): Jordi Galceran's play about job applicants forced to undergo strange tests to win a position. Directed by Javor Gardev. Theater of Nations. 7 p.m.

The Hare. A Love Story (Zayats. Love Story): Valentin Gaft and Nina Doroshina co-star in Nikolai Kolyada's play directed by Galina Volchek. Sovremennik Theater. 7 p.m.

New The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Leitenant s Ostrova Inishmor): Alexander Suvorov's production of Martin McDonagh's violent, black comedy. Theater Yunogo Zritelya. 7 p.m.

Theatrical Novel (Teatralny Roman): Kirill Pirogov and Pyotr Fomenko's stage adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's novel. Fomenko Studio New Stage. 7 p.m.

New This is Me Too (Eto Tozhe Ya): A staging based on interviews with young people from 16 to 20. Praktika. 8 p.m.

Tuesday, December 25th

Autumn Sonata (Osennyaya Sonata): Yekaterina Polovtseva stages Ingmar Bergman with Marina Neyolova and Alyona Babenko in the leads. The story of a celebrated classical pianist who is confronted by her neglected daughter. Sovremennik Theater. 7 p.m.

Enough Symplicity in Every Wise Man (Na Vsyakogo Mudretsa Dovolno Prostoty): Vladimir Mirzoyev's staging of Ostrovsky's classic comedy. Taganka Theater. 7 p.m.

Lies for Salvation (Lozh vo Spaseniye): Gleb Panfilov's staging on the themes of Spanish poet and playwright Alejandro Casona. Lenkom Theater. 7 p.m.

New Romeo and Juliet: Konstantin Raikin's new version of the Shakespeare tragedy. Satirikon Theater. 7 p.m.

MT Pick The Demon. The View From Above (Demon. Vid Sverkhu): Dmitry Krymov's innovative production inspired by Mikhail Lermontov's poem. School of Dramatic Art. 7 p.m.

MT Pick The Gronholm Method: (See Mon. listing.) Theater of Nations. 7 p.m.

The Office: Roman Kozak's production of Ingrid Lausund's comedy "Slipped Disc. A Study of the Upright Walk." Five young office workers struggle to cope with a tyrannical, unseen boss. Pushkin Theater affiliate. 7 p.m.

New The Price (Tsena): Arthur Miller's heart-wrenching drama about two brothers and the price they must pay for the choices they have made in life. Directed by Leonid Kheifets. Mayakovsky Theater. 7 p.m.

MT Pick The River Potudan: (See Thurs. listing.) Studio of Theatrical Art. 7 p.m.

MT Pick The Tempest (Burya): Shakespeare's play as staged by Robert Sturua stars Alexander Kalyagin as Prospero. Et Cetera Theater. 7 p.m.

Wednesday, December 26th

A Russian on a Rendezvous (Russky Chelovek na Rendez-Vous): a romantic musical staging based on Ivan Turgenev's story "Spring Freshets." Fomenko Studio New Stage. 7 p.m.

Circo Ambulante: Andrei Moguchy and Maxim Isayev research the Don Quixote phenomenon in contemporary life. Stars Lia Akhedzhakova and Albert Filozov. Theater of Nations. 7 p.m.

MT Pick Katya, Sonya, Polya, Vera, Olya, Tanya: (Demon. Vid Sverkhu): Dmitry Krymov's innovative production inspired by Mikhail Lermontov's poem. School of Dramatic Art production. Meyerhold Center. 7 p.m.

MT Pick One Absolutely Happy Village: (See Thurs. listing.) Fomenko Studio. 7 p.m.

Peer Gynt: (See Fri. listing.) Lenkom Theater. 7 p.m.

MT Pick Pushkin. Duel. Death. (Pushkin. Duel. Smert.): Kama Ginkas' powerful staging, based on the memoirs of Pushkin's contemporaries, is a brilliant examination of the way in which poets are misunderstood by those closest to them. Theater Yunogo Zritelya. 7 p.m. 

New Requiem for Radames (Rekviem po Radamesu): Roman Viktyuk stages Aldo Nicolaj’s comedy set in a nursing home. Stars Olga Aroseva, Vera Vasilyeva and Yelena Obraztsova. Satire Theater. 7 p.m.

New Romeo and Juliet: (See Tues. listing.) Satirikon Theater. 7 p.m.

New The Games of Singles: (See Fri. listing.) Vakhtangov Theater. 7 p.m.

The Office: (See Tues. listing.) Pushkin Theater affiliate. 7 p.m.

New Witness for the Prosecution (Svidetel Obvineniya): Marie-Louise Bishofberger stages Agatha Christie. Chekhov Moscow Art Theater small stage. 7 p.m.

and Beyond…

Cloture de l'Amour (Closing of Love, Predel Lyubvi): Pascal Rambert stages his play with Yevgenia Dobrovolskaya and Andrei Kuzichev. Chekhov Moscow Art Theater Novaya Stage. Dec. 27 and Jan. 12, 7 p.m.

Come On In (Zakhodite-Zakhodite): Yury Butorin's adaptation of Meir Shalev's novel "As a Few Days" also called "The Four Meals" and "The Loves of Judith." Fomenko Studio. Dec. 27 and Jan. 16, 7 p.m.

Enemies, A Love Story (Vragi: Istoriya Lyubvi): An adaptation of Isaac Bashevis Singer's novel, set in New York in 1949, about a Holocaust survivor who finds himself involved with two wives and a fiancee. Sovremennik Theater. Dec. 27, 28 and 29, 7 p.m.

Faces (Litsa): Alexander Kalyagin directs and stars in a two-actor comic show based on Chekhov's short stories. Et Cetera Theater. Dec. 27 at 7 p.m., Dec. 31 at 6 p.m.

MT Pick Konstantin Raikin: An Evening With Dostoevsky (Konstantin Raikin: Vecher s Dostoyevskim): Director Valery Fokin and composer Alexander Bakshi create a stage version of Fyodor Dostoevsky's existentialist novel "Notes From Underground" especially for Raikin. Satirikon Theater. Dec. 27, 7 p.m.

New Me — or God — or Nobody (Ya — ili Bog — ili Nikto): Alexei Devotchenko and Pyotr Semak in Anton Malikov's staging of Pushkin's short tragedy "Mozart and Salieri." Meyerhold Center. Dec. 27, 8 p.m.

New Nocturne: Kama Ginkas stages Adam Rapp's highly acclaimed play, in which a 32-year-old writer recounts the tragic events that tore his family apart. Theater Yunogo Zritelya. Dec. 27 and Jan. 9, 7 p.m.

Shosha: The story of a writer living in Warsaw's Jewish quarter before World War II. Based on Isaac Bashevis Singer's novel. Theater of Nations. Dec. 27, Jan. 7 and 8, 7 p.m.

Talents and Admirers (Talanty i Poklonniki): Alexander Ostrovsky's backstage play about a young actress trying to put up with jealous partners and pushy suitors. Directed by Mindaugas Karbauskis. Mayakovsky Theater. Dec. 27, 7 p.m.

MT Pick Tararabumbiya: Dmitry Krymov stages a musical "procession" by Alexander Bakshi that brings together Chekhov's heroes and heroines in a contemporary collage. School of Dramatic Art. Dec. 27, 28 and 29, 7 p.m.

Theater in the Times of Nero and Seneca (Teatr Vremyon Nerona i Seneki): Armen Dzhigarkhanyan plays the Roman philosopher, dramatist, tutor and advisor to emperor Nero in Edvard Radzinsky's tragifarce. Dzhigarkhanyan Theater. Dec. 27, 7 p.m.

New Gumshoes (Kedy): Ruslan Malikov stages Lyubov Strizhak's play about a 26-year-old lounger Grisha. Preview. Praktika. Dec. 28 and 29, Jan. 13 and 14, 8 p.m.

Landing Stage (Pristan): The Vakhtangov Theater jubilee staging on the themes of Brecht, Bunin, Dostoevsky, Durrenmatt, Arthur Miller, Pushkin, Eduardo de Filippo and Shakespeare. Vakhtangov Theater. Dec. 28 and 29, 7 p.m.

Reflection or True (Otrazheniya ili Istinnoye): Oleg Topolyansky directs Tom Stoppard's play "The Real Thing," in which the author teases the audience with the difference between semblance and reality. Pushkin Theater affiliate. Dec. 28 and 29, 7 p.m.

MT Pick Repress and Excite (Podavlyat i Vozbuzhdat): Alexander Kalyagin directs Maksym Kurochkin's play, an eccentric mix of boulevard melodrama, backstage intrigues and social satire. Et Cetera Theater. Dec. 28, 7 p.m.

The Blue Monster (Sineye Chudovishche): Konstantin Raikin directs a commedia dell'arte based on a play by Carlo Gozzi. Satirikon Theater. Dec. 28 and 29, 7 p.m.

The Lioness of Aquitaine (Akvitanskaya Lvitsa): Gleb Panfilov stages James Goldman's screenplay, "The Lion in Winter," about the gamesmanship between Henry II of England (Dmitry Pevtsov), his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine (Inna Churikova), their sons and their French royal relatives. Lenkom Theater. Dec. 28, 7 p.m.

The Master and Margarita: Mikhail Bulgakov's satirical philosophical fantasy about Satan's visit to Moscow. Directed by Janos Szasz. Chekhov Moscow Art Theater. Dec. 28 and 29, 7 p.m.