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[<< Begin] [<< Prev] 3 4 5 6 7NORD-OST: Final PerformancesApril 15, 2003The NORD-OST musical is leaving the Moscow stage. The last performance is set for May 10th, 2003. Since that day NORD-OST will cease to exist as a unique phenomenon in the Russian culture – the first daily-running musical in Russia.This project combined things which seemed incompatible: creative drive and sober economic estimate, dream and reality, past and present. The doubtless success of the first NORD-OST season is confirmed by the figures: 320 performances were given during the year with over 300 thousand spectators having attended these performances. This brilliant happy life was ruined by the act of terror on October 23-26, 2002. Not only it tragically resulted in innocent victims and broken lives of the hostages but also in the public’s low spirits and fear. We were aware: what attitude our compatriots will take to the country and personally to themselves depended on the way NORD-OST would build its future. We felt that it was our duty to revive the performance as good should be stronger than evil not only on stage but in life too. After the decision had already been taken, in December 2002 we received the results of the public opinion poll conducted by the COMCON Group. In accordance with these data over half of those potential spectators who were going to see NORD-OST before the October events changed their mind because of the act of terror. It meant that the future of the project was under a serious risk, but we hoped to reason the fear away. The revived NORD-OST musical opened up on February 8th, 2003. By the general opinion, the performance became even more attractive than before and its impact on the public became more comprehensive and penetrating. However, mass media, though giving due to the artistic level of the performance, focused mostly on the gloomy psychological trail of the act of terror, which not only reasoned away but, on the contrary, added up to the fears and doubts of the public. Since the second premiere the sales have never reached their autumn level. In March the box-offices sold half as many tickets as in October. Still, the house was full: the way out for us in this period was the sale of whole performances to companies and organizations. But already in April the run of NORD-OST became loss-making. And if in 2002 the daily schedule of presenting NORD-OST was kept even in summer, the act of terror made it absolutely impossible. NORD-OST is closing in Moscow, the gains having never overbalanced the initial investments into the creation of this production, into sets and equipment, etc. When launching the musical in the autumn of 2001 we expected to run the show for at least three theatre seasons (three winters and two summers). The tragedy in the Theatre Center at Dubrovka resulted in the loss of two seasons out the planned three, which led to the financial failure of the project. Was it a miscalculation on the part of the producers? Probably not. LINK production company created the best ticket distribution system in this country and arranged the Western level management of the project. The marketing forecasts were coming true. The only thing the producers could not foresee was the terrorist attack. Once again, we would like to express our thanks to all those who helped us in bringing the musical back to stage. People say that the best way to repay good is to do a good deed to somebody who is in need for it. That is what we did. The funds which were donated for the revival of NORD-OST turned into free of charge tickets for those who wanted to see NORD-OST but could not afford it: for the veterans, disabled people, low income families but primarily for the children and teenagers. We believed that it was for the young spectators that the story of “Two Captains” by V. Kaverin would become the impressive true-life model, a lesson of truth and honor. We announce the closing of NORD-OST in Moscow a month in advance before the final performance so that the spectators who postponed their visit to our theatre so far, could have a chance to see the musical in all its glory. By May 10th there would have been given almost 100 performances since the day of the second premiere which for another stage production would have taken two-three years of worthy scenic life. All in all NORD-OST would have been shown 410 times in Moscow. Over 400 performances just in the period of 15 months – this is a record for our country. NORD-OST has truly become the legend of the XXI century – a legend both poetic and dramatic. Whatever should happen to us, we will always be proud of being art and part in this pure and honest story which became the epigraph to the new century. NORD-OST in facts and figures NORD-OST premiered in Moscow on October 19th, 2001. The 100th performance of NORD-OST took place on February 1, 2002. At the end of the show the spectators darted 100 paper planes towards the stage. On April 10th, 2002, the authors and leading actors of NORD-OST reached the North Pole where they hoisted the flag with the motto “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield!” On October 23rd, 2002, the act of terror cut short the 323rd show of NORD-OST. There were 90 people from the NORD-OST staff, including 11 young performers, among the hostages. The hostages were released on October 26th, 2003. They spent 56 hours in the siege. 17 members of the NORD-OST team, including 2 children, died in the act of terror. The material damage to the performance reached 23,3 million roubles. 22,7 million roubles were donated for the revival of NORD-OST, of which 80% came from private persons and companies. The premiere of the revived NORD-OST took place on February 8th, 2003. NORD-OST became laureate of the national theatre award "Golden Mask" for theatre season 2001-2002 as the best musical of the year. Yury Mazikhin, performer, received the same award in the nomination "Best Male Role in a Musical" for performing the role of Nikolai Antonovich Tatarinov. There are over 300 people working in NORD-OST of which 32 are adult actors. Since the revival over 100 performances will have been shown before the closure of the musical and about 100 thousand spectators will be able to see these performances. Over 10 thousand charity tickets have been distributed for the revived NORD-OST. The business plan of the project was calculated on the basis of the assumption that the daily shows of the musical will continue for the period of 3 winters and 2 summers. The Theatre Center at Dubrovka was rented for 2 years and a half. The final. 410th performance of the NORD-OST musical in Moscow will take place on May 10th, 2003. 15 months of NORD-OST shows – over 400 thousand spectators. NORD-OST is the only performance in the world in which a life-size military plane with the wing span of 15 meters lands on the stage. Press Service The NORD-OST Musical (095) 270-7604, 784-7786 www.nordost.ru info@nordost.ru [<< Begin] [<< Prev] 3 4 5 6 7 |
