Theatre MDM will put the phantom of the Opera

<i>From the beginning of summer theater company Stage entertainment has launched a full renovation and technical re-equipment of MDM theatre, where on the 4th of October will be held the Russian premiere of the world's most popular musical "the phantom of the Opera". </i>

Unrivaled for its entertainment, "the phantom of the Opera" is one of the most technically complex and large-scale productions. Twenty-nine scenes and numbers alternate with each other, transferring the spectators in the Paris Opera, to an underground lake with chandeliers, a secret refuge Ghost or on the roof under the stars of Paris. To welcome this masterpiece of musical theatre, built in 1987 Moscow Palace of Youth must meet a number of requirements, and also to have the latest high-tech equipment.

In record time - just a few months - in theater MDM will be completely rebuilt mechanization upper stage: replaced by flying bar lifts, 2 times increased the number of winches, improved acoustics of the hall, installed a new sound and lighting equipment. The renovation works will affect the bottom mechanization scene, which is involved in complex "mystical" the effects of the musical "the phantom of the Opera". On 2 meters will increase the depth of the scene, and leading to the scene of the openings will be greatly expanded to feed on the scene while the bulk of the set elements. A special system of balances and release device will be mounted to ensure the fall of the chandelier weighing 650 kg, which flies over the heads of spectators at a speed of 2.5 meters per second.

"The timing for such a large-scale reconstruction rather tight, " says the head of the Stage entertainment and producer of the musical Dmitry Bogachev. The task is complicated by the fact that many works are carried out with suspensions at a height of 19 to 20 feet above the stage, so they involve specially trained riggers. To imagine the scale of the renovation, I can say that we have taken from MDM more than 30 tonnes of obsolete or unused equipment that is being replaced by a modern one. Among suppliers of stage equipment is exclusively European companies, because domestic equipment is much more expensive European and considerably inferior in quality."

In the course of the work transformed the interiors of MDM. Above the lobby work of the Dutch and Russian designers facing the challenge to create a theatre worthy of a great musical. Made of marble majestic portal of the main entrance to the auditorium, more than 20 years hidden behind a small stage in the huge lobby, will be reopened to the public. In the lobby will appear Central chandelier, art gallery, will be renovated bar area. By increasing the number of seats in the auditorium until 1850, MDM will become the largest theatre of Moscow. In front of the main entrance to the theater will be a small pedestrian area, decorated with stylized street lights such as those that can be found in Paris and London.

"The cost of renovation of the building will be about 200 million rubles. This is a large amount considering that we are talking not about the budget and state grants, and private investment, which should be returned in time due to the successful daily rental and sale of tickets, - says Dmitry Bogachev. But I have a firm belief in the success based on their own years of experience implementing large-scale projects in the field of commercial theatre and the knowledge of his laws. This confidence is reinforced by the results ordered us study one of the most authoritative international marketing agencies, according to which Russia is the most promising and dynamically developing European market musicals".

sections: Culture