Rossiya Theatre
A Moscow landmark venue for cinema and large-scale musical theatre productions.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Rossiya Theatre is a major entertainment venue on Pushkinskaya Square in central Moscow. The building opened in 1961 as the Rossiya Cinema and later became associated with the name Pushkinsky Cinema before being relaunched as the Rossiya Theatre. Its history reflects the changing role of large urban entertainment venues in Moscow: it began primarily as a cinema, was subsequently renovated and repositioned by a commercial film distributor, and later became a home for imported and locally staged musical theatre. The venue was originally constructed as a cinema in 1961. In 1997, it was leased and eventually sold to the film distributor Karo Film. Karo Film renovated the property and changed its public name to Pushkinsky Cinema. This phase established the building as a modernized commercial cinema venue while preserving its prominent location and architectural importance. In 2012, the venue was leased to Stage Entertainment Russia for a five-year period. Under Stage Entertainment's operation, the building was used for major musical productions rather than functioning solely as a cinema. The programming included the Russian premiere of The Little Mermaid, a production of Chicago, a revival of Beauty and the Beast, the Russian premiere of Singin' in the Rain, and the European premiere of Cinderella. The Little Mermaid reportedly received 503 performances, while the Beauty and the Beast revival received 245 performances. Chicago continued a production that had first opened at Moscow's MDM Theatre. The theatre's positioning is therefore based on scale, central Moscow location, architectural prominence, and the ability to host commercially produced stage musicals. It is not a consumer-goods brand or record-label imprint; its principal offering is access to live entertainment in a landmark venue. The available reference material does not establish a current owner, detailed operating structure, box-office economics, seating capacity, or a complete performance history. Stage Entertainment is identified as the operator during the documented 2012 lease period and as the organization associated with the theatre's musical-theatre programming.
History
The venue now known as Rossiya Theatre was built in 1961 as the Rossiya Cinema in Moscow. Its location on Pushkinskaya Square placed it among the city's prominent central cultural and commercial sites. The original identity was oriented toward film exhibition rather than live stage performance. A major ownership and operating transition occurred in 1997, when the venue was leased and later sold to Karo Film, a film distribution company. Karo Film renovated the building and renamed it Pushkinsky Cinema. The change reflected a commercial modernization of the property and reinforced its role within Moscow's cinema network. The available reference material does not provide the precise dates of the renovation, the architectural scope of the work, or the terms of the eventual sale. In 2012, Stage Entertainment Russia leased the Pushkinsky venue for five years. This arrangement shifted the building's principal public function toward large-scale musical theatre. Stage Entertainment used the venue for productions adapted from internationally known musical properties, including The Little Mermaid, Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, Singin' in the Rain, and Cinderella. The programming combined Russian premieres, a revival, a continuation of an existing Moscow production, and a European premiere. The Little Mermaid was presented from 2012 to 2014 and is reported to have reached 503 performances. Chicago appeared in 2014 for 16 performances, continuing the production that had premiered at the MDM Theatre in Moscow. A Beauty and the Beast revival ran from 2014 to 2015 and is reported to have accumulated 245 performances. Singin' in the Rain was presented as a Russian premiere during the 2015–2016 period. Cinderella was announced for the 2016–2017 season as a European premiere. The theatre's documented history consequently spans two related but distinct entertainment models: cinema exhibition under the Rossiya and Pushkinsky names, followed by branded musical theatre under Stage Entertainment Russia's operation. The available sources describe the building as an architectural monument and identify it as one of Moscow's largest theatres. They do not establish a complete record of later operators, current ownership, present programming, financial performance, or any executive leadership. Those points remain open for verification.
- 2016
Cinderella is announced
[1]Cinderella is announced for the 2016–2017 season as a European premiere.
- 2015
Singin' in the Rain receives a Russian premiere
[1]Singin' in the Rain begins its documented run as a Russian premiere.
- 2014
Chicago and Beauty and the Beast are staged
[1]Chicago is presented for a short continuation run, followed by a Beauty and the Beast revival that later reaches 245 performances.
- 2012
Stage Entertainment Russia begins a five-year lease
[1]Stage Entertainment Russia leases the Pushkinsky venue and begins using it for major musical productions.
- 2012
The Little Mermaid launches
[1]The venue hosts the Russian premiere of The Little Mermaid, which is reported to receive 503 performances.
- 1997
Karo Film takes control of the venue
[1]Karo Film leases the venue and later acquires it, renovating the building and changing its name to Pushkinsky Cinema.
- 1961
Rossiya Cinema opens
[1]The building is constructed and opens as the Rossiya Cinema in Moscow.
Products and positioning
A landmark central-Moscow entertainment venue that transitioned from cinema exhibition toward large-scale commercial musical theatre.
Musical theatre production · 2012
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid was staged at the venue from 2012 to 2014 as a Russian premiere. It was one of the major productions associated with Stage Entertainment Russia's early operation of the theatre and is reported to have received 503 performances.
Musical theatre production · 2014
Chicago
Chicago was presented at the Rossiya Theatre in 2014 for a reported 16 performances. The run continued a production that had premiered at Moscow's MDM Theatre rather than representing an entirely new Moscow staging.
Musical theatre production · 2014
Beauty and the Beast
A revival of Beauty and the Beast was staged during 2014–2015. The production is reported to have received 245 performances, making it one of the longer documented musical runs at the venue.
Musical theatre production · 2015
Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain was presented during the 2015–2016 period as a Russian premiere. It formed part of Stage Entertainment Russia's strategy of bringing internationally recognized musical properties to the Moscow venue.
Musical theatre production · 2016
Cinderella
Cinderella was announced for the 2016–2017 season as a European premiere. The available reference identifies the planned production but does not provide a confirmed performance total or later run details.
Brand decisions
2012
Lease to Stage Entertainment RussiaStrategyBackground
Stage Entertainment Russia sought a major Moscow venue for large-scale musical productions.
Action taken
The company leased the Pushkinsky Cinema for five years and operated it as a musical-theatre venue, associated with the Rossiya Theatre name.
Aftermath
The venue hosted a sequence of international musical properties, including Russian and European premieres.
1997
Conversion and renaming to Pushkinsky CinemaStrategyBackground
Karo Film took over the venue during a period when the building was operating as the Rossiya Cinema.
Action taken
The company renovated the venue and changed its public name to Pushkinsky Cinema.
Aftermath
The building continued operating as a commercial cinema before later being leased for musical theatre production.
Sources2 sources
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