Shchukin Theatrical School

Shchukin Theatrical School 

the school of the Evg. Vakhtangov State Academic Theater. The Shchukin Theatrical School, a major institute of higher theatrical education in Moscow, originated as the Student Drama Studio (later the Mansurova Studio), which was founded in 1913 under the director E. B. Vakhtangov. In 1921 it became the Third Studio of the Moscow Art Theater, and in 1926 it was renamed the Vakhtangov Theater. The school has maintained its affiliation with the theater. In 1932 the school was reorganized as a theatrical technicum, training actors for the Vakhtangov Theater and other theaters as well. In 1945 it was designated an institute of higher learning.

The school has divisions of acting and directing, as well as national studios, which train students for work in theaters of the various republics of the USSR. In 1959 the school opened a correspondence division to train directors for people’s amateur theaters.

The students at the Vakhtangov Studio and the school have included B. V. Shchukin (whose name the school has borne since 1939), R. N. Simonov, Iu. A. Zavadskii, B. E. Zakhava, A. A. Orochko, V. K. L’vova, Ts. L. Mansurova, E. G. Alekseeva, N. M. Gorchakov, V. N. Iakhontov, A. O. Stepanova, A. N. Gribov, and V. P. Maretskaia. Almost all actors in the company of the Vakhtangov Theater are trained at the school.

In the 1975–76 academic year there were 332 students at the school and 37 instructors, including B. E. Zakhava (artistic director and head of the subdepartment of directing), E. R. Simonov, D. A. Andreeva, N. P. Rusinova, V. K. L’vova, M. D. Sinel’nikov, and V. G. Kol’tsov.

G. A. PELISOV