Friends Club Board established
The Mikhailovsky Theatre Friends Club has celebrated its fifth anniversary. The occasion has given rise to new initiatives and plans for the future.
First of all, the Club now has its own Board. Hotel Manager of Grand Hotel Europe Yulia Pashkovskaya has been named as Chair of the Board. Irina Ivanova, PR Director of Channel One St. Petersburg and the long-term Chair of Friends Club meetings, has been chosen as the Executive Secretary of the Board. Toshihiko Takahashi, a patron and great friend of the Mikhailovsky Theatre, and Tatyana Parfenova, a well-known Russian designer, have also been selected as members of the Board. The full list of members of the Board of the Mikhailovsky Theatre Friends Club will be announced in the near future.
Secondly, the decision was taken to establish an annual ‘Friends Club Choice Award’. The Friends of the Theatre are the most devoted and interested theatregoers, who both love and understand the theatre. They know the theatre’s repertoire by heart and never miss a single performance. Who better to choose the best première of the year and name the most impressive performers? Friends Club members will now be given the opportunity to select the best performers each year in nine categories:
- Best debut of the year (opera and ballet)
- Best female role (opera and ballet)
- Best male role (opera and ballet)
- Best supporting role
- Best performance of the year (opera and ballet)
Follow premières and debuts, note the most successful performances, and keep track of your own rankings in each category! Then there will be no doubt that in the course of voting, you will be able to make an informed and reasoned decision. The results will be announced between 1–20 December 2014. The opinion of each member of the Club will be considered. The Awards Ceremony will take place on New Year’s Eve.
Another initiative of the Club is to help fans follow the theatre on tour. This proposal has attracted keen interest and an emotional response, but it requires serious consideration. Various aspects of this initiative are currently being discussed with theatre management. The Club Board will inform you of any agreements reached and the terms under which friends of the Mikhailovsky Theatre will be able to attend performances on tour.
