The "Dubrovsky" musical was created in 2013 by Russian authors: a producer and composer, Merited Art Professional of Russia Kim Breitburg and a playwright Karen Kavalerian. This musical has been performed in Minsk, Novosibirsk, Orenburg, Simferopol, Ekaterinburg, Kemerovo, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, Stavropol, Zheleznogorsk, Omsk, Chita.

Based on Alexander Pushkin's novel of the same name, the musical offers a new look on the romance between Vladimir Dubrovsky and Masha Troekurova, where the central idea is the dreams that may never come true due to tragic circumstances. The drama is aggravated by the enmity between the two neighbors, who are the main characters' fathers. This brings back the memories of many iconic stories, including William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliette", or Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace".

In Volgograd Musical Theater, this timeless plot is told through the means of contemporary music, where neoclassic meets R&B, and rock meets pop. Splendid choreography, playwriting and harmonious alteration between solos, ensemble scenes and mass numbers (uniting up to 80 people altogether) – all of that makes the production absolutely unique, original and philosophical at the same time.

The production's director is a Merited Artist of the Russian Federation Alexander Kutiavin; its musical producer and conductor is a Merited Art Professional of the RSFSR Vadim Venediktov; its stage designer is Volgograd Region State Award holder Alexey Mikhalchev; choir director – Olga Rudenko; costume designer – Volgograd Region State Award holder Irina Elistratova.

The main ensemble cast had a very difficult task of staying true to the musical genre while translating to stage the atmosphere of Pushkin's novel and the vibe of these events. The skillful balance between the past and the present was reached by the following brilliant actors: Alexander Kuprin (Vladimir Dubrovsky, the son), Yana Savelieva (Masha Troekurova); Alexander Kutiavin (Prince Vereiski); Eldar Magradze (Andrey Dubrovsky, the father); Leonid Markin (Kiril Troekurov).

The plot of the musical follows a story that Pushkin heard from a fellow poet Pavel Nashchokin in 1833. It was published in 1841, already after the poet's death on a duel. Two old military comrades live in the neighboring estates. One day, their minor quarrel escalates into violent enmity and court proceedings, during which Troekurov claims his friend's only treasure – the Kistenevka estate. Unable to get over such a betrayal, Dubrovsky goes mad and dies. Dubrovsky's son, Vladimir, is eager to avenge his father, but falls in love with the Troekurov's daughter Masha. However, Troekurov wants Masha to marry an old and wealthy Prince Vereisky. After the wedding, Masha considers herself bound by a marriage oath and refuses to run away with her lover. Dubrovsky dissolves his gang of robbers and leaves Russia forever.

Such a plot is highly archetypical for an adventure novel, where a robber has a noble heart whereas a nobleman is the true criminal. This unexpected twist-of-character is further complicated by a lyrical triangle. The intrigue of the plot is so powerful that it has been striking a cord within every heart for more than 200 years already! Just like "Eugene Onegin", "Boris Godunov", "The Queen of Spades", "Mazeppa", "The Tale of Tsar Saltan", "The Legend of the Gold Cockerel"…, – Pushkin's novel about Dubrovsky has been translated to stage in the way it deserves to be treated – by Volgograd Musical Theater.

It is a story with a familiar plot, beloved characters and the music that I and the other spectators won't be able to get out of our heads for a long time.