Higher Theater School named after M.S. Shchepkin

Higher Theater School (Institute) named after M.S. Shchepkin at the State Academic Maly Theater of Russia - the oldest theater school in Moscow. The history of its creation dates back to the Moscow Imperial Theater School, officially established by Emperor Alexander I on December 28, 1809.

Due to its solid age and rich creative biography, the school is unique as a school of centuries of experience in acting with its enduring artistic traditions. The names of many of our graduates who became great masters of the stage entered the treasury of the Russian theater: I.V. Samarin, S.V. Shumsky, V.I. Zhivokini, G.N. Fedotova, M.N. Ermolova, the Sadovsky dynasty, A.P. Lensky. The school is an inexhaustible source of talent in the 20th century - A. A. Ostuzhev, V. N. Pashennaya, E. D. Turchaninova, V. N. Ryzhova, F. N. Kaverin, N. A. Annenkov, Yu. M. Solomin, S. V. Nemolyaeva, P. B. Luspekaev, S. A. Lyubshin, T. N. Pankova, O. I. Dal, V. M. M., M. M. M. M. M., M. M. Sol.

Such names as O. Menshikov, D. Kharatyan, E. Glushenko, O. Mysina, A. Domogarov, D. Nazarov, N. Vdovina, E. Beroev, M. Basharov, I. Petrenko, A. Chadov, P. Krasilov speak of the high professionalism of the graduate actors of recent years. All of them were awarded high honorary titles, awards and prizes. The school became famous for the names of great theater teachers - M. S. Shchepkin, A.P. Lensky, V. N. Pashennaya, P. Ya. Sudakov, K. A. Zubov, V. I. Tsygankov, L. I. Deikun, L.A. Volkov, M. I. Tsarev, M. O. Knebel, A.D. Diky, N. N. Afonin, V. P. Seleznev.

Art policy and high quality of actors are currently determined by the artistic directors of courses and studios, professors of the School: V.I. Korshunov, Yu. M. Solomin, O.N. Solomina, B.V. Klyuev, V.M. Beilis, V.N. Ivanov, D.G. Koznov, V.I. Bochkarev, I.V. Lyakh.

The school is famous for its methodology of work in the training of national personnel. Since the first set in 1950 of the Yakut Studio, today the School has produced more than 50 national studios. School-forge of national personnel for the CIS, its authoritative, reliable partner in the development of national theater art. Since 1943, the school is a higher educational institution. It has created 5 departments: actor skills, plastic education, stage speech, art history, philosophy and cultural studies.

Graduates of the school after 4 years of training receive a diploma of an artist of drama theater and cinema. Today, 99 teachers work at the school, of which 38 are professors and associate professors. The composition of students is 234 students.

The rector of the school is Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Professor B. N. Lyubimov. Every year we interact with the Association of Moscow Universities - the Council of Rectors of Universities in Moscow and the Moscow Region.

The school has its own library fund: it has more than 30 thousand books and an electronic catalog for 5 thousand books.

The school occupies an honorable place among theater schools in Russia, receiving diplomas and prizes annually at student festivals, shows, competitions, catwalks. Graduates of the school are distributed to leading theaters in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities of Russia; starred in films and on television with the best directors.

The school constantly carries out international relations with theater schools and universities of foreign countries. In recent years, teachers have held master classes and staged performances with foreign students in Germany, Korea, Japan, America, France.

Today VTU named after M.S. Shchepkina is one of the leading theater universities in Russia - the School of Russian stage realism. The Maly Theater and its School are the national heritage of Russia.

2025: Appointment as rector of Anton Leshchinsky

The acting rector of the Higher Theater School (Institute) named after M.S. Shchepkin was appointed candidate of art history, professor Anton Leshchinsky. This was announced in October 2025 by the press service of the Ministry of Culture. The new head has been teaching at the educational institution for 28 years, since 2022 he has been managing the master's program of the university. Leshchinsky is an Honored Artist of Russia, author of the monograph "Dance Education of a Dramatic Actor in Russia (1738-1888)" and scientific works on stage and dance education of actors. Read more here