News reports indicate that actor Alexander Domogarov was relieved of his main role in the play Tartuffe, or the Deceiver, performed at the Mossovet Theatre. The information was reported by mk.ru and has since become a focal point of discussions around the production and the theatre’s casting decisions.
According to mk.ru, the decision to release Domogarov from the lead role was endorsed in a formal act by Mossovet Theatre’s artistic director Evgeny Marcelli and the theatre director Alexey Cherepnev. The document outlining the personnel change was issued as part of a broader management review of the cast and creative lineup for the production.
Prior to the notice being issued, a rehearsal for Tartuffe took place on September 29 at the Mossovet Theatre. At that moment, Domogarov was reportedly involved in the premiere of another production, Masquerade, at the Soviet Army Theatre, which added a layer of complexity to the scheduling and communication surrounding the cast changes. The circumstances surrounding his simultaneous absence from the Mossovet stage were a point of scrutiny as the situation unfolded.
Following the leadership decision, Domogarov agreed with the city authorities on a schedule for future rehearsals, but after one session he was directed to the administration. There he received a formal explanation request regarding his whereabouts on September 13, with the implication that he was neither in the theatre nor in the country at that time. mk.ru reported that Domogarov was present at the Russia-Cyprus Film Festival by invitation from Alina Radchenko, a counselor connected with the Russian Embassy in the Republic of Cyprus, which later became a matter of public discussion about duties and commitments for theatre artists traveling internationally while under contract.
The Moscow City Council conveyed that the actor had departed to a country listed among those deemed hostile to the Russian Federation, its legal entities and individuals as defined in official policy. The publication notes that the cast change order for Tartuffe was signed two days before the artist’s departure to Cyprus, on September 15, underscoring a timeline that links travel with the administrative decision in the theatre’s casting process.
In reflecting on the episode, observers have pointed to the complexities that can arise when a high-profile performer is reassigned in mid-rehearsal and how theatre management balances artistic vision, national sensitivities, and the practicalities of production schedules. The case continues to be cited in discussions about governance within performing arts institutions and the responsibilities that come with international engagement by theatre personnel.
It should be noted that the last portion of the original report mentions an entirely different note about a rapper referenced as Scally Milano whose concerts were cancelled due to an ear infection. This part appears to be unrelated to the Tartuffe casting change and is not central to the narrative concerning the Mossovet Theatre production.