Show musical based on the movie “Cheburashka” (0+)
Dream Island Park runs through January 7.
The musical adaptation of Cheburashka unfolds as a festive, Christmas-tree style performance. During special holiday screenings, audiences will follow the beloved big-eared hero on New Year adventures. The storyline sends the characters of the popular game through a chocolate factory, foils Shapoklyak’s plotting, features orange jam making, and culminates in a cheerful New Year celebration. The show draws its inspiration from the top-grossing Russian film “Cheburashka,” which captivated more than 23 million viewers. [Source: event program]
According to the event’s press service, the production features 52 performers, including stars from well-known musicals, world champions in acrobatics, and seasoned circus artists.
The stage direction is by Nina Chusova, a Golden Mask award winner. The project director is Andrey Koltsov, a renowned circus director and former Cirque du Soleil soloist, noted for his signature tricks that grace the production. The musical’s songs were composed and produced by Sergei Zhukov.
Evgeni Plushenko’s ice show “The Little Mermaid” (0+)
VTB Arena runs through January 4.
In this adaptation of a classic fairy tale, 2022 Olympic silver medalist Alexandra Trusova leads the cast as the Little Mermaid. Evgeni Plushenko stars as Neptune, the sea king, with Alexander Plushenko portraying Cancer. Two-time Russian champion Evgeniy Semenenko takes the role of the Prince. The lineup also features prominent skating talents such as Dmitry Aliev, Alexander Samarin, Makar Ignatov, Sofia Muravyova, Veronica and Alena Zhilin, Sofia Titova, and others, delivering a night of athletic artistry on ice.
New Year in Soyuzmultpark (0+)
At Soyuzmultpark, VDNKh, through January 8.
Visitors will embark on an animated journey to explore a vivid world of cartoons. Along the way, children will enjoy playful moments, meet favorite characters, and ultimately reach the “North Pole” to witness the New Year musical performance “Umka: Arctic Adventures.”
Tatiana Navka’s show “Evenings on the Farm” (0+)
DS Megasport runs through January 7.
Navka’s ice program presents the romance of Vakula and Oksana with a New Year’s gala featuring top names in figure skating, including Tatyana Navka, Pyotr Chernyshev, Kamila Valieva, Anna Shcherbakova, Adelina Sotnikova, Victoria Sinitsina, Nikita Katsalapov, and other notable athletes. The production blends high-level skating with acrobatics, dance, song, humor, and vibrant visuals.
“The idea for this production has lived in my mind for years because it hasn’t been performed on ice before. As a child, I admired the classic film and, later, the Nikolai Gogol stories that inspired this project,” Navka explains. [Source: press notes]
Show “Christmas Toy Story” (6+)
CSKA Arena runs through January 5.
Alina Zagitova, an award-winning Russian skater, stars in a New Year’s rendition of Toy Story. The narrative unfolds inside a magical factory with a conveyor belt dedicated to granting the most cherished wishes. The production integrates a distinctive interactive element featuring freestyle motocross, ATV stunts, and impressive performances by acrobats and gymnasts.
Immersive dance show “The Nutcracker. A story you don’t know” (8+)
Konak Dashkov, 5, until January 21.
This immersive family experience reimagines Hoffmann’s classic tale inside an old Moscow mansion. Set to Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s score, with original narration by Otty Roage, guests move freely between magical worlds: the World of Toys in the attic, the World of People in the dining room, and the World of Mice in the basement. Masks conceal the faces of audience members as they explore.
Organizers emphasize that participants influence the direction of the magic, and remind families that appearances can be deceiving. Children aged 8 to 12 must be accompanied by an adult. [Notes from organizers]
“New Year’s Miracles” at the House of Actors (6+)
The Central House of Actors on Arbat hosts a New Year celebration through January 6.
The event brings together a constellation of illusionists, including Monte Carlo Grand Prix winners, finalists from the “Minute of Fame” show Sergei Melnikov and Russia’s champion of many tricks Oksana Grigorenko, Ilya Ilyin, Anatoly Nemetov, Vladimir Rudnev, and other notable performers. The program promises dazzling magic, humor, and a festive mood in the heart of Old Arbat.
Exhibition “The Multiverse of Leonid Shvartsman. How famous heroes were created” (0+)
Zaryadye Park Underground Museum through March 3.
The exhibition shines a spotlight on Leonid Shvartsman, the celebrated cartoon director responsible for Cheburashka, Gena the Crocodile, Snow Queen, Mitten, and many beloved characters. Visitors will see concept sketches, the original Gena crocodile doll, and rare behind-the-scenes footage from the animation process, offering insight into how iconic figures were brought to life.