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The world of Romanian theater has lost a great figure. The great actress Adela Mărculescu, a figure of exceptional distinction whose elegance, discipline, and passion left their mark on entire generations of theatergoers, has passed away. Trained under the guidance of Alexandru Finți (class of 1959), Adela Mărculescu became an actress at the “I.L. Caragiale” National Theater in Bucharest in 1964, a stage to which she remained loyal for more than 60 years and which she served with exemplary dedication until the very end of her life. From her debut on the National Theater’s stage in “Înșir'te mărgărite” (1964), Adela Mărculescu portrayed dozens of characters from Romanian and world theater, collaborating with the greatest Romanian directors: She played Aglaia Epanchina in F.M. Dostoevsky’s “The Idiot” (directed by Alexandru Finți, 1969), Ana in “Take, Ianke, and Cadîr” (directed by Ion Finteșteanu, 1971), Dona Diana in the play of the same name by Camil Petrescu (1973), Margareta Aldea in “The Magpies” by Al. Kirițescu (1977), and Mioara in "The Idol and Ion Anapoda" (directed by Ion Cojar, 1985). She made her mark on the history of Romanian theater with her portrayal of Clytemnestra in the memorable production “Electra—An Ancient Trilogy” (1990), an internationally acclaimed staging directed by Andrei Șerban. She shone in roles of great psychological depth, such as Tituba in "The Crucible" (directed by Felix Alexa, 1991), Stela Campbell in “Dear Liar” (1998), Olga in “The Chekhov Machine” by Matei Vișniec (2003), and Alexandra del Lago in “The Sweet Bird of Youth” by Tennessee Williams (2005). Adela Mărculescu was passionately devoted to the theater with exemplary vitality, refusing to leave the stage she loved so much. Until this year, audiences enjoyed her presence on stage in the current repertoire of the National Theater in Bucharest: Mrs. Boyle in Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” (directed by Erwin Șimșensohn) and Chiriachița in Tudor Mușatescu’s “Titanic Waltz” (directed by Dan Tudor). She has starred in numerous films (“Seven Boys and a Tomboy,” “Declaration of Love,” “Hello, Great-Grandma’s Here!,” “The Sisters”), earning recognition for her distinction, the elegance of her performances, and her unmistakable voice. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Order of Cultural Merit (Officer class), the title of Honorary Citizen of the Capital, and the Gopo Lifetime Achievement Award (2020). The remains of the great actress will lie in state tomorrow (July 24) at St. George’s Church in Bucharest, where all those who admired her, applauded her, and were moved by her art will be able to pay their final and heartfelt respects beginning at 12 p.m. The funeral will take place at Bellu Cemetery on Saturday, July 25, at 10 a.m. With the passing of Adela Mărculescu, the curtain falls on an entire golden age of Romanian theater. We bow with deep gratitude in her memory. May God rest her soul in peace! Our condolences to her grieving family! About Adela Marculescu     Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

The “I.L. Caragiale” National Theater in Bucharest announces auditions for the lead roles in the production of Romeo and Juliet by Robert Icke, based on Shakespeare, directed by Andrei Șerban. We are seeking actors and actresses—graduates or students—aged 27 or younger. To apply, interested candidates must send the following materials to auditii@tnb.ro by August 7: - Resume - 2 photos - a filmed monologue or a 2–4-minute excerpt from the Balcony Scene (with a scene partner). For this stage, Shakespeare’s text will be used, preferably in Anca Ignat and Alexandru M. Călin’s translation (William Shakespeare, Opere XIII, Ed. Tracus Arte, 2018) - the video must begin with a brief introduction (name, age) Based on these materials, a preliminary selection will be made of the candidates who will participate in the final selection round, August 19–26, 2026, at NTB. Important: A mandatory requirement for those registering for the audition is full availability for rehearsals from October 20, 2026, to January 10.   Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

The Box Office will be closed for the summer! Tickets for the opening performances of the 2026–2027 season can be purchased exclusively online through the bilet.ro platform. Starting August 24, 2026, the box office will reopen with its regular hours: Monday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Tuesday–Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. We wish you a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you at our performances during the new 2026–2027 theater season!   Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu 

The Bucharest National Theater’s production, Any Other Candidates? a play-concert based on A Lost Letter by I.L. Caragiale, has been selected for the program of the 36th edition of the National Theater Festival, which will take place from October 16 to 25, 2026. The festival’s curatorial team—composed this year of theater critics Raluca Cîrciumaru, Alina Epîngeac, and Sebastian-Vlad Popa—has included the NTB production on an exclusive list of 36 titles that define the excellence and complexity of this year’s Romanian theater scene. The concert-performance Any Other Candidates?, whose concept, adaptation, music, and songs were created by the well-known artist Ada Milea, stands as undeniable proof of the creative strength of the show’s artistic team—a team that brings together actors Petre Ancuța, Emilian Mârnea, Florin Călbăjos, Laura Gabriela Oana, Aylin Cadîr, Tiberiu Enache, Natalia Călin, Emilia Popescu, Mihai Munteniță, Silviu Biriș, Vitalie Bichir, Alina Petrică, and Florentina Țilea. The creative team is rounded out by Anca Hanu (co-writer of the songs, alongside Ada Milea), set designer Maria Constantin, and choreographer Florin Fieroiu, with sound design by Victor Pamfilov and lighting design by Daniel Tiuntiuc. The concert-performance was produced at the National Theater’s “Ion Sava” Center for Theater Research and Creation. In this production—which, incidentally, kicked off the current summer season at the NTB Amphitheater—Ada Milea’s inventiveness meets Caragiale’s genius and the Bucharest National Theater actors’ enthusiasm for the craft, in 70 effervescent and humorous minutes. Met with enthusiastic applause from the audience, "Any Other Candidates?" is a production that has stood out for its originality and the bold way it connects classic satire with current events. Starting with the new season—which opens on September 5, 2026—NTB will present the performance "Any Other Candidates?" in the Pictură Hall. In order to welcome the audience, tickets will go on sale online at www.tnb.ro starting July 10, 2026.   Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu