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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 

The “I.L. Caragiale” National Theater in Bucharest (NTB) is wrapping up its 2025–2026 theater season. Beyond the artistic excitement, this season marks the beginning of an institutional restructuring, as Ada Hausvater, the winner of the project competition organized by the Ministry of Culture, takes over as artistic director. The past ten months have been marked by the premieres of the 2025–2026 season: Nothing is by Chance, written and directed by David Schwartz (September 19, 2025), No Magic Pill by Christian O’Reilly, directed by Laurențiu Rusescu (December 13, 2025), Of People, Doctors, and Rhinoceroses adapted by Claudiu Goga from Arthur Schnitzler, directed by Claudiu Goga (March 13, 2026), The Bride's Time and Her Gown, written and directed by Gavril Pătru (April 18, 2026), Yen by Anna Jordan, directed by Ciprian Chiricheș (April 19, 2026) and, last but not least, the premiere of the concert-performance Any Other Candidates?, created by Ada Milea, at the Open-Air Amphitheater (June 24, 2026), an event that kicked off the summer program on the NTB rooftop, with the NTB’s summer season set to take shape soon. The National Theater of Bucharest’s performance of Mary Stuart by Robert Icke, based on Friedrich Schiller and directed by Andrei Șerban, at the opening of the 7th edition of the Kielce International Theater Festival in Poland, as part of the 13th edition of the prestigious MITEM (Madách International Theater Meeting) in Budapest, and also as part of the National Theater Festival, represent key moments of the season that has just concluded. NTB’s decision to develop an artistic research component took shape through workshops led by actor Răzvan Oprea, choreographer Judith State, casting director Domnica Cârciumaru, director Ada Milea, theater scholar Oana Borș, as well as through a series of staged readings resulting from the Playwriting Workshop coordinated by Mimi Brănescu. This special project focused on identifying, developing, and presenting to the public texts by playwrights of the new wave, as well as on testing their works through performance. Finally, the NTB’s openness to the public and its desire to create diverse artistic experiences were reflected in its visual identity projects and in the 15 exhibitions hosted in the theater’s lobbies throughout the season. This spring brought a breath of fresh air to NTB. Ada Hausvater—NTB’s first full-term manager following an interim period that lasted nearly five years—began her tenure on May 1, 2026, with a mandate dedicated to transforming the NTB into a hub of creative excellence, reaffirming its status as the country’s premier theater and a beacon of European culture and civilization. Ada Hausvater’s recent initiative to appoint director Andrei Șerban as honorary director of the NTB is a clear signal that the doors of NTB are open to excellence, human generosity, and uncompromising performance. NTB will remain active in the coming period as well: with the opening, on September 5, 2026, of the new season—a season currently being organized — the National Theater of Bucharest aims to create a rich theatrical program for its audience, supported by a series of new cultural and artistic initiatives and memorable encounters with leading figures in Romanian and international theater.   Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

The evening of June 24, 2026, marked a unique premiere for the “I.L. Caragiale” National Theater in Bucharest. The NTB Amphitheater, the cultural space located on the building’s rooftop, hosted—for the first time since its opening—the premiere of a play: Any Other Candidates?, directed by Ada Milea. In an atmosphere cooled by a summer rain, under the open sky of the Bucharest, the audience warmly welcomed the production; the show concluded with minutes of sustained applause and an energy that confirmed, once again, the success of the unique musical-concert format that Ada Milea offers her loyal audience. Last night’s event marked the first time the NTB Amphitheater has hosted an official premiere, transforming the theater’s rooftop into a premier cultural destination for the summer season. It is important to note that this series of outdoor performances serves as an exceptional preview; starting this fall, the show “Any Other Candidates?”—which has already been added to the NTB’s official repertoire—will be staged in the established venue of the Pictură Hall. “Any Other Candidates?” is a concert-performance produced by the “Ion Sava” Center for Theater Research and Creation, inspired by I.L. Caragiale’s masterpiece, “A Lost Letter.” This adaptation is a musical tale of love, self-interest, politics, and blackmail, transforming the classic text into a lively, comical, and cynical concert about us in Caragiale’s world. The concept, adaptation, and music of the show bear the unmistakable signature of Ada Milea, who collaborated with Anca Hanu on the songs. The production team also includes Maria Constantin (set design), Florin Fieroiu (choreography), Victor Pamfilov (sound design), Adrian Scarlat and Marian Dan Găină (sound design assistants), Daniel Tiuntiuc (lighting design), Theodor Radu (technical direction), and Cristiana Gavrilă (coordinator). The cast of the play is remarkable: it brings together Petre Ancuța, Emilian Mârnea, and Florin Călbăjos in the parts of the Drunk Citizens; Mihai Munteniță and Silviu Biriș alternate in the part of the Governor; Oana Laura Gabriela and Aylin Cadîr play Zoe Trahanache; Vitalie Bichir plays the part of Zaharia Trahanache; Tiberiu Enache is Ghiță; Alina Petrică and Oana Laura Gabriela take turns playing the part of Mrs. Cațavencu; Natalia Călin is Mrs. Brânzovenescu; Florentina Țilea is Mrs. Farfuridi, while the part of Mrs. Dandanache is played by Emilia Popescu. The production stands out for its dynamic energy, sustained by the entire cast, with each actor contributing skillfully and emotionally to the performance’s energy and brisk pace. A central element of the musical composition is the presence of the three actors—Petre Ancuța, Emilian Mârnea, and Florin Călbăjos—who, just as in the beloved production “ActOrchestra,” play musical instruments live, harmoniously supporting the entire soundscape created by Ada Milea. Alongside them, the cast rounds out this musical-concert format with a vibrant and versatile stage performance. “Any Other Candidates?” is not just a show, but a true display of artistic talent—a musical carousel in which subtle humor intertwines with the cynicism of political situations, all served up at a dizzying pace. Thus, the “mirror” held up to the audience by the talented NTB actors is truly impressive. The NTB Amphitheater has quickly become one of Bucharest’s most beloved cultural venues, offering a unique experience in the heart of the city. Located on the building’s rooftop, with a capacity of 300 seats, the space functions as a veritable “oasis” of culture high above the city. Designed to offer intimacy as well as a direct connection to the city’s energy, the Amphitheater hosts a diverse summer season of performances, concerts, and film screenings, transforming a visit to the NTB into a complete experience, suspended between the sky and Bucharest’s historic buildings. Photography Florin Ghioca   Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu 

Ada Hausvater, General Director of the “I.L. Caragiale” National Theater in Bucharest, is implementing a fundamental strategic direction of her management plan: the principle of recognizing and integrating major artistic and human milestones. To this end, with the full support of the Ministry of Culture, renowned director Andrei Șerban has been appointed Honorary Director of the NTB. This decision reflects the vision Ada Hausvater has for the country’s premier theater: the evolution of NTB as a center of excellence that recognizes and cherishes its values at the highest level. The initiative was fully aligned with the vision of the Ministry of Culture, which supported the decision, recognizing the cultural significance of this move. The awarding of this honorary title to director Andrei Șerban reaffirms the place that NTB and Romanian theater occupy in the history of world theater. NTB General Director Ada Hausvater elaborated on the principle underlying this project: “A national theater develops through the memory and recognition of its own values. My management plan is based on this principle: we have the opportunity to bring together the people who are leading Romanian theater toward universality. The appointment of Andrei Șerban is a clear signal that the NTB’s doors are open to excellence, human generosity, and uncompromising performance. “I would like to thank the Ministry of Culture for its openness; it promptly supported this initiative, confirming the importance of this moment.” For his part, director Andrei Șerban emphasized the coherence of this shared vision: “I assume that the initiative by the manager and the minister to confer upon me the title of Honorary Director is based on recognition of the National Theater’s achievements during my three years as director, which began in 1990—years during which, despite immense difficulties, a mini-cultural revolution took place, enabling the country’s premier theater to live up to its name. The Greek Trilogy sparked a collective energy as vibrant as the tumultuous life on the streets in those days, and, together with the productions that followed, paved the way for a new, bold, daring, and vibrant theater. Above all, vibrant, with an upward aspiration toward this essential word: Quality. Artistic quality, impossible without human quality. This symbolic title confers upon me no rights, obligations, or benefits. I thank the manager and the minister, and I accept it with joy and with the hope that, by evoking the effervescence I inspired while at the helm of the NTB, the living spirit of those years will be reawakened under Ada Hausvater’s leadership.”   Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu