Hello. My name is Inna and I have a question.

[Miquel Westano]

But surely they know how to use a translator?

[Boethius]

A translator won't help at a theatre. 
 
I think translators, even live translators, never get to the gist of what a person is really saying.  Even if a FSUW person speaks English well, until they think in English, they often misunderstand things, and, even then, their own cultural cues get in the way.
 
 

[jone]

The first theatre that I went to that was all in Russian was on my first trip to Russia.  I hadn't spoken Russian since college.  It was wonderful. I could pick up only every fourth or fifth word but I totally enjoyed myself.  And my cohort who I went with could speak fluent Russian so enjoyed it even more.

It also should be pointed out that many productions are in foreign languages.  Especially operas.  No one seems to mind that they are not in Russian (or English).

Sandro probably thinks that they are all written for him.

[Miquel Westano]

Sorry, I misunderstood.  Obviously a translator at a theater would be ineffective and rude.  I was thinking you meant that was their only excuse not to travel there at all. 

I am fascinated with the Russian language and trying hard to learn it.  I have found it is a great indicator that I am stupid.  Or, at least not very teachable.  But I am still trying.  It is mighty hard for me to learn a new (to me) language from YouTube and websites.  But alas, there are very few Russian speaking folks in the sticks and hills of Missouri.

[SANDRO43]

It also should be pointed out that many productions are in foreign languages. Especially operas.  No one seems to mind that they are not in Russian (or English). Sandro probably thinks that they are all written for him.

Not surprising, since the opera genre was invented by our Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643) - the first such work was his L'Orfeo, composed in 1607 - and the majority of operas still staged today were written by Italian composers .

Of the 22 operas composed by Mozart, some 15 had their libretto (text) in Italian, because ours is the most musical Western language there is, due to our abundance of vowels - the only phonemes one can hold for long while singing.