Ballet Designer Sues Mariinsky Theater Over Unpaid Fees

“Prominent Russian artist Mikhail Shemyakin said in an interview published Tuesday that he intended to sue St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theater because of unpaid fees for his work as chief designer on a series of ballet productions staged eight years ago.” Shemyakin says he was told that Mariinsky director Valery Gergiev personally forbid payment to be made.