The play originated from a single photograph depicting Hollywood star Marlene Dietrich kneeling before an elderly man in a black suit. Who is this person? Why is she kneeling? Where was this photo taken? Playwright and director Savva Saveliev discovered answers to these questions and based on them wrote the play "I Am Marlene." It tells the story of Marlene Dietrich's incredible connection to the short story "The Telegram" by Soviet writer Konstantin Paustovsky.

This is a story within a story: the life of the legendary actress and singer with worldwide fame, and the life of an old woman forgotten by everyone in the Russian countryside. Viewers will experience a surprising revelation as they learn how much these two women have in common. "I Am Marlene" is a play about the dark side of love, which is tested by war, loneliness, and fame.