The genesis of this play was a single photograph: 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 uncovered the answers to these questions and used them as inspiration to craft "Am I Marlene." The production weaves a compelling narrative around Marlene Dietrich’s profound connection to the short story "The Telegram" by Soviet writer Konstantin Paustovsky.

This is a story within a story: the legendary actress and singer’s extraordinary life intertwined with that of an aging woman, long forgotten in a quiet Russian countryside. Audiences will be taken on a journey of surprising revelations, discovering how deeply these two women’s lives are connected. "Am I Marlene" is a poignant exploration of love’s darker side—tested by war, loneliness, and fame—unveiling the enduring human truths that lie beneath the surface of glamour and memory.