Milen Ivanov

Milen Ivanov graduated from the “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov” Foreign Language High School in Veliko Tarnovo, where he developed an interest in the performing arts as a student and participated in the school’s theatre studio.

He continued his education at St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, specialising in History and Geography, and graduated in 1991. Alongside his university studies, he was a member of the Metamorphoses Theatre Studio and the Theatre Studies Student Research Group at the university. With Metamorphoses, he participated in international theatre festivals in Grenoble, San Sebastián, Geneva, Vilnius and other European cities.

He also attended an acting workshop in Geneva led by Polish director and theatre educator Jarosław Bielski.

Since 1991, he has been a full-time member of the acting company of the Musical Dramatic Theatre “Konstantin Kisimov” in Veliko Tarnovo. Throughout his long career, he has performed approximately 170 roles in dramatic and musical productions.

One of his most notable stage achievements was performing in the first one-man show in the history of the Veliko Tarnovo Theatre: Diary of a Madman by Nikolai Gogol, directed by Stefan Metodiev. He also performed in Sex, Drugs, and Rock ’n’ Roll by Eric Bogosian, directed by Tamara Ivanova, at the Variety Theatre in Gabrovo.

Performances at the Musical Dramatic Theatre “Konstantin Kisimov”:

Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, based on the works of Ken Kesey and Dale Wasserman, directed by Sava Dimitrov
Harold Gorringe in Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer, directed by Asen Shopov
The Lover by Harold Pinter, directed by Krasimir Rankov
Ivan Senebirski in Albena by Yordan Yovkov, directed by Simeon Dimitrov
Minister Kochev in The New Harbour by St. L. Kostov, directed by Simeon Dimitrov
Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams, directed by Yordanka Samsieva
Don Baker in Butterflies Are Free by Leonard Gershe, directed by Yordanka Samsieva
Sancho Panza in the musical Man of La Mancha, directed by Dimitar Sharkov
Karlsson in Karlsson-on-the-Roof, based on the work by Astrid Lindgren, directed by Stella Andreeva
Octave in Scapin’s Deceits by Molière, directed by Tamara Ivanova
Sganarelle in Don Juan by Molière, directed by Tamara Ivanova
Tartuffe in Tartuffe by Molière, directed by Dimitar Sharkov
Svilen in The Mother-in-Law by Anton Strashimirov, directed by Dimitar Sharkov
John in Caught.net, directed by Tamara Ivanova
Kutsar in Albena by Yordan Yovkov, directed by Georgi Mihalkov
Police Officer 1, Police Officer 2, the Father and the Funeral Director in We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! by Dario Fo, directed by Georgi Mihalkov
Marcello in The Servant of Two Masters, based on the play by Carlo Goldoni, directed by Dimitar Sharkov
Polonius in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, directed by Slavi Gergov
Ivan Garvanov in The Thessaloniki Conspirators by Georgi Danailov, directed by Maria Genova
Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, directed by Vladimir Baycher

Every year, he also portrays Tsar Ferdinand during the official celebrations marking Bulgaria’s Independence Day on 22 September in Veliko Tarnovo.

His operetta and musical theatre roles include:

Menelaus in La Belle Hélène
Feri Bácsi, Boni, the Prince and the Notary in various productions of The Csárdás Princess
Hadzhi Gencho and Ivan in various productions of Bulgarians of Old Times
Falke, Frank and Blind in various productions of Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II
Dr. Ochs in Dr. Ochs
Babbs in Charley’s Aunt, directed by Nedyalko Kovachev
Bozdunganski and Stancho Kvasnikov in Office Seekers
Prince Populescu and Penichek in Countess Maritza
Chino in West Side Story
Njegus in The Merry Widow
Carnero in The Gypsy Baron

His career also includes guest appearances at professional theatres throughout Bulgaria. At the National Music Theatre in Sofia, he appeared as Menelaus in La Belle Hélène, while at the State Opera in Burgas, he played Hadzhi Gencho in Bulgarians of Old Times. On the Varna stage, he portrayed Babbs in Charley’s Aunt, Alexandre Dumas in The Count of Monte Cristo and García in Zorro, with the latter two productions performed in English.

In 1994, he was nominated for the Young Actor Award at the Kisimov Theatre Festival for his portrayal of Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

In 2019, Milen Ivanov received the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo’s Culture Award in recognition of his contribution to the performing arts.