Theodor Andrei

Theodor Octavian Andrei was born in Bucharest, Romania to Simona Andrei and Gheorghe Andrei, both alumni of the Politehnica University of Bucharest.^[3][4] Throughout his childhood, he cherished the companionship of his beloved cats.^[5][6]

Andrei’s interest in music began early.^[7] His parents introduced him to legendary performers such as Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson, as well as Romanian artists like Ștefan Bănică Jr. and Laura Stoica, whose music he grew up listening to. He began imitating Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson at the age of four. As he got older, Andrei independently explored the Rock ’n’ Roll genre and developed a strong interest in a wide range of international artists, including Little Richard, James Brown, Whitney Houston, Kiss, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Gary Moore, or Joe Bonamass. Among Romanian artists, he has cited Gabriel Cotabiță, Jean Gavril, Mihai Traistariu, Dan Bittman, and Connect-R as major influences.^[8]

Andrei’s mother was the first to recognize his musical talent. In 2014, during his audition for Next Star, she heard his voice amplified through the show's sound system and began to believe in his potential. At the time, Andrei was 10 years old. ^[9]

In the years that followed, his mother accompanied him to numerous music festivals, offering consistent support. Along with his father and grandmother, she contributed significantly to his early musical journey.^[9]

Andrei began studying classical piano at age seven. His first piano teacher and vocal coach was Raluca Ciocă.^[10] His formal piano education concluded several years later. Andrei continued to develop his piano and guitar skills through self-study and practice, motivated by an early desire to compose his own songs.^[11]

During middle school, Andrei was exposed to bullying, a difficult period that he has discussed in interviews.[1][2]^[12] Andrei is outspoken about the anti-bullying movement and stands up against different forms and shapes of bullying in the music video of his song, “Artist”.^[13]

Andrei graduated in 2023 from the Acting & Performing Arts class at Dinu Lipatti National College of Arts, Bucharest, Romania. ^[14] He received the highest grade on his graduation thesis, titled The Post-War and Contemporary Romanian Comedy. ^[15] In the same year, he began his university studies in Theater Arts at Hyperion University, in Bucharest. Andrei is currently focused on completing his training in acting, theater, and related performance skills under the guidance of theater professor Adriana Trandafir. ^[16]

During the summer between fifth and sixth grade, Andrei began attending music festivals and competitions. In middle school, he started working with his mentor and vocal coach, Dan Dimitriu, a well-known Romanian composer, music professor, and music director.^[17] Dimitriu is also the conductor of the “Constantin Tanase” Theater Orchestra.^[18]

Andrei first gained public attention in 2017, at the age of 13, when he participated in the Romanian version of The Voice Kids, reaching the semi-finals.^[19]

Between the ages of 13 and 15, Andrei received multiple jury awards, third-place finishes, and excellence awards at various national and international music festivals. In 2019, he won first place at the Teleorman Pop Fest.^[20]

At 16, Andrei participated in the ninth season of The X Factor Romania, reaching the Bootcamp stage.^[19][21]

By 2022, Andrei had won the Great Trophy at the Mihaela Runceanu International Music Festival,^[22] the Great Trophy at the Teleorman Pop Fest,^[23] The Romanian Musicologists and Composers Association Award at the George Grigoriu International Music Festival,^[24] and first place/Best Artist at the Radu Șerban National Music Festival.^[25][26]

Andrei began writing music before the age of 14. Since 2017, he has released several singles, including “Ţigări mentolate” with Valentina and “Prigoria Teen Fest” with Denis Belu (Shtrood).^[19]

On October 15, 2022, Andrei released his first studio album, Fragil, under the Electrecord label. The release occurred six days after his 18th birthday. The album sold out four times on popular Romanian marketplaces. The song "D.G.T." from Fragil has a special version that won the 2023 Romanian Eurovision National Selection. Another track from the album, "Artist," was awarded "Best Song of a Singer-Songwriter" at the 2022 Radar de Media Gala Awards.^[27]

Eurovision was a childhood dream for Andrei. He recalled watching the contest every year with his family and telling himself that he would one day participate. In 2023, Andrei won the Selecția Națională for Eurovision.^[28] He described winning the national selection and the release day of his first album—while he was a 12th-grade student—as “the happiest days of my life.”^[29]

At Eurovision, Andrei performed in the second semi-final on 11 May 2023 but failed to qualify for the grand final. It was later revealed that he finished in second-to-last place in the semi-final, tied with San Marino with zero points. Following the contest, Andrei spoke out about difficulties he faced working with the Romanian national broadcaster TVR, including the rejection of his staging ideas for his performance in Liverpool and the imposition of a slower revamp of his song.^[30][31]

He also expressed that his Eurovision dream gradually turned into a nightmare due to his experience with TVR.^[32] Despite these challenges, Andrei took matters into his own hands by self-financing and producing the music video for his song “D.G.T.” with the help of friends. He additionally produced the Eurovision Medleys, covering all 37 songs of the competition. Andrei has described his interactions with Eurovision fans as one of the most incredible experiences of his career. His motto during Eurovision 2023 was: “Go after your dreams, don't be afraid to push through the boundaries and insecurities, accept yourselves, love each other freely and make love not war.”^[33][34]

After Eurovision, Andrei held his first UK concert in London on 28 July, as part of Stage 002, an event organized by Platform '96. The performance took place at The Water Rats, a renowned London venue known for hosting early gigs by artists such as Bob Dylan, The Pogues, and Oasis. Platform '96 promoted the event as Andrei’s “redemption arc.” His one-hour set included songs from his debut album Fragil, the Eurovision Medleys, and covers of songs by a wide range of artists, including Frank Sinatra, Eminem, Madcon, Bruno Mars, Måneskin, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.^[33]

Andrei is currently working on his second studio album, titled Echilibru. As of 2024, three tracks from the album have been released: “Preludiu Echilibru,” “Fantoma,” and “Zendaya.^[33][35]

Andrei began acting at age 13. In 2018, he auditioned for a role in Nepoții lui Tănase (Tănase's Grandchildren), a youth revue-style play by Alin Gheorghișan, performed at the Constantin Tănase Theater in Bucharest. He portrayed the role of the Majordom (The Butler) from 2018 to 2019. This experience sparked a strong interest in acting, leading him to enroll in the Theater Arts and Acting section of the National College of Arts “Dinu Lipatti” in Bucharest.^[36] Since then, Andrei has expressed that music and theater complement each other closely and that he would find it difficult to pursue one without the other. ^[37]

During high school, Andrei began formal acting training at the Victory of Art School of Theatre in Bucharest. Under the guidance of Julieta Georoiu, the head of the institution, he embarked on his theatrical journey. Throughout high school, Andrei took on major roles in numerous classic plays and musicals. Notably, he portrayed Francis Flute/Thisbe in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Augustus Waters in The Fault in Our Stars, based on the novel by John Green. His debut leading role was as Axel in Dacă noi ne iubim (If We Love Each Other), a rock musical originally created by Julieta Georoiu and recognized as the first Romanian rock musical show based on the music of the renowned pop-rock band Holograf.^[38]

In 2022, Andrei won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Eduard in Paravan Două Telefoane (One Screen, Two Phones), a play by Matei Lucaci-Grunberg, at the Grigore Vasiliu Birlic International Youth Theater Festival (FITT „Birlic”).^[39]

In 2023, he played the leading role of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Amadeus (play) by Peter Shaffer. The production won the Best Play award at the Constanța International Independent Theater Festival, known as "Seathre Fest".^[39]

During the same year, Andrei portrayed Luca in O Floare de Zăpadă (A Snow Flower), a play based on Dumitru Solomon’s original story Zăpezile de Altădată (The Snows of Yesteryear). The production won First Place at the Ștefan Mihăilescu-Brăila National Comedy Competition, where Andrei received the Ștefan Mihăilescu-Brăila Trophy for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Additionally, the play earned Third Place at the Olimpiada Națională de Artă Actorului (National Theatre Olympiad for Students) held in Brăila, Romania.^[40][41]

In 2024 Andrei played Yvan in Artă (Art-play), a play by Yasmina Reza, directed by Clara Ciușcǎ and won the Special Jury Prize for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Grigore Vasiliu Birlic International Youth Theater Festival (FITT „Birlic”).^[42]

Since May 2024, Andrei Andrei has been performing as Mary Sunshine in Chicago („Vodevil muzical”, Chicago-Musical) by John Kander and Fred Ebb, directed by George Costin at the Bucharest Metropolitan Circus.^[43]

In March 2025, Andrei began portraying Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (pop-rock-musical) by Gérard Presgurvic based on William Shakespeare's play, directed by Miklos Gabor Kereny (KERO®) at the Operetta and Musical Theater "Ion Dacian", Bucharest.^[44]

On 4 April 2025, Andrei began playing Tom in Invizibilii (The Invisibles), a musical based on the children’s book of the same name by Ioana Pârvulescu, with music by Cornel Ilie (Vunk), staged at Sala Gloria, Bucharest.^[45]

Andrei began exploring directing in 2022, when he participated in the Youth Theater and Short Film Festival FestTin with the short film Neintenționat: un majorat confuz (Unintentional: A Confused 18th Birthday). He received the Best Directing award for a short film, presented by acclaimed Romanian filmmaker Nae Caranfil.^[46]

In 2023, Andrei directed and starred as Luca in the stage play O floare de zăpadă (A Snow Flower), based on Dumitru Solomon’s original story Zăpezile de Altădată (The Snows of Yesteryear). The production won first place at the Ștefan Mihăilescu-Brăila National Comedy Competition and third place at the Olimpiada Națională de Artă Actorului (National Theatre Olympiad for Students) held in Brăila, Romania.^[47][48]

In 2024, Andrei directed Iubirea noastră e Raiul (Our Love Is Heaven), adaptation of Heathers:The Musical by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy. The production won a total of ten awards at four Romanian youth theater festivals. At the Grigore Vasiliu Birlic International Youth Theater Festival (FITT „Birlic”), it received the Special Jury Prize, and Best Actress in a Lead Role. At the Ludicus National Youth Theater Festival, it was awarded the Special Jury Prize for an Actress in a Lead Role, Best Actor in a Lead Role, and Best Choreography.^[49][50] In 2025, the same production won the First Price at the "Eusebiu Ștefănescu” National Theater Festival.^[51] At the "La Mustață" Independent Theater Festival, the play received the Best Play – Youth Section, the Audience Choice Award and Daily Magazine Special Award. Under Theodor Andrei’s direction, the play’s lead performers won Best Lead Actor and Best Lead Actress.^[52]

On 7 June 2025, Andrei premiered a new production: the pop-rock musical A Midsummer Night's Dream, an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play. The production features original music by Theodor Andrei, music production by Andrei and Denis Belu (shtrood), choreography by Lilian Carauș, and costume design by Alessia Popa-Matei and Theodor Andrei.^[53]

In 2017, Andrei voiced the character Prințul Miercuri (Prince Wednesday) for the Romanian dub of the children's animated series Cartierul Tigruțului Daniel (Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood), released on Netflix. The dubbing was directed by Sabina Mitra and Mircea Drâmbăreanu.^[54]

Andrei continued his television work in 2022 with the role of Horia in "Rățușca cea urâtă" ("The Ugly Duckling"), an episode of the TV series Povești de familie (Family Stories), directed by Raluca Sandu.^[55]

In 2023, Andrei appeared as Sică in an episode of the TV series Oamenii legii (The Law Enforcement Officers), also directed by Sandu. The TV series follows four Romanian Police teams in action.^[56]

In 2024, he took on the role of Instalatorul (The Plumber) in The Pump, an independent short film directed by Iustin Bauer. During the same year, Andrei portrayed Alecu Tânăr in the Lecții de viață (Life Lessons) episode "Prietenul la nevoie" ("The Friend in Need"), under the direction of Radu Lopotaru. The TV series brings up dramatic stories about people facing trials, betrayals, and hidden passions.^[57]

By 2025, Andrei played Colindătorul (The Caroler) in the short film Crăciun Fericit (Merry Christmas), a poignant piece by Alexandra Manda exploring themes of aging and isolation. The film's story is a reflection on the absence of loved ones and how easily we can lose them, not just through death, but also through neglect.^[58] The film won the Award of Merit in the Women Filmmakers (Student Category) at Mirada Corta, the annual International Short Film Festival held in Mexico City, Mexico.^[59][60]

That same year, 2025, he starred as Andrei in Luați-mă înapoi (Take Me Back), a university-based (UNATC) short film, directed by Luca Bădescu. He also co-wrote with Denis Belu (shtrood) the music for Alexandra, a film by Diana Angelson Busuioc about a tragic story of a contemporary Romanian hero.^[61]