The Russian Arts Theater and Studio to Present First Annual New York Chekhov Festival!

NEW YORK, Jan. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- This March, The Russian Arts Theater and Studio will kick off its 2017-2018 season with a tribute to the life and plays of Anton Chekhov in its first annual New York Chekhov Festival. Taking place March 24th to April 15th at the historic Balcony Theater in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, performances will alternate between Three Sisters and a Russian-speaking production of Swan Song/Про Великое Ничто, starring legendary Russian actor Ernst Zorin of the Vakhtangov Theater and actress Gala Orlovsky (Prominent Artist of Ukraine Citation).

Critically acclaimed Russian director Aleksey Burago stages both productions and will also present a lecture on Anton Chekhov and the Golden Age of the Moscow Art Theater at the Department of Russian and Slavic Studies, New York University. Additionally, select performances will include talk-backs with cast members, creatives and special guests following the show.

The cast of Three Sisters features a diverse ensemble with actors Reanna Armellino, Ella Ayberk, Hazen Cuyler, Michael Donaldson, James Fordyce, Toni Goldman, Ariel Polanco, Matt Raines, Jake Robertson, Flavio Romeo, David A. Russell, Jo Anne Sellers, and Di Zhu. A tragicomic story about the decay of a privileged family grappling with the changes of a modern world, Three Sisters will play sixteen performances from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 8PM.

Playing in repertory is a Russian-speaking production of Swan Song/Про Великое Ничто, starring actor Ernst Zorin and actress Gala Orlovsky. Back by popular demand, Swan Song/Про Великое Ничто is a comical love letter dedicated to show business, paying homage to Russian theater, its rosy illusions, backstage romances, and battling egos. A satire intertwined with improvisations, dreams, and secret jokes that have survived countless generations at the stage wings, this delicious portrait of the world of theater will play on March 27th, April 3rd, 10th, and 15th at 8PM.

The New York Chekov Festival is headed by one of Russia's most talented directors, Aleksey Burago, Artistic Director of The Russian Arts Theater & Studio and a former protege of the world famous Pyotr Fomenko. Burago's productions have played throughout Russia's stages to rave reviews, including the Hermitage Theater and Aleksandrinka Theater (Beyond Recognition), Moscow TV (Queen of Spades), Youth Theater (The Emperor's New Clothes, Stoned), Interatelier Theater (Fandor and Liz), and The Baltic House Theater (Camille). Among his productions in New York are Ah My Dear Andersen, Queen of Spades, On the Eve, The Master and Margarita, Uncle Vanya, The Magical Forest of Baba Yaga, The Seagull, Lady with a Lapdog, with Jokes and a Happy Ending and most recently, Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment.

Despite working with a wide array of writers throughout his career, Burago says that his favorite is still Anton Chekhov.

"Inside the memoirs of Russian impressionist painter Korovin, Chekhov once said he wanted to create the same kind of theater as the paintings on his friend's canvas. All his life, Chekhov was obsessed with the idea of creating a new theater--one that would reflect real life around him, bursting with flaws, contradictions, humor and light. This is what attracts me to Chekhov." says Burago.

Ticket sales have opened for the two productions and can be found at www.russiantheater.org. Furthermore, patrons can visit www.3sisters.eventbrite.com (Three Sisters) and www.chekhovfestival.eventbrite.com (Swan Song/Про Великое Ничто).

Media Contact: hello@russiantheater.org

Media Contact:Di Zhu, The Russian Arts Theater & Studio, 9176858491, Di@russiantheater.org

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SOURCE The Russian Arts Theater and Studio