THEATER

Perhaps some of Moscow Nights’ best known projects have been the plays – works that have explored the depths of human passion, or dazzled audiences with a breathtaking whirl of music and dance. Whether a drama or a cabaret, these presentations share the goal of presenting Russian culture to Louisiana audiences. Moscow Nights prides itself on not only offering excellent programs, but staging works that would not otherwise be seen in the New Orleans area.

Alexander Pushkin’s The Water Nymph

Pushkin died at the full height of his powers and undoubtedly carried some great secret with him to his grave. And now we, without him, try to figure out the meaning of this secret.

Fedor Dostoevsky

In 2002,  as part of the organization’s Tribute to Alexander Pushkin, Moscow Nights presented The Water Nymph, a story of a girl who risks all for love, and carries that love into the next world. The show was staged at the (former) University of New Orleans Downtown Theatre.

The play, which was written in verse, was translated into English by Professor James Falen for Moscow Nights. Once the translation was in place, director Natasha Ramer turned to John Rodi, director of the Komenka Ethnic Dance and Music Ensemble, for a choreography that reflected the folkloric element of the story. Georgian composer Zaza Marjanishvilli supplied the score; Svetlana Lonadier, a specialist in folk music, directed the singers; and Larisa Ivakina was the conceptual artist who envisioined the stage setting and costumes. Max Bernardi worked as set consultant and set dresser. In the end, The Water Nymph synthesized poetry, music, traditional dance, and visual art.  

The Water Nymph starred Mikko, Jesse Meriwether, and Steve Zissis. Also featured were Claudia Baumgarten, Ryan Reineke, Veronica Russell, Julie Vorus, Rob Felding, Skye Jordan, and Rebekah Reuben-Stroup. The dancers and singers of Komenka rounded out the cast. View excerpts from the performance in the quick time movie below.

Contact Us To order a DVD of Alexander Pushkin's The Water Nymph (Rusalka)

Natasha O. Ramer: Twenty Years in America

This Little Russian Sparrow sang with an intensity of feeling and phrasing that went right to the heart. She had…a script…that was delightful, fascinating, funny and poignant; and which described her 20 years in America in a manner that gave a totally seamless and fine cohesion to her selection of songs. 

Patrick Shannon III

In 2003, Moscow Nights turned back the clock to 1983 to bring to life one Russian
émigré’s experiences upon coming to the United States to stay. Natasha O. Ramer:  Twenty Years in America” is an original one-woman cabaret filled with heart and humor, sophistication and song, that focuses on the emotional journey of an émigré as she attempts to become "American." Through monologues, Ms. Ramer relives the frustrations and epiphanies of the past twenty years; the monologues are punctuated by songs -- some pop, some standards -- well known to American ears.

For the original production, Ms. Ramer was joined by Harry Mayronne (musical director) and his trio; special musical guests Tony Green, Faina Lushtak, and Zaza Marjanishvili; and The Men of Komenka Dancers. Christopher Wecklein directed the production.

This production was funded in part by the Southern Arts Federation, the Georges Lurcy Charitable and Educational Trust, the Louisiana Division of the Arts, and Samuel C. Ramer.

The 2003 production was staged at Le Chat Noir in New Orleans. Other versions of the cabaret have been performed at:

• The National Arts Club in New York, New York (this performance was taped and broadcast by the Russian television station RTVI), April 2004;
• The GITIS Theater of the Russian Academy for the Performing ARTs in Moscow (this presentation was peformed entirely in Russian), December 2004;
• The Towne Lake Arts Center in Woodstock, Georgia, November 2005; and
• The Orleans Club in New Orleans,  2005 and 2006.

           
Carol Rocamora’s I Take Your Hand in Mine

Under the inspired direction of Natasha O. Ramer, these two performers brought to life a great love story and illuminated the creative process of true artists who at times are all too human.

Patrick Shannon III

After Katrina, in November 2006, Moscow Nights returned to the local theater scene with I Take Your Hand in Mine, a play that traces the passionate relationship between playwright Anton Chekhov and the love of his life, actress Olga Knipper.

This play was staged at Jefferson Performing Arts Society: Teatro Wego! in Westwego, marking Moscow Nights’ first performance in Jefferson Parish.

The play, which had never before been staged in Louisiana, was written by well-known Chekhov interpreter Carol Rocamora. The correspondence that inspires the text – two published volumes’ worth – does more than simply document the six-year relationship between the world famous writer and the star of the Moscow Art Theatre. Their words give flesh to a love story of two people separated due to the difficulties of his frail health and her demanding career.

Wanting to bring a stronger sense of Chekhov's time and country to the production,
director Natasha Ramer brought her music concept to the production. The musical score for the play includes excerpts from Sergei Rachmaninoff, Peter Tchaikovsky, and Faina Lushtak's original Prelude.

Click the audio player below to hear "Expectations, " a track from the performance.

The original cast included two gifted and well-known local actors: LYLA HAY OWEN (the winner of Gambit Big Easy Award as best actress 1989, Gambit Big Easy Award Lifetime Achievement in Theater 1998 as Olga Knipper and SCOTT JEFFERSON (also winner of Gambit Big Easy Award as best actor 2001) as Anton Chekhov.

In February, 2008, Moscow Nights staged the same play a second time with Kathy Randels in the role of Olga. The play was reviewed in Gambit magazine as "A deeply satisfying evening of theater." To read the whole article, visit www.bestofneworleans.com

In March of 2009 and early April 2009, we staged the same perfomance with Diana Shortes and Scott Jefferson. We also had a stage reading of three short farces, The Swan song, The Bear, and The Marriage Proposal, Starring : Martin Covert, Rebecca Frank, and Scott Jefferson.

Natasha Ramer, well-known to metropolitan audiences as a talented performer, once again brought her skills as director to a stage reading of three one-act plays by the great Russian playwright, Anton Chekhov. The three comedies were excellent vehicles for giving casual theatre-goers an authentic sense of the Chekhov style and an appreciation of the transcendant power of art to bridge cultural differences. Played to an appreciative crowd at the Jefferson Public Library, the clever repartee and sharp Chekhovian wit clearly resonated with the audience. Ramer’s deft direction drew out colorful performances from the three actors, who shared the task of playing different characters in progressions that exposed various aspects of turn-of-the-century Russian life. The program’s highlight was the final piece, “The Marriage Proposal,” a farce executed with verve and enthusiasm by all three actors but it was Martin Covert’s sparkling portrayal of Ivan Lomov that drew the most laughs. The stage reading of three Chekhov plays follows Ramer’s highly successful earlier productions of Chekhov’s “I Take Your Hand in Mine.” They anticipate Ramer’s plans to produce a full-length production of the three comedies as part of a commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Chekhov’s birth. .

This program was supported by grants from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Arts Council of New Orleans.

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