Drama Club

 

The purpose of the Russian Drama Club "Dual Voices Theatre" is to educate and foster an appreciation for the theater arts among residents in the Capital Region of New York State. We provide encouragement for all levels of volunteer involvement and recognize their contributions as crucial to the success of the Russian Drama Club productions. We provide a supportive environment where everyone is welcome, regardless of skill level, ability, or background. Volunteers are essential to the success of the Russian Drama Club.

2023-2024 Production "Once Upon a Time in Anatevka"

When: April 11-13 at 7pm, Sunday, April 14 at 3pm
Where: Neil and JaneGolub Theater at the Boys and Girls Club of Schenectady
104 Education Dr, Schenectady, NY 12303
Tiickets: $20/person, $15/students at the door
To purchase tickets online:       Flyer
Flyer Anatevka copy 100

memorialThe project is centered on the presentation of "Memorial Prayer/Once Upon a Time in Anatevka" based on Grigory Gorin's play Memorial Prayer (written based on the story "Tevye the Milkman" by Sholom Aleichem) in duo-language adaptations for both English and Russian-speaking audiences.  Grigory Gorin was a renowned Soviet playwright and screenwriter known for his works that often explored Jewish themes and history.  

Sholom Aleichem was a prominent Yiddish writer. He is considered one of the greatest figures in Yiddish literature and is often referred to as the "Jewish Mark Twain." Aleichem's works captured the essence of Jewish life in Eastern Europe, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

"Memorial Prayer/Once Upon a Time in Anatevka" is a moving and enlightening theatrical production that seeks to raise awareness, provoke introspection, and inspire positive change. By commemorating the victims of antisemitism and shedding light on its historical and contemporary manifestations, the play aims to foster empathy, understanding, and unity in the ongoing fight against prejudice.

Andrey KuznetsovAndrei Kouznetsov-Maestro is a director, actor, musician, composer and teacher. Organizer and participant of numerous theatrical performances, films variety shows and festivals. An Alumnus of the prestigious “Russian Academy of Theater Arts (GITIS)”, and a graduate of “Mussorgsky Musical College”, 30 years of experience working with children and over 55 years of experience working in show business. He is the Founder and Director of “Maestro School of Arts” in New York.

Our Sponsors:

art center

price chopper


 BGCS.color  ramada

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by The Arts Center of the Capital Region.

Synopsis:The play captured the essence of Jewish life in Eastern Europe in the early 20th century. Tevye and his wife, Golda, have five daughters. Tevye's main concern is finding suitable husbands for his daughters, but he also grapples with the changing times and the challenges faced by the Jewish community.

 

Dress rehearsal on March 3 2024 (Russian Cast)
Russian Group Tevye Golda Enta

Dress rehearsal on March 1 2024 English Cast)

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"Once Upon a Time in Anateevka" rehearsal on January 14 2024

Jan 14 2024

Costumes for Golda and Chava are ready.

Golda

Chava

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

Rehearsals on September 9-10

1st rehearsal 31st rehearsal 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Once Upon a Time in Anateevkar” 
The events described in the play refer to 1905 - 1906 in Central Ukraine. It was this way of life and the realities of the "Jewish Pale of Settlement" that became the scene of action and the subject of the author's interest.

The play tells about the difficult life of an old Jew Tevye - sincere, honest, poor, living in a small Ukrainian village with his family. His wife Golda and five daughters are his main wealth. How can you describe Tevye - faith in God and in people, in their good beginning and deeds, help to anyone who needs it, that's all he is, Reb Tevye. It seems that he complains about life, but this is rather a humble pity than suffering and protest. The story teaches humility and fortitude, meeting adversity with dignity and smile.

The intended aim of performing "Once Upon a Time in Anateevkar” is to give the audience a broader perception of themselves, immersing them in a different time and culture to instill new insights into history and human connections across time. In addition, we hope to use this opportunity to generate a collaborative community effort that might renew awareness of antisemitism among a younger generation of Americans and help examine its impact on twenty-first-century life.

The play will be produced in both Russian and English with double cast, resulting in four fully staged productions at the end of 2023.

This project is made possible with funds from The Arts Center of the Capital Region.

2021-2022 Production - “Berdichev". Unsentimental story of Soviet Jews after the Holocaust.

In 2021-2022 the New Russia Cultural Center presented the theatrical production of the “Berdichev/Family That Never Was” play to local residents in the Capital Region. The “Family That Never Was” project is centered on the presentation of Friedrich Gorenstein's play "Berdichev". The shows took place at Neil and Jane Golub Theater @ Adeline Wright Graham Boys & Girls Club of Schenectady, located at 104 Education Drive, Schenectady, NY 12303.

“This project was made possible with funds from the Decentralization Grant program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of  the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by The Arts Center of the Capital Region.”

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Theatrical project Berdichev 
Berdichev is a city in Central Ukraine where Nazi invaders, intent on genocide during the Second World War, eliminated the entire Jewish population.  Following the Holocaust, Gorenstein witnessed the decline and diminishment of Jewish culture and character in Soviet society.  He selected Berdichev as a symbolic Jewish town for the play and based the characters on his own family and memories.

The play presents 30 years in the everyday life of a Jewish family after the Holocaust (1945 to 1975), as two sisters, Rachel and Golda, guide their family through hard years of poverty and strife.  It is an unsentimental story about post-Holocaust Jews, separated from their culture, history, and people, who nonetheless survive through laughter and tears.  

The intended aim of performing Berdichev is to give the audience a broader perception of themselves, immersing them in a different time and culture to instill new insights into history and human connections across time.  In addition, we hope to use this opportunity to generate a collaborative community effort that might renew awareness of the Holocaust to a younger generation of Americans and help examine its impact on twenty-first-century life.

A sneak peek into the show
Berdichev collageAs a sneak peek into the show, you can see some stage photos. Tickets are online only! Don't forget to keep your tickets handy, either in the Eventbrite app or print them out and bring them with you. Face masks must be worn. The show on Friday, January 21 is FREE of charge. Register your free tickets online before the show, no tickets are available at the door. To implement social distancing limiting seating will be placed. The theater’s layout will be changed to ensure that all attendees' parties remain at least 6ft apart. Admission is free; donations are appreciated!

Editorial article about Berdichev Show at The Spotlight News 518 
Michael Hallisey, managing editor of Spotlight Newspapers recently wrote an article about the Berdichev theatrical project. You can read it here.

The American cast starts rehearsing at the Golub theater
Milya and SergejRachelOn January 12 the American cast had preliminary dress rehearsing in the Neil and Jane Golub Theater with a focus on costume issues. This is an opportunity to correct any remaining costume and tech issues.

 

Tech Rehearsal 
Bruce Coonley lighting specialistNo one needs to act -- this rehearsal is for the tech staff. On the technical rehearsal on January 6 Oleg, artistic director, with Bruce Coonley, Lighting director at Proctor's Theatre, and some members of the cast walked through the entire show in performance order, making sure every light cue and sound effect worked as planned. This means stopping hundreds of times to make adjustments. 

 
first readingBerdichev project: 
The Russian cast does a table read
 

On Thursday 28 October 2021, we had the first meeting of the actors with the director Oleg Golub. It was a reading of the 1st act of the play. Oleg explained his impressive directorial plan for staging the play and proposed a new title for the play “The Family that never was/Семья которой не было”. ( We are not sure that it’s the best translation from Russian). There was the distribution of the roles. Several major roles were still available for men and women.  

1st rehearsalBerdichev project: Russian cast starts rehearsing
On Monday, November 1st, 2021 the Russian cast started rehearsing with artistic director Oleg Golub. The rehearsal time for Oleg is 5 hours straight. Actors are practicing only for 1 hour for the episodes they are in.

 

 

American CastBerdichev project: American cast starts rehearsing
On Monday, November 15th, two weeks later the Russian team, Americancast started rehearsing with artistic director Oleg Golub. The location was changed. One member of the Russian-speaking community (who wants to be incognito) provided for the play production recently bought a house in downtown Albany. The house is empty, and warm with a large bright room suitable for practicing. Thank you!

American team copyBerdichev project: stage props.  Props are the items held or used by actors onstage to make the action more realistic. Berdichev's show does not have many props but for staging a drama it is really necessary to have some. To identify a particular time, placeand cultural setting in the play a few set props are needed: a wooden table 8-10ft long, wooden old chairs, old suitcases, and old leather shoes (men, ladiesand kids). If you could provide these props for the show; it would be greatly appreciated. We are already very thankful to Sofia Stolkarts for providing the Russian fur hat with earflaps (ушанка), and to Anton Pasquvel for the vintage patephone (phonograph) and retro radio receiver. Alik Gans made a prop lamp; he painted and electrified it. 

The purpose of the Russian Drama Club is to educate and foster an appreciation for the theater arts among the Russian-speaking community in the Capital Region of New York State. Preserve, enrich, and celebrate the use of the Russian language as a vehicle of cultural communication and understanding.

We provide encouragement for all levels of volunteer involvement and recognize their contributions as crucial to the success of the Russian Drama Club productions. We provide a supportive environment where everyone is welcome, regardless of skill level, ability, or background. Volunteers are essential to the success of the Russian Drama Club.

The Russian Drama Studio at the New Russia Cultural Center was established in 2013 with theatrical performances for children for “Morozko” and “Microscope” for adult audiences. Yuri Naumkin became an artistic director of the Russian Drama Studio in 2014.  His artistic direction and artistic talent brought production success to two other plays.  One of them, “Tale of Tsar Saltan”, is a one-act play based on the poem by Alexander Pushkin, and performed for a children’s audience in December 2014 at the Mohawk Golf Club, Schenectady, NY. Second, was a musical/theatrical performance, “Victory Day”, devoted to the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of World War II, and performed in May 2015 at Union College, Schenectady, NY. Both plays had local media coverage with photos in the Times Union, Daily Gazette, and other local newspapers.   In Fall 2015 Yuri was directing another play for children, the “New Year Tricks of Baba Yaga”. In 2016 he directed a bilingual play "Love and Doves" for the general public. In 2017 "New Year Miracles" was shown for children during an Annual Yolka Celebration. The 2018 production 'Morozko" had 2 premieres on January 5th and 6th 2019.  
 
Cultural experience by watching authentic Russian plays
 
"Tsar Saltan" by A. Pushkin, Artistic Director Yuri Numkin. December, 2014
tsar saltan 2015 1 tsar saltan 2015 2 tsar saltan 2015 3 tsar saltan 2015 4 tsar saltan 2015 5 tsar saltan 2015 6
 
"Love and Doves" by V. Gurkin, Artistic Director Yuri Numkin. May 15, 2018

love doves nov 12 2016 1love doves nov 12 2016 3

2013 "Morozko" production photos

morozko1 morozko 4morozko 3morozko 6

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