The purpose of the Russian Drama Club 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 Production
The project is centered on the presentation of 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" 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.
In the town of Anatovka Russians, Ukrainians and Jews coexist despite their cultural and religious differences. Anatovka is also the home of Tevye, a poor Jewish dairyman. He’s an ordinary, wise man who often turns to God, and his family has five daughters, three of whom are of marriageable age... The Memorial Prayer is imbued with archaic Jewish wisdom and unique humor that is both sad and amusing – of the kind that allows one to overcome inhuman difficulties.
Casting Call! We are still selecting actors for a specific role in a performance of the "Memorial Prayer". Call 518-382-9438 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Production Dates: December 29, 30, and January 5, 6 (4 performances)
Rehearsals will be held on Saturdays 3:30 pm-6:30 pm, and Sundays 9:30 am -12:30 pm.
Director - Pavel Antonov
Rehearsals location:
ViaPort Mall
Dreamlights Studio
93 West Campbell Rd
Schenectady, NY 12302
Attendance is mandatory for:
- Tech Rehearsal
- Dress Rehearsal
- All Performances
Synopsis:The play captured the essence of Jewish life in Eastern Europe in the early 20th century. In the town of Anatovka Russians, Ukrainians and Jews coexist despite their cultural and religious differences. Anatovka is also the home of Tevye, a poor Jewish dairyman. He’s an ordinary, wise man who often turns to God, and his family has five daughters, three of whom are of marriageable age... 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. The Memorial Prayer is imbued with archaic Jewish wisdom and unique humor that is both sad and amusing – the kind that allows one to overcome inhuman difficulties.
Characters being cast:
Tevye is a poor milkman with five daughters.
Golda, Tevye's sharp-tongued wife.
Tzeitel, their oldest daughter.
Golde, their daughter.
Chava, their daughter.
Shprintze and Beilke, 10-12 years young girls.
Motl, a poor tailor.
Perchik, a student.
Fyodor, a young clerk.
Lazar, the wealthy village butcher.
Yentl - a relative of Tevye, a matchmaker
Stepan - a carpenter
Constable
Men, wedding guests, orchestra members, neighbors.
'Memorial Prayer' rehearsing starts on September 9-10
A welcome meeting with an Artistic Director Pavel Antonov
We are thrilled to meet the artistic director of the theatrical project 2023 “Memorial Prayer” for the first time - Pavel Antonov. The meeting was held at the Dreamlights Studio on Saturday, June 3 at 4 pm. Pavel talked about his vision for the play. He told us about himself and answered questions people had at the meeting.
“Memorial Prayer” by G. Gorin
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 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 is called "Memorial Prayer," having such an unusual name, it 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, carry your cross with dignity, and meet adversity with a smile.
The intended aim of performing "Memorial Prayer” 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 to 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.
Artistic Director Pavel Antonov graduated from the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts, Moscow (Russia) in 1991 and started his theatrical career as a theatre photographer. After moving to the US he became a freelance photographer for the Theatre Magazines and Publications. From 2001 to 2020 Anton was a theatre photographer for St. Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center, and Axis Theatre, NY.
His acting career started from playing in “Doctor Zhivago” Moscow, in 1991 and in “Chevengur “ Italy, in 1992. He started as an artistic director in the Russian-Italian theatre project “An Electric Bulb of Iliich”, Italy in 1992. Anton was director in St. Ann’s Warehouse Theater, “Kill Them All”, Warsaw, and in Summer Theatre School, Idaho, both in 2010.
Currently, Pavel Antonov is a New York City-based visual artist using theatre as a palette trying to make this world a bit better. For most of his life he has been connected with all kinds of theaters internationally working with directors like Anatoly Vasiliev in Russia and Robert Wilson in the US. It’s two absolutely different theatre schools: Russian traditional and American avant-garde. He loves them both. But it has to be cathartic and fresh.
Pavel doesn’t believe that art is copying reality, but art is creating a new reality. It is a miracle of Art. He witnessed one such theatrical miracle during the puppet show in the marionette theatre of Rezo Gabriadze. Two hundred troubled kids had been brought by police bus to the Miami Playground Theater. It was kind of a punishment for them. But in five minutes they all were numb and their knuckles got blue holding their seats. They kept numb for a long time after the show ended. It wasn’t punishment to those kids but the catharsis for some of them.
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.”
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.
Theatrical project Berdichev
As 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 distancinglimiting 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.
On 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
No 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.
The Russian cast does a table read
On Thursday, October 28 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.
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 cast started rehearsing
On Monday, November 15th, two weeks later the Russian team, and 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!
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, place, and 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, ladies, and 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. Thank you, Alik!
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" 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
"Love and Doves" by V. Gurkin, Artistic Director Yuri Numkin. May 15, 2018
2013 Morozko production photos.
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The purpose of the Russian Drama Club 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.
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" 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.
In the town of Anatovka Russians, Ukrainians and Jews coexist despite their cultural and religious differences. Anatovka is also the home of Tevye, a poor Jewish dairyman. He’s an ordinary, wise man who often turns to God, and his family has five daughters, three of whom are of marriageable age... The Memorial Prayer is imbued with archaic Jewish wisdom and unique humor that is both sad and amusing – of the kind that allows one to overcome inhuman difficulties.
Casting Call! We are still selecting actors for a specific role in a performance of the "Memorial Prayer". Call 518-382-9438 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Production Dates: December 29, 30, and January 5, 6 (4 performances)
Rehearsals will be held on Saturdays 3:30 pm-6:30 pm, and Sundays 9:30 am -12:30 pm.
Director - Pavel Antonov
Rehearsals location:
93 West Campbell Rd
Schenectady, NY 12302
Attendance is mandatory for:
- Tech Rehearsal
- Dress Rehearsal
- All Performances
Synopsis:The play captured the essence of Jewish life in Eastern Europe in the early 20th century. In the town of Anatovka Russians, Ukrainians and Jews coexist despite their cultural and religious differences. Anatovka is also the home of Tevye, a poor Jewish dairyman. He’s an ordinary, wise man who often turns to God, and his family has five daughters, three of whom are of marriageable age... 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. The Memorial Prayer is imbued with archaic Jewish wisdom and unique humor that is both sad and amusing – the kind that allows one to overcome inhuman difficulties.
Characters being cast:
Tevye is a poor milkman with five daughters.
Golda, Tevye's sharp-tongued wife.
Tzeitel, their oldest daughter.
Golde, their daughter.
Chava, their daughter.
Shprintze and Beilke, 10-12 years young girls.
Motl, a poor tailor.
Perchik, a student.
Fyodor, a young clerk.
Lazar, the wealthy village butcher.
Yentl - a relative of Tevye, a matchmaker
Stepan - a carpenter
Constable
Men, wedding guests, orchestra members, neighbors.
'Memorial Prayer' rehearsing starts on September 9-10
A welcome meeting with an Artistic Director Pavel Antonov
We are thrilled to meet the artistic director of the theatrical project 2023 “Memorial Prayer” for the first time - Pavel Antonov. The meeting was held at the Dreamlights Studio on Saturday, June 3 at 4 pm. Pavel talked about his vision for the play. He told us about himself and answered questions people had at the meeting.
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 is called "Memorial Prayer," having such an unusual name, it 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, carry your cross with dignity, and meet adversity with a smile.
The intended aim of performing "Memorial Prayer” 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 to 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.
His acting career started from playing in “Doctor Zhivago” Moscow, in 1991 and in “Chevengur “ Italy, in 1992. He started as an artistic director in the Russian-Italian theatre project “An Electric Bulb of Iliich”, Italy in 1992. Anton was director in St. Ann’s Warehouse Theater, “Kill Them All”, Warsaw, and in Summer Theatre School, Idaho, both in 2010.
Currently, Pavel Antonov is a New York City-based visual artist using theatre as a palette trying to make this world a bit better. For most of his life he has been connected with all kinds of theaters internationally working with directors like Anatoly Vasiliev in Russia and Robert Wilson in the US. It’s two absolutely different theatre schools: Russian traditional and American avant-garde. He loves them both. But it has to be cathartic and fresh.
Pavel doesn’t believe that art is copying reality, but art is creating a new reality. It is a miracle of Art. He witnessed one such theatrical miracle during the puppet show in the marionette theatre of Rezo Gabriadze. Two hundred troubled kids had been brought by police bus to the Miami Playground Theater. It was kind of a punishment for them. But in five minutes they all were numb and their knuckles got blue holding their seats. They kept numb for a long time after the show ended. It wasn’t punishment to those kids but the catharsis for some of them.
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.”
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.
Theatrical project Berdichev
As 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 distancinglimiting 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.
On 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
No 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.
On Thursday, October 28 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.
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 cast started rehearsing
On Monday, November 15th, two weeks later the Russian team, and 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!
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, place, and 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, ladies, and 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. Thank you, Alik!
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.
2013 Morozko production photos.
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